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Volunteers’ Work in 2008
During the past year, Telefónica Volunteers participated in 767 different Corporate Volunteer service Activities. Contributions from volunteers has been both financial, through monthly contributions to specific projects, and physical, by dedicating time to the Proniño program. In some cases, there was a combination of both. A total of more than 341.109 hours were devoted to doing voluntary work in 2008.
Among the many initiatives worthy of mention: fund-raising activities and materials collection, logistical support in organizing events and distribution or handouts, aid to children and dependent people, providing guidance and materials for training workshops, professional assistance with ICT projects, advice on business management, solidarity trips, and so on.
Achieving this level of participation required a great deal of creativity and a well defined recruitment and training process, since a good number of the employees had never participated in volunteer projects before. As employees became more involved in the program, they started to convince their co-workers to join in the volunteer work.
Fourth Edition of Solidarity Vacations
The aim of this project is to reinforce the social volunteer service of Telefónica employees. Every year during the holiday season, socially conscious volunteers travel to countries where Proniño operates, to help eradicate child labor. Last year the countries visited were Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Peru.
This initiative lasted four weeks. During the first three weeks, the volunteers helped the local NGOs that work with Proniño, and the fourth was left free for cultural and leisure activities. Volunteers worked promoting children’s reading and writing habits, playing games, refurbishing school centers, and so on.
In 2008, more than 300 requests were received. Of the 60 available spots, 40 were given to employees in Spain, 10 to employees of Telefónica O2 Europa and another 10 to Telefónica employees of different Latin American countries. These volunteers prepared these solidarity vacations with the NGO Coordinator of Spain Development during a training day held in Segovia. Participating volunteers met again in December to share their experiences from the summer and to make proposals for the future.
Among the many initiatives worthy of mention: fund-raising activities and materials collection, logistical support in organizing events and distribution or handouts, aid to children and dependent people, providing guidance and materials for training workshops, professional assistance with ICT projects, advice on business management, solidarity trips, and so on.
Achieving this level of participation required a great deal of creativity and a well defined recruitment and training process, since a good number of the employees had never participated in volunteer projects before. As employees became more involved in the program, they started to convince their co-workers to join in the volunteer work.
| Num. of Volunteers | Activities conducted | Hours donated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1.215 | 183 | 8.780 |
| Brazil | 4.366 | 11 | 85.126 |
| Chile | 1.026 | 31 | 65.000 |
| Colombia | 1.387 | 19 | 787 |
| Ecuador | 710 | 30 | 3.472 |
| El Salvador | 249 | 10 | 6.958 |
| España | 5.876 | 98 | 79.177 |
| Guatemala | 238 | 10 | 2.100 |
| México | 850 | 109 | 8.553 |
| Nicaragua | 99 | 2 | 160 |
| Panamá | 242 | 42 | 3.207 |
| Perú | 3.021 | 120 | 57.129 |
| Uruguay | 189 | 11 | 1.350 |
| Venezuela | 2.339 | 91 | 19.280 |
| TOTAL | 21.807 | 767 | 341.109 |
Fourth Edition of Solidarity Vacations
The aim of this project is to reinforce the social volunteer service of Telefónica employees. Every year during the holiday season, socially conscious volunteers travel to countries where Proniño operates, to help eradicate child labor. Last year the countries visited were Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Peru.
This initiative lasted four weeks. During the first three weeks, the volunteers helped the local NGOs that work with Proniño, and the fourth was left free for cultural and leisure activities. Volunteers worked promoting children’s reading and writing habits, playing games, refurbishing school centers, and so on.
In 2008, more than 300 requests were received. Of the 60 available spots, 40 were given to employees in Spain, 10 to employees of Telefónica O2 Europa and another 10 to Telefónica employees of different Latin American countries. These volunteers prepared these solidarity vacations with the NGO Coordinator of Spain Development during a training day held in Segovia. Participating volunteers met again in December to share their experiences from the summer and to make proposals for the future.
Who Has Been Helped by the Program?
The number of people impacted by Telefónica Volunteers work in 2008 was around 246.000, mainly children, young people and adults with limited economic resources or at risk of social exclusion, students in primary and secondary education, sick and elderly people or people with disabilities, as well as the victims of natural disasters.
General and Specialized Training Strengthen Volunteers’ Capabilities
From the start of the program, Fundación Telefónica has tried to give proper training to volunteers to guide them in their joint activities. At present, most countries where the program is run provide training to volunteers to enhance their work skills, to equip them with knowledge of the social environment and resources in order to improve the impact of their actions. The aim is that volunteers should acquire practical tools for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of projects. In this regard, nearly 2,300 volunteers participated in 129 organized training activities in 2008, given over more than 20,875 hours of training.
Seamless and Effective Communications
Furthermore, the Telefónica Volunteers program also makes a serious effort to communicate and publicize its actions. As it is a nationwide program in each host country, it relies on effective channels of communication, both internal and external. This way, one can have a clear view of the social problems being dealt with, increase awareness and promote social support for the programs.
Chief among these channels are the Internet portals where one can learn about the different options to participate in solidarity projects, campaigns, volunteer service, special events and other interesting activities. In addition, the portals offer volunteers the possibility of presenting their own ideas for working with social organizations in their local community, also allowing these organizations to publicize their activities so that volunteers can join them to help.
The program also uses other channels, such as the Telefónica’s corporate Intranet, the Intranet of various companies, BBSs, etc. Finally, Fundación Telefónica also participates in congresses and conferences of the Third Sector, receiving a growing number of invitations, as a leader and example of promoting corporate volunteerism.
Chief among these channels are the Internet portals where one can learn about the different options to participate in solidarity projects, campaigns, volunteer service, special events and other interesting activities. In addition, the portals offer volunteers the possibility of presenting their own ideas for working with social organizations in their local community, also allowing these organizations to publicize their activities so that volunteers can join them to help.
The program also uses other channels, such as the Telefónica’s corporate Intranet, the Intranet of various companies, BBSs, etc. Finally, Fundación Telefónica also participates in congresses and conferences of the Third Sector, receiving a growing number of invitations, as a leader and example of promoting corporate volunteerism.
Telefónica Volunteer Day 2008
The purpose of this day was for Telefónica Volunteers to cooperate with Proniño in helping to end child labor. For a few days in October, volunteers from the fourteen countries with Proniño programs made improvements on school facilities, delivered equipment and materials obtained through donations, organized extramural activities, etc.
In Argentina, a film archive was inaugurated in Buenos Aires; a library in the province of Salta and a games area in Tres Isletas; in Brazil, there were various physical improvements on Proniño centers; in Chile the “Proniño Sports Olympics” were held, as well as a Cultural Day; while in Colombia, Proniño children visited the headquarters of Movistar, Telecom and Terra in Bogotá, where they took part in educational games.
Volunteers in Ecuador also took part in encouraging reading activities; environmental activities were carried out in El Salvador; in Spain there were three “Solidarity Races” held in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville and school material was collected for the Proniño centers; and in Guatemala a school was visited in Sumpango, Sacatepéquet. Likewise, in Mexico, they organized a soccer match and a school was cleaned and conditioned for use; in Nicaragua, there were reading and painting workshops and books and colored pencils were donated, as they were in Panama, where in addition an environment play was put on for children.
With the slogan of “Buddy for a Day”, each enrolled volunteer at the four Telefónica Centers in Lima, Peru was visited individually at his/her workplace by a Proniño beneficiary child. In Uruguay the library and playroom of an NGO partner’s recreational area was refurbished. Finally, volunteers in all regions of Venezuela shared a day of fun and games.
In Argentina, a film archive was inaugurated in Buenos Aires; a library in the province of Salta and a games area in Tres Isletas; in Brazil, there were various physical improvements on Proniño centers; in Chile the “Proniño Sports Olympics” were held, as well as a Cultural Day; while in Colombia, Proniño children visited the headquarters of Movistar, Telecom and Terra in Bogotá, where they took part in educational games.
Volunteers in Ecuador also took part in encouraging reading activities; environmental activities were carried out in El Salvador; in Spain there were three “Solidarity Races” held in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville and school material was collected for the Proniño centers; and in Guatemala a school was visited in Sumpango, Sacatepéquet. Likewise, in Mexico, they organized a soccer match and a school was cleaned and conditioned for use; in Nicaragua, there were reading and painting workshops and books and colored pencils were donated, as they were in Panama, where in addition an environment play was put on for children.
With the slogan of “Buddy for a Day”, each enrolled volunteer at the four Telefónica Centers in Lima, Peru was visited individually at his/her workplace by a Proniño beneficiary child. In Uruguay the library and playroom of an NGO partner’s recreational area was refurbished. Finally, volunteers in all regions of Venezuela shared a day of fun and games.
First Gathering of Telefónica Volunteers Coordinators
Near sixty representatives, including program managers and members of the volunteer service committees, representing all the Telefónica volunteers in Spain and Latin America, shared their experiences in May in Caracas at the First Gathering of Telefónica Volunteers Coordinators.
The participants debated various models of volunteer service and training, essential elements for proper program management, detailing the effective practices being carried out in their respective countries. Among the different issues discussed was the impact of volunteer service on the company’s human resource management and various aspects of communication. In addition, several NGOs contributed their views of the corporate volunteer service programs currently underway.
The participants debated various models of volunteer service and training, essential elements for proper program management, detailing the effective practices being carried out in their respective countries. Among the different issues discussed was the impact of volunteer service on the company’s human resource management and various aspects of communication. In addition, several NGOs contributed their views of the corporate volunteer service programs currently underway.
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