Worker welfare, Busia
Nourishing the people who keep the work going.
At the Burlcore Foundation, we recognise that our greatest asset is our people. The strength of the operations we support relies on the hard work, dedication and well-being of the on-site teams at our local mining site who show up every single day. As part of our ongoing commitment to employee welfare and community health, we have launched a new nutritional support programme designed specifically for those teams.
Nourishing our workforce
Twice a week, extra food, brought fresh from the local Busia market, is added to on-site provisions. Sourcing locally keeps money circulating in the community and supports the farmers and vendors we live and work alongside. Each delivery includes:
- Locally sourced greens, rich in essential vitamins and iron to support overall vitality.
- Boiled eggs, a crucial source of high-quality protein to aid muscle recovery and sustained energy.
- Fresh bananas, a natural, potassium-rich energy boost perfect for long shifts.
Supporting the local economy
Every basket bought is capital into a Busia household.
This initiative goes beyond the health of the workers. By sourcing the bananas, eggs and greens from local farmers and vendors, the Foundation is directly injecting capital into the local agricultural economy. As operations grow, the communities surrounding them should grow alongside them, so weekly provisions are bought right on our doorstep.
Programme update
Fresh greens have now been added to every delivery.
Alongside the eggs and bananas, the Foundation has now added fresh leafy greens — dodo, nakati and cowpea leaves — bought each week from Busia market traders and prepared on site by our cook. It is a small change with a real effect: greens bring iron and folate to guard against anaemia and fatigue, vitamin A and C for immunity and eyesight, and fibre that helps the team stay steady through long shifts in the heat.
These greens are locally sourced from Busia market traders, so every delivery strengthens the local economy as well as the team. Buying in volume puts more regular income into the hands of the women who grow and sell them, and gives the whole crew a hot, balanced meal rather than a snack.
New partnership
Meet Babra: our banana supplier in Busia market.
This month the Foundation met Babra, a market trader in Busia, to talk about supplying the bananas for our weekly food enhancements. We have funded her stall in the market, giving her a proper, secure place to trade from and store her stock.
Next, John will show Babra where the mine site is so she can begin regular deliveries herself. It ties her business directly into the weekly food enhancements initiative: our team gets fresh fruit on a dependable schedule, and Babra gets a steady, repeating order she can build a livelihood around.
A broader commitment to care
This food programme is one tier of a comprehensive, multi-phase community strategy the Foundation is rolling out. From supporting local healthcare facilities and maternity wards to funding educational supplies for nursery children, our goal is to create a legacy of positive impact. By ensuring the women and men driving operations forward have access to wholesome, fresh and nutritious food, we are investing in their health, their families and our shared future.
