The Delhaize Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, is supporting a total of 40 Belgian and Luxembourg initiatives in 2016, including 3 in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: the creation of a Remida by Arcus asbl, the "Once upon a time ..." workshops (of Il était une fois asbl), and Asociacion Manos Abiertas.
For the second consecutive year, emphasis has been placed on initiatives that reduce waste while promoting closer neighbours. A way for the inhabitants to participate better together in their neighbourhood, their city or their village.
This brings to a total of 306 the number of such projects carried out by residents and associations that Delhaize has supported since the fund started in 2008.
These projects echo Delhaize's commitment to limit waste on a daily basis, notably through donations of food surpluses, one of the pillars of sustainable development for the company. Nourishing the ambition of not having to throw away any more products by 2020, Delhaize has taken various initiatives over time; it has been cooperating with food banks and local organisations for many years. In this case, they are still consumable products, the expiry date of which has not been exceeded. Delhaize also initiated a collaboration with the Planckendael animal park to redistribute products unfit for human consumption and thus give them a second life.
The Fund will launch a new call for projects in March 2017. For details see www.kbs-frb.be
Remida: Launched in Italy, the Remida concept is a creative recycling centre that gives a second life to industrial and household waste. These are then redistributed to childcare centres, schools and cultural institutions. A Remida leaves plenty of room for the creativity of the child and gives him/her the opportunity to manipulate materials to make objects. After the success of a mini-Remeda, the Arcus training centre wants to take advantage of the exhibition on the Competent Child in 2017 to give this initiative a more permanent character in a district of Luxembourg.
Il était une fois: the association offers workshops that, through literature, art and music, enable young children to tackle themes important for their physical, intellectual and social development. The theme chosen for the next school year is waste reduction: how can we make better use of existing resources and give a second life to used materials? In the longer term, the association will apply these principles to its activities and will favour the reuse of used or recycled materials during its craft workshops.
Asociacion Manos Abiertas: This young organisation founded by emigrants for other emigrants wants to help overcome the obstacles (material aid, housing, employment ...) and also the prejudices that newcomers encounter. Solidarity-based lunches, language courses or a system for the recovery of food products and furniture will not only provide practical help for people in distress but will also create links with Luxembourg residents and create networks of solidarity.
