Yesterday, our colleagues departed for Mumbai to take part in a new edition of the International Corporate Volunteering Program, a transformative experience that combines cooperation, learning, and solidarity. From June 13th to 21st, eleven employees from different departments will immerse themselves in a unique experience alongside the children of the Govandi slum, in collaboration with the NGO Cooperación Internacional.
The participants in this adventure are Sandra Barriendos, Juan Artajo, Jaime Ciprés, Ana Gayarre, Sergio Gila, Guzmán Roche, Javier Alastuey, Ramón Sanz, Emilio Satué, Rocío Gracia, and Laura Cáceres, who this year join the Cooperación Internacional team in Mumbai.
Sandra Barriendos
Since what year has this volunteering activity been carried out and how has it evolved since then?
This volunteering activity at Bergner took its first steps thanks to employees who, driven by a strong social commitment and on a voluntary basis, decided to participate alongside the organization Cooperación Internacional in a solidarity trip to India. There, they actively collaborated with the Youth Leadership Program, a project which Bergner was already sponsoring.
It was in 2022 when it was officially established as part of Bergner's International Corporate Volunteering Project. That same year, a group of ten employees embarked on a new journey, this time to the city of Tangier, to participate in the Inclusive Health Project, also sponsored by Bergner.
Since then, the initiative has undergone constant evolution, expanded its scope and consolidated its impact. In 2023, as part of this growth, two international volunteering programs were organized, one in India and another in Tangier. These trips allowed Bergner employees to actively participate in cooperation projects with which the company continuously collaborates.
Thanks to this initiative, each employee has the possibility to choose between both destinations, which not only reinforces the company’s social commitment but also fosters an organizational culture based on solidarity and participation.
Through active listening and continuous learning, we have refined the activities, adapting them to the specific needs of each community. This has allowed each encounter to become more meaningful, both for those receiving aid and for those providing it.
The most valuable aspect of this initiative is its ability to generate real human impact. Beyond material aid, it builds a bridge of solidarity, empathy, and transformation. In each edition, the project grows not only in scale but in depth, becoming a concrete manifestation of the social commitment that defines Bergner.
The goal has remained the same since day one, to create a positive, tangible, and lasting impact on communities in need. And with each step, with each participant, we get a little closer to that shared objective.
What excites you most about accompanying this new group of volunteers to Mumbai?
This will be my second year living this experience, so I still don't consider myself very experienced in accompanying groups. However, perhaps precisely because of that, what excites me most about returning to Mumbai with this new group of volunteers is the possibility of sharing something deeply transformative with them, both on an individual and collective level.
There is something truly powerful in observing how people from different areas, profiles, and backgrounds generously get excited, get involved with authenticity, and dare to step out of their comfort zones to offer their time, energy, and hearts to others. Everyone arrives with different expectations, but we all end up connecting with something much bigger, the real meaning of helping.
One of the most special moments is when that "first spark" appears in the volunteers’ eyes. That almost magical instant when they realize that what they are doing has a real impact. Not only are they generating positive change for those receiving help, but they are also transforming themselves. It's a powerful awareness that often marks a before and after in how they see the world.
I also find it very exciting to share this experience with employees who are returning for another round of volunteering. Far from losing enthusiasm, they come back with renewed energy, more eager than ever, and become role models for the newcomers. Seeing them relive the emotions of the first time, and how they share them with the newcomers, is truly inspiring. Their enthusiasm is contagious and shows that this experience not only leaves a mark but invites us to keep going.
Returning to Mumbai is not simply repeating an experience. It’s reliving it with a new perspective, with different people, with more awareness. And that, for me, is an enormous privilege.
Guzmán Roche
What do you hope to learn from a reality so different like the slums of Mumbai?
After experiencing this last year, I know that being in direct contact with this reality not only impacts you but transforms you. This second time, I hope to go even deeper into the human and emotional learning that comes from living with people who, despite the difficulties, transmit incredible strength and generosity. I also hope to observe how the project has evolved and contribute again to a more conscious and prepared place.
What values do you think Bergner transmits by organizing these kinds of actions?
Bergner shows a strong commitment to social responsibility, empathy, and solidarity. Through these initiatives, it highlights the importance of looking beyond the corporate environment and actively contributing to the well-being of other communities. It also reinforces values such as teamwork, respect for diversity, and social sensitivity, making employees feel part of a company with a purpose.
Javier Alastuey
Why did you decide to return to Mumbai as a volunteer?
The experience I had in the past was so enriching on a personal level that I felt the urge to return. Before joining Bergner, I did this volunteering in 2016 and 2017 through CI. In fact, I discovered Bergner thanks to volunteering, not the other way around as is the case for most of my colleagues. Many people wonder why I’ve done this kind of volunteering, what the kids get out of it if we are not painting their houses or building them. Helping others is also helping them to be happy, to teach them to smile, and football is a perfect vehicle for this. Sport unites cultures, religions, and social classes. The children’s faces say it all, it's something inexplicable. Moreover, sport helps them grow as people. After returning from Mumbai, I realized that the ones who really helped me were them, because I learned to see life from another perspective and to appreciate what I have.
What kind of activities will you do with the children during the week, both educational and sports?
Football and English activities.
Emilio Satué
What led you to participate in this international social activity?
I had previously participated in volunteering activities in Zaragoza with the same NGO and wanted to personally experience how these kinds of actions are carried out in a very different country under challenging conditions.
What would you like to experience or feel daily with the children in the slums?
Personally, I think what these children will give me and the mark that will leave on my life experience will be much more impactful. I am sure there will be many emotions, sometimes contradictory, but all of them will leave a lasting impression that will make us reflect and raise awareness about our way of life. Feeling life to the fullest with the vitality, harshness, and naturalness that the children will probably offer us.
Ana Gayarre
What motivated you to repeat this experience?
My first experience in Mumbai last year was so special that repeating it became almost a necessity for me. It was an experience that deeply moved me and changed my way of seeing things. I can’t wait to see the children again, to spend time with them, to contribute my grain of sand, and above all, to feel that special connection that is created there. It’s hard to explain, but it's a mix of emotion, learning, and reality that captivates you. I am motivated by everything, the project, the people, the atmosphere, everything.
What did you learn in your first volunteering that you will apply for this time?
What I took away the most was learning to value what I have and to stop taking so many things for granted. There you realize that many times we worry about things that really don’t matter that much, and that changes your perspective. I was also deeply touched by the children’s pure and sincere love, how they give themselves with a smile, expecting nothing in return. This second time I want to go with my eyes and heart just as open, eager to continue learning from them and to give back a little of everything they gave me.
Rocío Gracia
How are you mentally preparing for such an intense and enriching experience?
Doing volunteering abroad has always been one of my dreams, and thanks to the anecdotes and experiences my colleagues have shared over the past few weeks, I have been mentally preparing for what I imagine will be my toughest challenge, cultural shock. That's why I’m going with a very open mind, ready to enjoy, contribute, and give my best.
What would you like to give to the children, besides your time?
I would like to bring them joy and fun. I believe that children's childhoods should never be stained with bad memories, so I would love that in the future, when they remember their time at school, they recall with great affection how much they enjoyed and laughed playing football. That’s the little grain of sand I hope to contribute to their happy childhood memories.
Sergio Gila
What do you hope to find personally in this experience outside your professional routine?
I hope to find joy and learn to value what really matters, to realize that happiness comes from the little things, not from material things.
How would you like to contribute to the team during the stay?
By contributing to all the small grains of sand, we can provide joy, fun, etc.
Jaime Ciprés
What do you already know about the activities you will carry out there?
In my case, I’ve had the privilege of being directly involved in all the projects that the NGO Cooperación Internacional has been running in Mumbai practically since the beginning, so I know the activities well. The NGO carries out three projects in Mumbai throughout the year, one for water purification in marginalized areas, another offering training to women victims of human trafficking, and the third one, where we will be volunteering, with children from a slum at risk of social exclusion. Our role with these children will be to help them strengthen what Cooperación Internacional calls the "3Cs", Body, through football training, Head, through English classes, and Heart, by accompanying them while they do volunteer work themselves at one of the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta centers for people with disabilities. This program provides comprehensive training for the children while also “opening their eyes” so that they become aware that, despite all the difficulties caused by their current situation, they have great value as people and much to contribute to others.
What do you hope to personally contribute to the children in the slum?
Although one week is not enough to change the world, the value of a group of volunteers traveling just to be with them for a week is immense in every sense. It makes the children aware of how important they are to the project and motivates them to continue attending the program throughout the year. It not only greatly helps the children but also the local NGO workers in India, who, after a whole year of regular attendance, might feel tired or unmotivated. Seeing the excitement of a group of volunteers traveling all the way from Spain just to be part of the project reminds them of the greatness of what they’re part of.
Ramón Sanz
What motivated you to join the volunteering and step out of your comfort zone?
Above all, I’m motivated by the opportunity to have a real impact on other people's lives, to contribute to things that help improve their lives, or at least try to. It’s also an incredible opportunity for personal growth. Being willing to leave my comfort zone, despite the challenges it involves, allows me to develop new skills and learn to adapt to unfamiliar situations.
How do you think this experience will transform you on a human and personal level?
This is my 4th participation in the India volunteering, and I have also been part of similar adventures in several other countries. Over these years, I have truly learned to appreciate diversity and better understand different realities. I believe I am now more empathetic and more aware of the importance of communication and collaboration in building a more inclusive future.
Juan Artajo
What motivated you to volunteer for this experience?
Although this will be my third time going to India, since the very first year, I’ve felt that through this experience I have the opportunity to help, even if only on a small scale, to make life a little easier for people who live in realities very different from mine. These experiences and contrasts that we live thanks to the corporate volunteering program organized by Bergner help you to appreciate everyday life.
How are you preparing emotionally and logistically for the trip?
Emotionally, I try to go with an open mind, without clear expectations, knowing that every year is different and brings its own experiences. It also helps me appreciate daily life and good moments.
Logistically, I try to prepare everything in advance: vaccines, documentation, packing... It’s a unique experience that you live before, during, and after, so I try to be fully present at every stage.
Laura Cáceres
What does participate in this type of volunteering mean to you?
For me, participating in this type of volunteering holds deep meaning.
It offers me the opportunity for personal growth, to learn about Mumbai’s culture, and to develop greater empathy towards the challenges faced by other communities.
In addition, I’m motivated by the idea of being able to contribute positively to other people's lives and to work alongside people from diverse backgrounds.
How do you think this experience will influence your view of the world?
I feel that this experience will not only enrich my life and my skills, but will also give me a sense of purpose by being part of something meaningful that, in any case, has the obligation to generate a positive impact.
On the other hand, there’s the satisfaction of knowing that I am contributing to something greater than myself, something that will inevitably change my perspective and understanding of the world.
