Visit To Enoch's European

Last Friday, my group consisting of Bryan, Adalene, Shawn and myself went to interview the founder of Enoch's European, Enoch Teo. Although it was for a project and for educational purposes I was very inspired by what his Social Enterprise was doing. Enoch's European is basically a small restaurant that offers top-notch French cuisine at good prices and provides stellar service.Enoch European started out as Le Petit Paradis ("The Little Paradise" in French) and operated at Alibabar Hawker Bar for two years.

Visit the website here://www.enochs.com.sg/

His social cause is to empower vulnerable youth and children. He is in partnership with the Boy's Home and Boys Town (if I'm not  mistaken) to provide a platform where the boys can learn a skill by working at the front of house or in the kitchen. 

Before this I never knew that this was a way to engage the beneficiaries of your social enterprise. I always assumed that the money made would be donated to a certain organization or that SE's would just employ workers that come from their beneficiaries. Such as being done by Eighteen Chefs. I never knew that we could go into partnerships to provide a platform for the beneficiaries to learn skills. I feel that this is really amazing and has greatly broaden my prospects for the future social enterprise I may want to set up.

Enoch also shared that on his own, he has yet to break even but he is happy that he is doing something to make a difference. That is something i believe is quite admirable. Many people who wish to start up a business would have the main goal to be earning profits and likewise many worry about whether they will be able to do good and make money all at the same time. However , for him, he sees success as when he has managed to change the way the vulnerable youth looks at life.  I think that my outlook on life is much like this in that aspect.

For me, it is important for my business to  make money, it is important that I am financially stable. But all in all what is more important is that i am making a change for the better in the lives of others. This might be my weakness when I start a social enterprise in the future.

Enoch himself found solace in cooking when he was an at risk-youth and drop out. He is a truly great example and i think we should learn how to overcome our challenges from people like him. Many of us are fortunate that we are not at-risk youth or that we are no longer at risk youth due to help we have received. Enoch is only one in a few that are making a conscious effort to help these stray youths. I think we can also do something for them seeing as we are of the same age and think the same. I hope that one day i can be able to make even more positive changes in society like what Enoch is doing.

Signing off,

Abigail