Enova, one of the Middle East’s leading energy and facilities management specialists, has contributed to the funding of the first of its kind café, that will be operated and owned by the people of determination in Dubai.

 

The Hemam café model, by Brands for Social Good enterprise, does not only employ the functional capacity of the determined but they also own shares in the trade licence of the branch they operate ensuring economic empowerment and shifting them from the government support to productivity and independence.

 

In this Hemam café model, the café will be serving takeaway specialty coffee and specialty tea. Both specialties have been produced through local affiliation with companies who follow fair trade processes. 

 

The café will also be selling merchandising that will be motivational and inspirational.

 

This first branch – to be launched with Enova’s contribution – will be operated by four UAE-based people of determination: Mana’, Alaa’, Alia’a, and Mubarak. 

 

Each will also receive 20% in the trade license of the first café. Plans are underway to open the first branch and other branches for the people of determination across the UAE.

 

Wael M. Barghouti, Co-founder and CEO of Brands for Social Good, emphasized the important role that social enterprises can play in achieving social inclusion, economic empowerment and eradicating social and environmental issues, highlighting that the UAE can lead initiatives to twin Arab communities and scale applications of similar nature, leverage research and inter-Arab investments to develop sustainable solutions.

 

On the new initiative, Enova CEO Renaud Capris said: "Our contribution in funding the café is to support the entrepreneurship for people of determination, to develop their entrepreneurship skills and ensure economic empowerment."

 

"Following Enova’s values, we endorse such models that look at the functional and productive capacities and strengthen a diverse workforce. This helps in building tolerant and happy communities putting them at the heart of sustainable development," he stated.

 

Capris further highlighted the importance of supporting entrepreneurship and people of determination to achieve strategic goals of inclusiveness and empowerment.

 

Lauding Enova for its contribution, Kahlfan Al-Mazroui, Chairman of Dar Al-Ber Society, said: "This confirms the importance of companies and institutions from all sectors contributing to this business model as a sustainable solution for the social inclusion of the determined and promoting their independence and productivity."