 |
 Distributing food at the Bukavu Catholic orphanage. The Foundation is repairing damage to the orphanage caused by a recent earthquake.  HIV Booklet for South Kivu High School Students  Laying the foundation for the Kigumo Health Centre  Preparing for the Sod Turning Event for the Lugushwa Women's Resource Centre  Gift of Clothing and School Supplies for Namoya school  Gift of New Beds for the Namoya hospital  Building the new Ntiazo bridge near Twangiza  Bringing potable water to a village near Lugushwa  South Kivu Minister of Mines, the Mwamikazi and other dignitaries attending the Bukavu BF Office Inauguration  Banro's Congolese employees on an educational trip to gold mining operations in Ghana  BF Coordinator Victor Basira awarding prize at Women's Soccer Tournament sponsored by Banro -sm.jpg) Hospital facility at Luhwinja (Twangiza)  Namoya community leaders tour the Banro sample prep lab  New latrines built for the Namoya hospital  Building the Lugushwa - Tukenga Road  Rebuilding Sarambila RC Church at Namoya  Distributing stationary to schools children at Twangiza  Humanitarian aid for a village damaged by fire near Namoya  New Desks for Lugushwa school children  Chief Geologist Dr Howard Fall teaching skills to Congolese geologists  Celebrating International Women's Day | |
Banro's commitment to corporate social responsibility has four facets - the Banro Foundation, which promotes local social and economic development, capacity-building job creation and training for Congolese citizens, environmental protection and workplace safety.
| BREAKING NEWS |
In August 2008, Banro employees assisted the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre (CRPL), with the rescue of a baby chimpanzee from a poacher. Nicknamed "Banro" by the CRPL, the healthy one-year old chimp is living in the CPRL chimpanzee nursery, 40 kilometres north of Bukavu.
|
"Banro" with Balume, Caretaker's manager of the CRPL |
Little "Banro" with Andrea, an Australian volunteer with CPRL |
Banro was a leading sponsor of the Bukavu Festival, a summer event which honors the arts and culture of the Great Lakes region of central Africa. Among the events which Banro supported under the banner of "Peace, Development and Security" was the Miss Great Lakes contest, which attracted contestants from the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi. The winner is a multi-talented young lady from the DRC, who will be acting as a spokesperson for Banro in helping to raise awareness among local communities of the need for AIDS prevention and improved treatment of women.
|
Miss Great Lakes with Banro President and CEO Mike Prinsloo and Dan Bansah, Banro Vice-President of Exploration. |
|
Road-building has become a major focus of the Banro Foundation in 2008, with three road construction projects currently underway. Good roads and bridges are critical to the economic and social development of local communities.
|
Rehabilitating the Butuza-Burhinyi Road |
Work proceeds on the Mulambi-Birhala road |
Among the organizations which the Banro Foundation helps to support is the Canadian Ape Alliance. Thanks to a financial gift from the Banro Foundation, the CAA in July 2008 was able to outfit the Lwiro Maternity Hospital, north of Bukavu, with new beds. The hospital serves a community that helps to protect and care for endangered primates.
|
Constructing new beds for the Lwiro maternity hospital |
New beds ready for use in the hospital |
Banro was honoured at a Gala Dinner in Vancouver on May 21, 2008 as one of five finalists for a Canadian Award for International Cooperation in the category of "Construction, Reconstruction and/or Rehabilitation of Physical Infrastructure." The Awards are given annually by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) in conjunction with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
At an April 2008 ceremony in Luwindja, near Twangiza, the Banro Foundation and local officials led by Baharanyi Esperance, Mwamikazi or mother of the tribal chief, laid the ceremonial stone to initiate construction of two major community projects - the building of the Naluhwindja Secondary School and construction of a potable water delivery system for Luwindja.
|
Damas Luliba of Banro (right) presents cheque to Mwamikazi Baharanyi Esperance to support construction of a potable water delivery system. |
Banro Foundation begins construction on the Naluhwindja Secondary School near Twangiza. |
Abbot Father Paul Kadundu (left), and Victor Basira and Willy Mushagalusa (right) of the Banro Foundation, with the Mwamikazi at the inauguration ceremony. |
Laying the first stone to mark the planned construction of the two projects. |
|
THE BANRO FOUNDATION
The eastern Congo has long suffered from inadequate investment and development assistance, a fact reflected in the poor state of the region's infrastructure, education, health care and public amenities. While Banro believes that mining development will in time contribute significantly to local economic development and job creation, and generate a range of economic spin-off benefits for communities, it also recognizes that additional efforts are necessary to promote sustained community development.
For that reason, the Company in 2005 created the Banro Foundation, a registered charity in the DRC with a mandate to support education, health and infrastructure improvements, principally in the communities where Banro operates. The Foundation focuses on needs identified by local community leaders and invests in improvements that benefit communities as a whole. Wherever possible, the Foundation employs local labour in all initiatives.
Our Vision
Sustainable development through primary education and skills development, improving health care, evolving infrastructure and encouragement of local business - leading to long-term, enhanced opportunities and quality of life for local Congolese communities.
Projects and Sponsorships in 2007
2007 proved to be an exceptionally active year for the Banro Foundation. Among projects completed were the following:
- Reconstruction of the Kadubo bridge near Twangiza.
- Provision of potable water to the village of Makalanga, near Lugushwa
- Construction of new latrines and the donation of new beds, mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets to the Namoya medical clinic.
- Gift of materials for the rehabilitation of the Sarambila Roman Catholic Church, near Namoya.
- Construction of the 35 kilometre-long Lugushwa-Tukenga road.
- The distribution of stationary supplies to a number of primary schools.
- Sponsorship of an HIV Awareness booklet for high school students in South Kivu, to mark HIV Fighting Month in December.
- Sponsorship of the Thwambe-Mwamba Foundation to provide scholarships to seven university students in Maniema Province.
- Financial assistance to the geology department of the Official University of Bukavu to offset the costs of Field Practical Training
- Sponsorship of the Don Bosco Foundation which provides assistance for street children in Kinshasa.
- Financial support for the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), which is responsible for the management of the Luama Kivu and Itombwe Reserve in South Kivu. (Amount unavailable).
- Sponsorship of the Women's Football Gala Competition, December 9 in Bukavu.
Projects initiated during the year, but begun in 2008 included:
- A three year project to supply potable water to the collectivity of Luwindja and territory of Mwenga, near Twangiza.
- Construction of three high schools in the Ludwindja-Twangiza area.
- Road rehabilitation in the collectivity of Burhinyi, a community lying between Bukavu and Twangiza.
- Construction of the new Kigumo health centre, near Lugushwa.
- Construction of a new health centre, near Lugushwa.
- Construction of a Women's Skills Training Centre, also near Lugushwa.
- Construction of the Sarambila Institute High School near Namoya.
- Rehabilitation of the Namoya medical clinic.
- Construction of the Lungomangoma Primary School in Kibiswa, also near Namoya.
In addition to its ongoing activities, the Foundation is often asked by local officials to undertake special projects in support of community development. In 2007, these requests included the renovation of a major bridge in the Bukavu area, undertaken at the request of the Governor of South Kivu. In early 2008, the Foundation was asked to enhance and align its social investments with activities arising from the January 23 Goma Peace Accord. Shortly thereafter, the Banro Foundation responded to needs resulting from the February 3 Lake Kivu earthquake, by assisting with reconstruction of an orphanage and repair to an arterial road in Bukavu.
Due to the rapid growth in Foundation activities, Banro in 2007 reorganized the Foundation to support an expanded number of initiatives, accelerate project development, and promote greater community involvement. Five full-time staff were brought on board and secretaries were hired in Twangiza, Namoya and Lugushwa to coordinate the Foundation's work at the local level. In each of our three communities, Banro established committees comprised of leading citizens to recommend community initiatives to be undertaken by the Foundation.
The Banro Foundation celebrated three major events in October when it inaugurated new offices at Twagniza, Lugushwa and Namoya. The provincial Governor and other senior provincial and local officials attended each ceremony. These buildings, which were fully renovated by the Foundation using local labour, are intended to provide a meeting place for local Banro Foundation committees, showcase the achievements of the Foundation and provide community information on Banro and the Foundation. In December, a new Banro Foundation Office was officially opened in Bukavu with a 3 day ceremony which attracted 342 visitors from the community and was attended by provincial ministers and local officials. Offices are planned for Kamituga and Kindu, capital of Maniema province, in 2008.
Banro Foundation Partnerships
In February 2008, Banro announced a partnership with CARE International to promote sustainable development at the communities near our operations. CARE proposes using the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals to focus Banro's community development efforts, with the goal of creating long-term sustainable economic and social benefits for these communities.
Thanks to the support of the David Smith Foundation of Ottawa, Banro was able to collect and ship medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics in the DRC. The supplies, which are due to arrive in Bukavu in May 2008, were carefully selected to meet medical needs identified by clinics in South Kivu and Maniema provinces.
The Banro Foundation also provides financial support to the Biotechnology Development Association Foundation of Montreal. This group works with a Jesuit botanist community near Kinshasa to foster the cultivation of specialized plants for use in medications, with the goal of introducing the cultivation of these specialized plants into rural Congolese communities. The BDA Foundation also operates a mobile medical clinic in rural areas of the DRC.
Creating Jobs and Opportunities
Banro is committed to creating capacity-building jobs and economic opportunities for local Congolese. In little more than three years, Banro has gone from having no presence in the eastern DRC to being one of the largest private employers in the region. As it has grown, the Company has deliberately created opportunities for local Congolese, while encouraging potential suppliers to grow businesses to supply Banro with goods and services.
- Of the 206 Banro employees in the DRC, 191 are Congolese citizens. Many of these employees work as geologists, technicians, lab workers and administrative employees.
- Banro's total complement of geologists in the DRC numbers 45; of these, 37 are Congolese. These are young, enthusiastic graduates of Congolese institutions.
- To support their professional development, the Company has put in place one of the most advanced and intensive industry training programs in Africa. Our goal is to raise these young people to professional levels of competence and ensure they will have bright futures in the mining industry. In 2007, for example, the Company organized a trip for our Congolese geologists to Ghana to observe and learn about mining operations.
- Of our 8 expatriate geologists, all have spent their careers in Africa, and all but three are Africans. Among our geologists are citizens of Ghana and Tanzania. We look forward to the day when the DRC can boast a large cadre of highly trained geologists, who can contribute to the development of the DRC.
- Additionally, through suppliers and contractors, Banro has created jobs for another 1110 Congolese - primarily individuals who live in the small villages where we operate.
- This is approximately 1,300 jobs that Banro has created in the DRC in little over three years.
Creating Opportunities for Women
Banro currently employs 21 women in its operations, primarily geologists, lab workers and administrative personnel; these include four women serving in senior positions. The Company is committed to increasing the number of female employees at all levels of the Company.
The Issue of Sexual Violence Against Women
Sexual violence against women is a serious issue in the eastern Congo. The violence occurs predominately in North Kivu, several hundred kilometers north of Bukavu and the Banro projects and is associated with an ongoing ethnic conflict in the area. The Company is not aware of incidents at or anywhere near its projects. The Banro Foundation will be working with CARE to address the issue of how the Foundation can participate in the efforts to end sexual violence. The Foundation is also in discussions with Dr. Denis Mukwege Mukengere of the renowned Panzi Referral Hospital near Bukavu, which specializes in the treatment of female victims of violence, to see how Banro Foundation might assist the hospital's work.
Environmental Protection and Workplace Safety
Banro's policy on environmental protection is contained within its Business Conduct Policy, which states the Company's belief that effectiveness in environmental standards, along with occupational health and safety, is an essential element in our approach to business. Banro works at continuous improvement in these areas and is guided by the following principles:
- creating a safe work environment;
- minimizing the environmental impacts of its activities;
- building cooperative working relationships with local communities and governments in the Company's areas of operations
- reviewing and monitoring environmental and safety performance; and
- prompt and effective response to any environmental and safety concerns.
Banro adheres to the E3 Environmental Excellence in Exploration guidelines, which was developed by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and is considered to be the guiding standard for environmental protection in the mineral exploration business worldwide. In developing plans for future mines, Banro is focusing on creating safe and environmentally sound operations and workplaces.
Banro's management also ensures that all employees and suppliers respect and adhere to the laws of the DRC with respect to the protection of threatened and endangered species.
| | |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
.jpg','photos',646,495,'yes','no','no','no','yes','yes',''))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)