WeWork launches G.I.V.E initiative to empower social enterprises across Southeast Asia

The new initiative aims to support the growth of local social enterprises by providing complimentary and subsidised access to workspaces, meeting rooms, event venues and mentorship programmes.

WeWork, one of the leading global flexible space providers, has launched the WeWork G.I.V.E initiative to empower local non-profit organisations (NPOs) and social enterprises across six Southeast Asia (SEA) markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 

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WeWork G.I.V.E which stands for Gratitude, Inclusivity, Volunteer and Enrich, is part of WeWork’s social mission to give back to the surrounding communities. The initiative provides complimentary access to WeWork’s all-inclusive workspaces, meeting rooms, event venues, and global network*. This enables a conducive environment for NPOs and social enterprises to create impactful work and contribute to a society in need. Beyond providing a physical workspace, WeWork will also support these NPOs and social enterprises by hosting educational, professional, and personal growth mentoring classes through WeWork Labs. They will also be able to enjoy the full benefits of amenities including community team engagement, internet connectivity and pantry access. 

Social enterprises have grown in popularity and now total over 1 million in Asia Pacific, tackling a range of social and environmental issues. However, one big challenge they often face is balancing  financial stability while driving maximum social impact. With 31 locations across the SEA region, WeWork is uniquely positioned to provide these social enterprises and NPOs with operational resources and support to better scale their operations and enhance their exposure to benefit the community.

“As a company built on community, we understand the importance of actively supporting and giving back to the ecosystem around us. It is our social mission to create inclusive economic opportunities for underserved groups. Over the past four years, WeWork has supported more than 40 causes across Southeast Asia including humanitarian crises, environmental issues, and social issues, alongside our social partners. The G.I.V.E initiative will serve as a platform for us to further enrich the lives of our social stakeholders while creating sustainable impact together,” said Balder Tol, General Manager, Australia ,and Southeast Asia at WeWork. 

Till date, WeWork has engaged and supported the likes of  Company of Good (Singapore), Happiness Initiative (Singapore), UNICEF (Thailand), and UNHCR (Thailand).

“WeWork has been a longtime partner of the Happiness Initiative since 2019. With WeWork’s community and network reach, we were able to scale our efforts and grow our organisation amidst the pandemic. The new WeWork G.I.V.E initiative will continue to support our cause in building a community that promotes the practice of wellbeing. We are heartened by WeWork’s commitment to give back to the community and proud to be part of that journey,” Simon Leow, Co-Founder of Happiness Initiative.

WeWork G.I.V.E is open to any local NPOs or social enterprises based in SEA of all sizes, subject to verification of social enterprise status, as well as internal review and approval from WeWork.  Further information on how to apply for the WeWork G.I.V.E can be found here.