Corporate volunteering is a key part of Bergner Europe's social commitment. Through strategic alliances with NGOs and the active involvement of our employees, we work to generate a positive impact on vulnerable communities.
In the framework of World NGO Day, we highlight our solidarity work and talk to Sonia Sanchez, Corporate Social Volunteering Coordinator, to learn more about the projects developed in 2024 and the level of participation of our teams in these initiatives.
What types of volunteer projects and activities have been developed in 2024 in Bergner Europe?
Thanks to Bergner's commitment to social and environmental issues, several Corporate Volunteering actions have arisen involving Bergner employees in the projects with which the company collaborates.
Thus arises Bergner Employee Actions, which encompasses the various corporate volunteering activities organized by the company. In 2024, we continue to organize, as we have done for more than six years, the monthly activities with the children and young people of the PLS (Social Leadership Program), a project that seeks to improve the quality of life of children in situations of social exclusion in the neighborhood of San Pablo, in Zaragoza. Once a month, usually on the last Thursday of the month, employees attend recreational activities with the children participating in the PLS, who receive reinforcement classes and soccer training in the afternoons. These activities function as a 'reward' for children and young people who demonstrate good behavior at school.
These actions aim to transmit values such as empathy and teamwork to the children and young people. It is also important to highlight the International Volunteering project, in which we have been working since 2022. Its objective is for employees to collaborate for a week in projects financed by Bergner in Tangier, focused on the social inclusion of children and young people with disabilities through cooking.
The Mumbai project follows the same methodology as the PLS in Zaragoza, developing specifically in the Baiganwadi Slum, where employees help with English classes and sports activities to improve their future opportunities and break the cycle of poverty. Finally, it is worth mentioning our collaboration in the Christmas campaign A Smile for Christmas, in which Bergner employees, through the purchase of a gift or donation, collaborate so that the children of the Zaragoza project have a gift for Christmas, since their families cannot afford it.
What has been the level of employee participation in 2024?
In 2024, a total of 30 employees participated in at least one of the corporate volunteering activities organized monthly. In addition, 13 employees joined the International Volunteering in Mumbai, organized together with the NGO International Cooperation, collaborating in projects funded by Bergner. Thanks to the employees' participation, we were able to collect a total of 30 gifts for the Christmas campaign.
How many hours of volunteering have been carried out in 2024 and how many direct beneficiaries have participated or received support?
In 2024, the total number of hours dedicated to corporate volunteering in the 10 activities organized between October and July amounted to 40 hours.
On the other hand, International Volunteering has represented a total of 168 hours for each employee who participated. As for the beneficiaries:
- Through the Social Leadership Program, through which Bergner carries out monthly corporate volunteering activities, 120 direct and 340 indirect beneficiaries have been supported.
- In the India project, thanks to the collaboration of Bergner employees, 90 children have benefited directly and 270 indirectly.
- In the Christmas campaign, the beneficiaries were 30 direct and 60 indirect.
What percentage of the total workforce participated in at least one volunteer activity in 2024?
In 2024, 26% of the total workforce participated in Monthly Corporate Volunteering activities, without considering other volunteering actions, such as International Volunteering or the Christmas Campaign. If these initiatives are included, the percentage of participation rises to 60% of the workforce in the Spanish offices.
Which projects or activities have generated the greatest verifiable social impact and how has this impact been measured?
If I had to highlight one success story, it would be the set of actions that make up Bergner Employee Actions. However, if we focus on specific details, the monthly activities that have had the greatest impact and acceptance among employees are undoubtedly the cooking workshops at La Zarola and the afternoon with the children at the amusement park. Participation in these activities has shown a significant increase, reflecting their positive impact on both employees and beneficiaries.
Have you received direct feedback from the communities or individuals benefited in 2024 and how have you incorporated that feedback to improve future projects?
We receive a constant flow of feedback through our interlocutors at the NGO Cooperación Internacional, with whom we have a very close professional relationship. In addition, for 2025, we are broadening our scope and incorporating other social groups, such as people with disabilities and the elderly, in some of the calendar activities. This initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration with the NGO and generate synergies between these groups and the communities they work with.
Thanks to these actions we continue to add up, because every gesture counts. Our efforts add up and together we make a difference. Living for Others is more than a slogan, it is our way of transforming the world. The Best Team!
