One year on, these Brands for Good award winners have not slowed their efforts to make a positive impact on society Being a Brands for Good winner doesn’t end with accepting the award at the ceremony. Rather, it marks a milestone in a company’s efforts to do good. Some of the honourees from last year’s awards have continued on their journey of making a positive impact. Genashtim Innovative Learning was honoured with two awards in the Community category at the inaugural Brands for Good Awards in 2018. The majority of the e-learning provider’s staff are people with disabilities or those who have been unable to attain gainful employment. Over the past 11 years, the company has provided employment for more than 100 persons with disabilities. It also currently employs 30 refugees, as well as five seniors aged 60 and above. “They make up 90 percent of our workforce, working from the comfort, safety and convenience of their homes, and serving our customers in about 10 countries, many of whom are multinational companies and government institutions. In Singapore, we are doing work for four government ministries purely on commercially competitive terms,” said Thomas Ng, founder of Genashtim. The company’s business in Singapore has grown three-fold in the past year, he added. Genashtim started by hiring persons with disabilities before also providing employment to refugees. These have included refugees from Bogor, Indonesia who had been told by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that they do not have a chance for re-settlement for the next 25 years. “The mission of our company is to leverage technology and the Internet to connect marginalised communities to the global economy,” said Mr Ng. Growing from strength to strength Another previous winner, 1. Care Employment Agency, has also moved ahead with its mission of social impact since being honoured in the “Workplace – People Development” category last year. Licensed by the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore, the company trains caregivers in eldercare, equipping them with basic nursing skills and knowledge customised to its clients’ needs. “Our aim is to provide person-centered care to allow the elderly to enjoy a quality life with their loved ones at home. 1. Care serves as the bridge between the employer and the caregiver to create a harmonious working relationship,” said Janice Tan, the company’s Director, and Nurse Educator. Since winning at Brands for Good, the firm has enhanced its 15 training modules for caregivers to allow them to be more effective. It has also developed a training program for Dementia care. “We are continuously upgrading our training materials to stay ahead, and to ensure that our caregivers are equipped with the best tools available. We have also engaged a brand strategy expert to coach our entire team on the principles and techniques of the brand building so that we can embark on creating a stronger 1.Care brand,” said Ms Tan. 1.Care trains around 600 caregivers a year currently, up from 300 previously. It has also been invited by institutions such as the People’s Association, Residents’ Committees and the Alzheimer’s Dementia Association to talk about Dementia care, self-care and stress management. The firm recently received approval to be a training provider to conduct non-WSQ courses under the Skills Future programme. Said Ms Tan: “We are currently expanding our capacity so that we can do more training for other agencies. Singapore has an ageing population and eldercare is therefore a critical component of our society. We value clients who have chosen our services and we genuinely work towards forging a long term working relationship with our clients.” Source: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/hub-projects/brands-for-good/an-ongoing-story-of-success

Brands for Good 2020 honours Genashtim for its continuous effort in doing business as a force for good. Genashtim has changed the landscape of the industry, making it a worthy winner as the company pioneers eLearning in Asia and is a unique social impact business model.It all started in 2008 when Thomas witnessed a vision challenged student navigate the computer faster than he could in a school for the blind in Manila, wherein he was a committee member. Despite their efficient computer skills, the visually impaired students of the blind school could not find sustainable employment. Thus, Thomas founded Genashtim to give them employment opportunities.Genashtim currently employs persons with disabilities (PWDs), having various conditions, senior citizens, Middle Eastern refugees, LGBTQAI members, HIV + persons, ex-convicts, and women in oppressed environments.Genashtim represents Cornell University’s online arm, eCornell where it has developed its own online learning programmes to assist companies and government bodies to shift from conventional training to an online platform.Thomas overcame many challenges before Genashtim achieved its reputation today. The Brands for Good Award is truly an honour. Award Brands For Good Awards Date 2020 Awarded By Brands For Good Share

Genashtim received the Singapore Management University Academy’s Living Business Sustainability Awards 2021/2022 for its ability to incorporate social and environmentally sustainable practices into its operations, as well as for businesses that think beyond profit. It is another achievement for Genashtim to receive the SMU Academy’s Living Business Sustainability Awards 2021/2022, supported by HSBC. Genashtim is one of the three winners among Cloversoft & Co and Speco Singapore. This award seeks to recognize and honor Small and Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) that incorporate social and environmentally sustainable practices in their operations, as well as those businesses which think beyond profit. HSBC has been helping the SMEs in Singapore become more competitive by supporting the Living Business Initiative. This program was launched by the Singapore Management University (SMU) in 2019 to help equip SMEs with the necessary knowledge and tools to incorporate sustainable practices into their business operations, making them more competitive. Kelvin Tan, HSBC Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Finance & Investments, Asean said, “Through the Living Business Initiative, we open up a world of opportunity for SMEs by helping them to build green skills, enabling them to better navigate the risks and opportunities brought about by climate change”. Tan’s words align with Genashtim’s goal as a B Corp member and the associated adherence to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Award Living Business Sustainability Awards Date 2021/2022 Awarded By HSBC Share

Genashtim was bestowed the 2021 Asia Pacific Social Innovation Partnership Award (APSIPA) in the “Inclusive Business” category. This win brings great pride to the company as the organisation firmly believes that businesses being a force for good, that is, for the people and the planet also benefits its own. As a for-profit social enterprise, Genashtim has been striving to connect the marginalised communities to the global economy by providing them with sustainable employment. Over 60% of Genashtim’s staff are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Genashtim also provides job opportunities for refugees, LGBTQAI members, and retired personnel. Dialogues about employing the leper community, women from oppressed environments, HIV-positive people, and convicts are on-going. Genashtim is consistent with its efforts to become more inclusive as the business flourishes. Genashtim does not only immerse itself in the Triple Bottom-line (TBL) — people, planet, and profit but has also grown more attentive to emerging needs, challenges, and changes. The company will continue to create a more equitable, equal, sustainable, scalable, and wholesome society that can empower the disempowered. Recognition like APSIPA certainly drives Genashtim to endeavour more on its social purpose as a business. https://genashtim.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/VID_20210519083204-1.mp4?_=1 Watch the full video here. Award 2021 Asia Pacific Social Innovation Partnership Award (APSIPA) in the “Inclusive Business” Date 2021 Awarded By APSIPA Share

It’s our pleasure to announce that Genashtim Pte Ltd is now a member of Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise. RaiSE is an organisation that was formed to drive the social enterprise sector in Singapore. We are passionate about and dedicated to providing sustainable gainful employment for marginalized communities – starting with Persons with Disabilities (PWD). We are determined to prove that with the right opportunities, working environment and processes, people from such marginalised communities can thrive and be as productive as any other workers. Our entirely cloud-based operations and online delivery of learning and services minimise the consumption of resources and production of emissions, allowing us to operate with a very small carbon footprint. We are honoured to be a member of raiSE and shall strive to impact society more positively. Award RaiSE Date 2020 Awarded By Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise Share

We are proud to announce that Thomas Ng, Founder and CEO of Genashtim is nominated as a Southeast Asia Region YPO Global Impact Award Finalist. This is an honour and we hope Thomas wins the award. Read More: Southeast Asia Region YPO Global Impact Award Finalist Award Southeast Asia Region YPO Global Impact Award Finalist Date 2020 Awarded By Southeast Asia Region YPO Share

The first-ever Brands for Good Awards was established by CEO Asia to recognise forward-looking businesses that have championed sustainable and inclusive economic goals, social development and environmental protection. This recognition programme is intended for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have integrated purpose-driven values to benefit different groups of stakeholders. Brands For Good recognises successful Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Asia that champion sustainable and inclusive economic goals, social development and environmental protection. The programme aims to encourage a network community of game-changers to share ideas and engage the communities in which they operate, as well as celebrate all their success, in hope to motivate other businesses to contribute to a sustainable future. View Certificate     THE BUSINESS TIMES Looking beyond the bottom line. Brands for Good – Genashtim is champion for Diversity & Inclusiveness and honouree for Corporate Giving. “We started with persons with disabilities, and early this year, we started hiring refugees. We had in the past initiated discussions with leper groups, and the HIV-infected. Other marginalised communities that we have been thinking about include ex-convicts, and women in oppressed environments,” said Thomas Ng, founder of Genashtim. Read More … A SHOWCASE FOR LOCAL CHAMPIONS The recipients of the inaugural Brands for Good were honoured at an event hosted by CEO Asia on July 26. Sponsored by Maybank Singapore and BBX, the Brands for Good programme has eight categories – spanning the Workplace, the Community, the Environment and Patents – which recognised 24 companies spanning 33 awards. Read more … CHAMPION • HONOUREE Genashtim is a pioneer for collaborative eLearning in Asia. Representing Cornell University’s eCornell since 2008, Genashtim has now the capability to develop its own eLearning programs and help companies migrate to Learning Management Systems (LMSs). We are committed to leveraging technologies to provide online services, world-class quality online learning and professional development programs. We also have EPiC Online (English Proficiency in Conversation) which includes live coaching services for English. Read more here. Award Brands For Good Awards 2018 Date 2018 Awarded By Brands For Good Share

In 2013, Genashtim was selected by Project Zero, under the ESSL Foundation, for “Good Practice” that, in relation to employment, successfully promotes and implements the rights of persons with disabilities. And again in 2017, we were certified by Project Zero, for exemplary practices in innovation, impact, chances of long-term growth and success, and scalability, Leveraging ICT to connect people with disabilities to the global economy. Read More Award Project Zero Date 2013 Awarded By ESSL Foundation Share

Genashtim is very privileged as the second company to be certified by B Corp in Southeast Asia. It is also ranked as Best for the World overall for 2016 and 2017. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Today, there is a growing community of more than 2,100 Certified B Corps from 50 countries and over 130 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business. Award Best for the World overall for 2016 and 2017 Date 2016 Awarded By B Corps Share

Genashtim has won an Honorable Mention recognition in the ESCAP-Sasakawa Awards 2013 for its business practices that provides employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Award Honourable Mention At ESCAP Sasakawa Award Date 2013 Awarded By ESCAP Share