schools that together teach approximately 2,700
students and performed essential maintenance on six
other schools.
After 15 years of conflict, the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) is rebuilding itself. Heineken-owned
Bralima, the country's leading beer brewer, runs six
breweries in DRC. True to its belief that doing good
and doing business go hand in hand, the company
has been contributing to the country's recovery.
Working closely with the Schokland Fund and Eucord,
Bralima began a local rice project to increase local
farmers' income, encourage local entrepreneurship
and shorten Bralima's supply chain.
"When we began sourcing locally in 2006, we bought
2,000 tons of rice. In 2010, we managed to buy
11,120 tons, 3,620 tons more than we needed. This
makes a huge difference in the lives of thousands of
farmers and their families," says Chantal Mabunda,
Vice President of the Bralima Foundation, which the
brewer established.
Relatives of Heineken employees in the country have
also set up "En Classe". This foundation renovates
school buildings in Kinshasa, distributes food and
provides educational material to students. In 2010,
En Classe spent some $160,000. They renovated three
In addition, the Fleineken Africa Foundation has been
financing a healthcare project aimed at sickle-cell
disease (SCA), a genetic, life-long blood disorder.
The programme is carried out at the Monkole Hospital
Centre in Mont Ngafula.
This has resulted in a more effective approach to
the disease. The hospital has bought new diagnostic
equipment and set up a blood bank unit, which reduces
risks related to blood transfusions. The hospital has
also educated around 215 health workers about SCA.
A key part of the programme is early screening of
infants. In 2010, doctors tested and vaccinated many
children. In addition, a follow-up programme has been
delivered to newly detected SCA patients. Ultimately,
the project aims to screen some 5,000 newborns
and infants.
