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A fisherman supplier for SmartFish in Mexico

Social enterprises driving global change on World Food Day

Every year on 16 October, World Food Day highlights important topics such as food waste, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and the challenges faced by fishing communities — all in an effort to combat climate change. This year's theme is "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”. It's the perfect opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on the incredible efforts of social entrepreneurs, who are making everyday life better for so many people and how they're creating a more sustainable and inclusive world.

Photograph shows eight adults posing at an ENOKU event or workplace gathering. Participants wear casual and formal clothing, with ENOKU banners, logo,​

Enoku

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ENOKU supports persons with disabilities to build skills and access employment opportunities while supporting employers to develop more inclusive workplaces.

In Malaysia, many persons with disabilities (PwD) experience barriers when seeking employment. These barriers can include limited access to workplace opportunities, a lack of employer understanding of disability inclusion, and recruitment processes that are not designed to accommodate different needs.
30%

Location
Malaysia

Programme
Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia
in partnership with Biji-Biji Initiative

Website
https://enoku.my/

As a result, many people with valuable skills and experience face challenges in accessing and retaining employment.

ENOKU, which stands for Enable OKU Solutions ("OKU" is the Malaysian term for persons with disabilities), was established in 2024 to support more inclusive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The organisation works with both job seekers and employers to address challenges that can affect participation in the workforce.

Its services include talent assessments, workplace readiness training, job coaching and post-placement support for persons with disabilities. ENOKU also works with employers by providing disability awareness training, guidance on workplace accessibility and support in developing inclusive hiring practices. Through this approach, the organisation seeks to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities while supporting organisations to create more inclusive workplaces.

ENOKU's work is informed by the lived experiences of persons with disabilities, who contribute to programmes as trainers, speakers and advisors. By sharing first-hand perspectives, they enable employers and employees to better understand barriers that people with disabilities may encounter in the workplace.

According to information provided by the organisation, more than 80 persons with disabilities have secured employment through ENOKU's programmes. The organisation also reports that over 200 persons with disabilities have participated in literacy, soft skills and workplace readiness training, while more than 450 employees from partner organisations have attended disability inclusion and awareness sessions. ENOKU states that 80% of placed candidates remained in employment for more than six months, and that many participating employers continued to engage with inclusive hiring initiatives following their involvement with the organisation.

Looking ahead, ENOKU aims to expand access to its services through digital solutions, strengthen partnerships with employers and increase opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in meaningful employment across Malaysia.

Programme support

Through the programme, ENOKU will work to strengthen its organisational systems and capacity for growth. The organisation will explore opportunities to expand employer partnerships, develop scalable service models and strengthen collaboration across the disability inclusion ecosystem. ENOKU will also work to improve access to its services through digital tools and resources, with the aim of reaching more persons with disabilities and employers in different parts of Malaysia.