Delhaize Group Fund supports 34 projects in Belgium and in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, to help residents work together to make their neighbourhood or village more liveable
10/21/2011
Press release in PDF
Encouraged by the achievements that previous prize-winners made with the support* received from Delhaize Group Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the Fund has launched its fourth call for projects. A total of 34 initiatives from Belgium and Luxembourg (14 in Flanders, 6 in Brussels, 11 in Wallonia and 3 in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) have been awarded. These initiatives promote the idea of neighbours coming together and participating in the collective wellbeing of their area or village.
On 21 October Delhaize Group Fund announced the results of the 2011 call for projects. A total of 34 projects, spread throughout Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, received support worth EUR 150 000. The prize-winning initiatives unite residents from different social, cultural and economic backgrounds. They strive for one common goal: that of getting to know their neighbours better and feeling good in their community.
Delhaize employees (associates) were also involved in the selection of projects and it was the project ‘The school in the neighbourhood’of the V-Tex school in Kortrijk that was voted the winning project. This project was awarded the ‘Delhaize Associates’ Prize’, which doubles the amount of financial support provided.
The jury, for their part, gave particular attention to the innovative elements of another project, “Come Dine with Me”, led by SEFoP in Herbeumont (province of Luxemburg, Belgium). This project aims to fight prejudices against asylum seekers who are residing in a centre located in the commune . They commented: “the originality of the project lies in adapting a concept that is well-known to sections of the population that are socially and culturally distanced from each other. There is also the symbolism of welcoming strangers into your home with the trust and open mindedness that is involved. The initiative leads to warmth and friendliness in the short term i.e. during the meal but also in the long term by reducing prejudices about asylum seekers and their aims.”
The following appendix contains an overview of the projects supported by Delhaize Group Fund and the contact data for each project. They can be contacted directly for more information if you wish.
For journalists who would like to have more information about the Fund, the projects supported (who the winners are and how the projects of previous winners have evolved), social cohesion etc., a virtual press room is available (in French and Dutch) at: http://pressroom.voice.be/fondsdelhaize.
The Fund is a partnership between Delhaize Group and the King Baudouin Foundation. With the foundation of this Fund within the King Baudouin Foundation, Delhaize Group is attesting to its goal of social responsibility in improving the collective welfare of communities where its stores are located.Corporate Responsibility is one of the three pillars of Delhaize Group’s strategy. Through this project the Group enforces its focus on being a socially responsible company that is concerned about meeting high standards in social, environmental and ethical matters. The Fund will launch a new call for projects in March 2012. www.kbs-frb.be.
* To mention just a few examples of the work done by the projects selected by Delhaize Group Fund in 2010:
· Improve mobility and knowledge of the Flemish language among female immigrants in the Antwerp region;
· Encourage good relationships between neighbours through social mediation by local volunteers in the east of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
· Create a friendly meeting point and gardening area in the province of Hainaut.
CONTACT FOR THE PRESS:
KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION DELHAIZE GROUP
Josse Abrahams Catherine Alexandre
Tel: +32-2-549 02 56 Mob: +32-495-54 61 42 Tel: +32 2 412 82 57
Brederodestraat 21 Marie Curiesquare 40
B – 1000 Brussels B – 1070 Brussels