Supporting humanitarian and social development efforts

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations toward humanitarian and social projects. As a healthcare company, we commit to building stronger and healthier communities by improving human services and support systems, especially for those who need them most. We work with local authorities and partners who share our commitment to long-term solutions and who are prepared to contribute, for example, by providing essential infrastructure or local resources.

Partnership with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Women and children draw water from fountain built by the ICRC and maintained by the Mali Red Cross. (Copyright: ICRC)

We have supported the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for 100 years, and in 2005 became a founding member of the ICRC Corporate Support Group. Since 2006 we have contributed to water and habitat activities in several countries, including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Liberia, Uganda, Burundi, Eritrea, Guinea and Mali. These activities aim to ensure that people affected by armed conflict have access to clean water, proper sanitation and sustainable living environments.

In 2017, Roche contributed to ICRC projects in Mali that aim to improve the access to clean water for over 630,000 people. These projects built and upgraded water supply systems in violence-affected communities for personal consumption, for livestock and for agricultural use.

Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Trains

Phelophepa train travels through rural South Africa

phelophepaThe Transnet-Phelophepa trains are mobile healthcare clinics that travel nine months out of the year to areas of rural South Africa, where there is just one doctor for every 5,000 patients. Phelophepa, which translates to “good, clean health” is owned and operated by Transnet Foundation, with Roche being Phelophepa’s main external sponsor and providing funding since the initiative started in 1994.

The Phelophepa trains travel to up to 70 remote communities and provide free healthcare services and education to more than 460,000 local residents each year. From modest beginnings as a three-car train in 1994, the service was expanded to two 18-coach trains by 2012.

Read more about Phelophepa

The Roche Employee Action and Charity Trust

Roche employees support children’s initiatives in Malawi and other communities
Roche employees support children’s initiatives in Malawi and other communities

In 2006, the Roche Employee Action and Charity Trust (Re&Act) was established to manage voluntary financial contributions from Roche employees. Fully funded and supported by Roche and its employees, Re&Act is an independent trust that supports community improvement projects worldwide, with a focus on children’s initiatives. Re&Act has helped build infrastructures like child-friendly schools and day centers in underserved areas, such as Malawi and Ethiopia. Additionally, given the deficit of teachers in Malawi due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Re&Act supported the building and launch of a teachers training college in southern Malawi that has the capacity to train 560 teachers a year.

Read more about Re&Act

Read about our philantropy activities around the world

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