HEINEKEN Malaysia recently launched its HEINEKEN Cares 2022 programme at Sungei Way Brewery. Previously providing short-term food aid, the brewer is building capacity for long-term food security by collaborating with seven non-government organisations (NGOs) and community partners. As part of their commitment, HEINEKEN Malaysia has pledged to send over 600,000 meals to empower local communities across Malaysia to start and maintain their own sustainable food sources. Along with this commitment, the brewer also provided a mini exhibition for its partners to showcase their insightful work for the community.
At the launch event, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, Roland Bala, told the press: “We saw how vulnerable communities were in need of food aid at the height of the pandemic. Responding to the call for help, we launched HEINEKEN Cares in 2021, a social impact programme to connect our employee’s well-being at work with the purpose to support local communities, giving them the opportunity to participate in meaningful CSR initiatives. Together, our One Strong Winning Team, alongside our NGO and community partners, helped to create a positive impact in our local communities."
In 2021, HEINEKEN Malaysia's corporate social responsibility programme, HEINEKEN Cares, made a great impact. The programme committed one meal to a person in need for every 1,000 steps taken by a HEINEKEN employee. This initiative delivered 150,000 meals to needy communities across Malaysia in just six months. During the December floods, HEINEKEN Cares delivered an additional 100,000 meals and care packages for those affected and as a result, the programme successfully delivered a total of 250,000 meals that year.
HEINEKEN Cares 2022
As part of its renewed vision, HEINEKEN Cares 2022 announced a goal to transform lives by improving social sustainability through food security. To this end, the program linked employee wellness with a community purpose by encouraging employees to step up and achieve 200 million steps cumulatively from November 2022 to March 2023.
This year, HEINEKEN Cares will provide three meals for every 1,000 steps taken by its employees. Alongside the company's goal to deliver more than 600,000 meals for vulnerable communities across Malaysia, HEINEKEN Cares 2022's partners with The Lost Food Project, Epic and PWD Smart Farmability, whose projects are focused on supporting communities in Peninsular Malaysia. Other partners include Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia and Hopes Malaysia, whose projects to help communities in Sabah and Sarawak.
Renuka Indrarajah, HEINEKEN Malaysia's Corporate Affairs and Legal Director said that the company aims to make a positive impact on Malaysian communities, as part of its social sustainability commitment. She added, “Every step counts, and every meal matters. This year, we want to take it a step further by empowering local communities to start and maintain a sustainable food supply.”
“By joining forces with HEINEKEN Cares, our NGOs and community partners will be working on projects such as setting up small-scale community farms and satellite aquaponic systems, establishing and leveraging on existing alternative water systems to support these community farms, as well as distributing food provisions to those in need," Renuka said.
7 Community Partners
At the mini-exhibition, HEINEKEN Malaysia showcased its commitment to sustainability by hosting seven NGOs and community partners. The groups highlighted their work in building sustainable food sources throughout Malaysia, such as:
- The Lost Food Project rescues surplus goods and other essentials and redistributes rescued them to those in need in the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru area.
- Epic provides communities in Kampung Orang Asli Gurney and Kampung Orang Asli Sg Kelubi in Hulu Selangor with sustainable water supply and farming programmes.
- PWD Smart Farmability provides fresh, organic and nutritious meat and vegetables for welfare centres across seven regions in Peninsular Malaysia by building aquaponic satellite farms.
- Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia provides alternative water systems and organic farms to underserved communities in Sarawak & Sabah including Long Tanyit, Belaga, Kg Gana, and Kota Marudu, whilst building capacity to empower women in finding alternative sources of income.
- Hopes Malaysia empowers families to sustainably farm for lasting food security by improving the existing gravity water system for homes and farms in Kg. Pinolobuh, Kota Belud, Sabah.
- Hope Place Kuching improves the health and livelihood of the underprivileged in Sarawak by channelling them basic food aid and necessities.
- Kupikupifm maintains alternative water systems for rural villages in Sabah and continues working to connect systems to increase the adoption of community farming.
Apart from contributing their steps, employees in HEINEKEN Malaysia are taking a direct role in community work, for the first time. Volunteers are working together with NGOs and community partners to provide on-the-ground experience to HEINEKEN employees, who are inspired to give back to those in need.
For more information about HEINEKEN Malaysia’s sustainability and initiatives, visit HEINEKEN Malaysia’s official website at www.heinekenmalaysia.com or SPARK Foundation’s official website: sparkfoundation.com.my.
