Microsoft launched the APAC Enabler program in 2020, a global first focused on improving the employability of people with disabilities (PwDs) in Asia-Pacific.
Microsoft has announced an extension of this strategy with the launch of the APAC Enabler Mentorship program. PwDs receive career coaching, matched with a relevant mentor based on their area of specialization, who will coach them, be their advocate, and recommend them for roles over 12 months, as well as interview skills and job matching assistance.
The Microsoft APAC Enabler Program began two years ago as a pilot in five markets, with six nonprofit organizations and 14 employer partners. The premise was simple: partner with nonprofit organizations (NPO) to train Parkinson’s patients in the cloud and technical skills. Then connect these NPOs with companies hiring talent with cloud skills.
Since then, the Microsoft APAC Enabler program has expanded in the region and now spans nine countries, 13 nonprofits, and 27 organizations. The program has trained over 7,000 participants, delivered over 150 hours of Disability Inclusive Hiring workshops, organized expert consultations for more than 530 PwPs, and enabled roles and internships for more than 350 PwPs.
“Mentors are the key to success for any professional. A good mentor is a coach, a guide, and an advocate,” said Pratima Amonkar, chairman of Microsoft Diversity & Inclusion and head of APAC Cloud & AI Business Strategy.
“In a pilot program involving three NPOs: SG Enable, Tomowork, and Virtualahan, and an educational institution, Temasek Polytechnic, the Microsoft APAC Enabler Mentorship program has successfully enabled more than 75 PwDs to receive coaching.
“This program is that critical next step to improve workforce diversity in the Asia Pacific, and . Io proud to see our incredible partners committed to being the voice of inclusion and commission hiring at a time when the pandemic has been most severe in marginalized communities.”
Extension of the Microsoft APAC Enabler program
The Enabler program has expanded to three more markets. Difalink (Indonesia), National Disability Commission (Indonesia), Biji Biji (Malaysia), The Rose International Foundation for Children (Nepal), and Ability Development Society of Nepal (ADSoN) are the NPOs from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nepal joining South Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand in capacity building, training and improving the employability of PwPs.
As experts and advocates of PwDs in their respective countries, their knowledge, guidance, and network are critical to achieving the shared goals of an inclusive workplace, matching the right PwD talent, and structuring activities for inclusion awareness, training, and mentorships.
SAP and Infosys have made commendable commitments to the Enabler program. Since the beginning of the year, both organizations have organized awareness workshops for their employees and facilitated volunteer opportunities for mentors.
SAP will focus on building a broad pool of mentors for the mentorship program. Infosys will develop awareness initiatives, add value to training, mentoring, and recruiting, and create internships for Parkinson’s patients.
