Heineken Malaysia has officially concluded its fifth year of the Heineken Cares programme, reaffirming its commitment to building more resilient communities.
Through strategic partnerships, the programme has continued to support vulnerable groups across Malaysia with access to clean water, improved food security and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Guided by its Brew a Better World sustainability strategy, the company has invested over RM1.9 million into initiatives that not only address immediate needs but also build the foundation for long-term social and environmental impact.
The prgrammes was launched in 2021 to provide food aid during the pandemic, and Heineken Cares has since evolved into a platform that champions community development and empowerment.
Today, it focuses on building long-term resilience, from improving clean water access to remote villages, to building small farms that feed families, and equipping communities with tools to build a sustainable livelihood through sustainable aquaponics and vermicomposting. These efforts highlight the programme’s drive to create real, lasting change for communities in need.
Heineken Malaysia corporate affairs and legal director Renuka Indrarajah said, “At Heineken Malaysia, we believe that access to food and water is a basic human right. Heineken Cares began as a response to immediate needs, but it soon became clear that lasting change required more.
“We have since shifted our focus to making long-term impact by empowering local changemakers and building strong partnerships. We’re proud of how collective action has uplifted lives and strengthened communities, staying true to our purpose of Brewing the Joy of True Togetherness.”
The most recent Heineken Cares collaboration brought together four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social enterprises: Hopes Malaysia, PWD Smart FarmAbility, Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia (SIROM), and MyKasih Foundation to address essential community needs.
This impactful initiative was made possible through a partnership with Sokong, a digital fundraising platform that supports NGOs, enabling Heineken Cares to extend its reach.
In 2024 alone, the programme allocated RM220,000 in support of critical projects nationwide:
1. Bringing clean water access to rural Sabah through Hopes Malaysia
With its longstanding partnership with HEINEKEN Cares, Hopes Malaysia is expanding access to clean water in rural Sabah for the third consecutive year. After successful projects in Kampung Pinolobuh in 2023 and Kampung Kiau Taburi in 2024, the NGO is now focusing on Kampung Naragai Tuguson, where 41 families will benefit from upgraded gravity-fed water systems.
Aaron Bosuang, the public executive of Hopes Malaysia, said, “Hopes Malaysia worked with the rural community of Kampung Kiau Taburi to reconstruct their damaged gravity water system’s storage, sustainably improving clean water access for 1,050 villagers.”
Enhancing food security through local farming with PWD Smart FarmAbility
In Klang Valley, PWD Smart FarmAbility is empowering marginalised groups, including welfare homes, old folks’ homes, orphanages and youths in need, through aquaponics-based satellite farms. These innovative systems teach communities to sustainably cultivate vegetables and rear fish, boosting food security through self-sufficiency.
Dr Billy Tang, the project Manager for PWD Smart FarmAbility, commented, “One of our most impactful initiatives was deploying the Soil-U-tion Aquaponics Satellite Farm Proprietary System to underserved communities. These systems enable marginalised groups to sustainably grow vegetables and farm tilapia using regenerative practices.”
Introducing sustainable farming for the Orang Asli in Bentong with SIROM
In Kg Sg. Lebak, Bentong, SIROM has been training the Orang Asli community in sustainable aquaponics and vermicomposting, enhancing access to nutritious food while creating income opportunities. Harvests in May and August 2024 generated RM37,000 in sales, and the next phase will benefit 100 families (392 villagers) through training and expansion.
SIROM project manager Joanne Yeoh said the project aims to empower the Orang Asli community in Kg Sg. Lebak at Bentong, Pahang, helping them to break away from the vicious circle of poverty.
Combating hunger for B40 families with the MyKasih Foundation
Continuing its cashless food aid programme, MyKasih Foundation supports 120 families in Desa Mentari, who each receive RM100 credited to their MyKad to buy essential food items at over 600 retail outlets. This method gives families the dignity and flexibility to meet their daily needs.
Asha C Devi, the programme manager for MyKasih Foundation, shared, “MyKasih not only aims to improve nutrition through its food aid programme but also strives to transform families through skills training and education to break the poverty cycle and give them hope for a better future.”
For more information, visit Heineken Malaysia’s official website https://www.heinekenmalaysia.com/ or Spark Foundation’s official website: sparkfoundation.com.my.
