Silent Teddies a Model Social Enterprise for the Nation – Ewon

21 August 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Silent Teddies, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering the deaf community through its bakery and café operations, has been recognised as a leading model of social enterprise in Malaysia.

Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDC), Datuk Ewon Benedick, commended the initiative for its impactful work in providing employment, skills training, and economic inclusion for persons with hearing impairments.

He stated that Silent Teddies’ initiative not only offers employment and skills training to individuals with hearing impairments, but also actively involves them in the nation’s economic activities.

“I am proud to see the efforts and initiatives of a social enterprise that focuses on targeted groups like this, fostering a sense of belonging and making them part of the country’s economic ecosystem,” he said.

Ewon made the remarks during his visit to the Silent Teddies Deaf Community Service Centre here today.

Silent Teddies, which has been officially recognised as a Social Enterprise (SE) by MEDC, currently supports 15 young deaf entrepreneurs under its Teenager Entrepreneurial Development (TED) programme.

“Silent Teddies, which holds Halal certification, produces a range of bakery products including cookies and pineapple tarts,” he noted.

To date, more than 100 individuals from the OKU (persons with disabilities) and B40 (low-income) communities have received vocational training at the centre.

He added that social enterprise development will remain a key focus of the government under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).

“KUSKOP is committed to providing incentives, market access, training programmes, and strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors,” he said.

Ewon also announced that the 8th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum (ASEAN IB Forum 2025) will take place from 11 to 12 September at Sunway Resort Hotel, while the ASEAN Inclusive Business and Social Enterprise Showcase 2025 will be held from 11 to 14 September at Sunway Pyramid. Silent Teddies has been selected as one of the participating social enterprises in the exhibition.

“I hope Silent Teddies continues to thrive in empowering the hearing-impaired community by providing skills training, generating income, and creating more employment opportunities,” he said.

Also present at the event were Chief Executive Officer of SME Corp. Malaysia, Rizal Dato’ Nainy, Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN), Viviantie Sarjuni, and Founder of Silent Teddies, Cindy Leong.