Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

SHONA MCDONALD, SHONAQUIP[ south africa ]her idea: designing wheelchairs for childrenwho cannot afford any or cannot use thestandard models.her approach: building strong wheelchairs andproviding appropriate assistive devices thateffectively reduce the development of secondaryhealth complications in disabled children.The vision of the “Making More Health”initiative is to identify new and better waysof improving health globally.NEW WAYS OF IMPROVINGHEALTHSince 2010, Boehringer Ingelheim and the non-governmentalorganisation Ashoka have been working together in a globalpartnership, “Making More Health”. Its vision is to identify newand better ways of improving health globally. The objectivesare to source social innovation around the world, to exploreunconventional partnerships and business models, and toinclude and develop Boehringer Ingelheim employees.By supporting social entrepreneurs (seeright) in the field of health, BoehringerIngelheim aims to provide better healthbeyond its core business.With Ashoka, the company wants toprepare for 21st century challenges ofhealth access by understanding trendsin key areas, including healthcare delivery,the globalisation of health issues,the changing face of healthcare providersand the patient’s role, especially inlow-income populations.20 new social entrepreneurs were elected“Making More Health” fellows byBoehringer Ingelheim and Ashoka in2012 (see examples in grey boxes above.More online).“Youth Venture”By the end of 2013, “Making MoreHealth” will be supporting 50 socialentrepreneurs and numerous youthprojects. The “Youth Venture” programme,designed to grant every youngperson the opportunity to be a changemaker,supports 12 – 24 year olds inlaunching their own changemakingprojects. These ventures address andimprove local problems in the field ofhealth in the areas of nutrition, sports,environment, social cooperation ortotally different areas associated withhealth in the broadest sense.Through the “Youth Venture” initiative,young people shall develop an earlyunderstanding of empathy, teamwork,problem solving and leadership behaviourand take responsibility for theirown actions. The overall objective is to18 Boehringer Ingelheim annual report 2012