Our Story
A Purpose-Built Journey Rooted in Inclusion
"Enable is about the intentional building of relationships with society, creating value through gainful employment, where difference is welcomed and all benefit."
– Michael Mascarenhas, CEO, Desert Group
Enable began as a bold idea inside Desert Group. It started with the belief that People of Determination deserve more than awareness — they deserve opportunity, ownership, and dignity. This belief led to the creation of the Desert Group PWD Work Inclusion Program, a structured rehabilitation initiative focused on developing the behavioral and professional skills of individuals with cognitive disabilities.
We began by hiring 32 Emirati team members to work at one of our plant nurseries. Each person received hands-on training and support from our in-house specialists. They learned practical skills, developed workplace confidence, and were trained to report their progress to families, management, and community stakeholders. As their capabilities grew, so did our vision.
In 2015, Enable Was Born
What began as an in-house rehabilitation program grew into something much bigger. In 2015, Enable was officially launched as a social enterprise, built on the belief that inclusion should be sustainable, empowering, and genuine. We shifted from a support-based model to an ownership-driven one, where our team could take part in every stage of the process — from product concept and assembly to merchandising and retail. This evolution gave our Emirati People of Determination the chance to grow their skills, earn income, and gain real-world experience in a fully operational business environment.
What Enable Does Today
Enable now operates as a fully functioning social enterprise with a clear mission: to empower Emirari People of Determination through meaningful work and entrepreneurial training.
We offer a wide range of handcrafted home and garden products — from table-top succulent arrangements and concrete planters to curated gifting solutions and customised green experiences for events and corporates. Our team members are trained by horticulture experts and supported by rehabilitation professionals to ensure every product is thoughtfully assembled and beautifully finished.
In collaboration with Desert Group’s in-house nurseries, Enable also supports indoor and outdoor plant supply, taking part in the production process through tasks tailored to their abilities. This creates real-world learning opportunities while contributing to a steady, high-quality plant pipeline.
100% of revenue supports the mission.
15% of every sale goes directly to the individual who created the product. The remaining amount is fully reinvested into Enable’s training programs, operations, and growth — ensuring the enterprise continues to create meaningful employment, build skills, and expand impact for Emirati People of Determination.
Beyond the Product
Enable is more than what we sell. We host planting workshops, set up pop-ups and activations, participate in CSR events, and visit schools across the UAE. These initiatives give our team valuable real-world experience while helping shift public perceptions around disability, inclusion, and capability.
Every workshop is a platform for awareness. Every sale is a step toward independence.
Why It Matters.
Enable empowers People of Determination to build meaningful, purpose-led lives. Through entrepreneurial training and hands-on experience, we support long-term skill development and financial independence. We do not operate as a charity. We operate as a business with impact at its core. We exist to prove what’s possible when ability is nurtured, and when inclusion is action.