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Objectives of the Program
Strategic Objectives of the Telefónica Volunteers program
General Goal: To make the Telefónica Group the worldwide leader in Corporate Volunteer service, by creating the largest social network of volunteering employees.
Global Strategy: Telefónica Volunteers works with lines of action: stimulating and supporting projects proposed by volunteers, and generating its own projects continuously over time. These projects must match the foundation’s strategic objectives and take into consideration the different profiles, skills and experience of the volunteers enrolled in the program.
Strategic Focal Points:
- To form a single coordinated volunteer service network, integrating all employee volunteers in Spain, Latin America and Europe (Telefónica O2 Europa).
- To create and implement projects and initiatives, both from the management as well as proposals from volunteers.
- To communicate about the program both internally (mechanisms for enrolment, profiles of volunteers, recruitment, results, etc.) and externally (the scope of the program and its effects on interested parties, namely, NGOs and society as a whole.)
Telefónica Volunteers, a Winning Program for All
The Telefónica Group’s Corporate Volunteer service program, managed by Fundación Telefónica and Movistar (operator of Telefónica Móviles), aims to promote the development of volunteer service among employees, offering all participants the means necessary for these activities to be useful with a positive social impact. This transnational program, currently operating in 14 countries, is creating a solidarity network of employees from various Telefónica companies, people willing to contribute part of their knowledge, time and optimism, working to benefit society and its most underprivileged.
In order to register in the Telefónica Volunteers program one must belong to or to have belonged to any of the companies of the Telefónica Group in any of country of operation. In fact, one of the goals for 2009 is to extend the program to employees of Telefónica O2 Europa.
Being a Telefónica Volunteer is not obligatory, but it is useful to know about all the voluntary projects underway and to know one can participate in them. Fundación Telefónica has a different way of managing volunteer service, since many of the social projects have been proposed by employees themselves. Therefore, volunteers are truly at the center of many of Telefónica’s social programs.
Telefónica Volunteers creates committees of volunteers regionally or locally, staffed by socially committed volunteers. Their function is to provide communications and facilitate interaction between the program’s volunteers, as well as extending the coverage to throughout the country and ensuring that members have a coordinator close by.
Voluntary Service in Line with Telefónica Group’s Strategy
The Corporate Volunteer service of Fundación Telefónica is considered an invaluable means of channeling part of the company’s social commitment. In fact, the Telefónica Volunteers’ program has been gaining in importance and budget as the Telefónica’s commitment to Social Corporate Responsibility expands.
Through this program, Telefónica wants to make volunteer service a strategic value. Efforts will not be in vain, since volunteer service in line with the company’s strategy guarantee long-term sustainability. A fundamental element of the program’s success is the fact that Fundación Telefónica concentrates on activities in which it can optimize the use of its strengths. In this way, the program ensures that its efforts generate valued added quality. The ultimate result is broad participation from employees and greater acceptance by the community.
At the end of 2008, Telefónica Volunteers had 21,281 employees enrolled, a 17 percent increase over the previous year. This level of participation and the amount of growth since the start of the program in Argentina in 2000 makes the Telefónica Group one of the leading companies in Corporate Volunteer service worldwide.
Fundación Telefónica Joins the Global Corporate Volunteer Council
One of the biggest milestones in the history of the Telefónica Volunteers program occurred in 2008: the Foundation was incorporated as member of the Global Corporate Volunteer Council (G-CVC), an organization that brings together multinational companies interested in Corporate Volunteer service programs at international level. The G-CVC is part of the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE),a non-governmental organization which advises the United Nations, the only network of associations that promotes all forms of volunteer service world-wide.
The extensive experience of Fundación Telefónica in the field of volunteer service served as a model at the International Corporate Volunteerism Conference held in Rio de Janeiro in September, where eighteen of the world’s leading companies met.
In order to register in the Telefónica Volunteers program one must belong to or to have belonged to any of the companies of the Telefónica Group in any of country of operation. In fact, one of the goals for 2009 is to extend the program to employees of Telefónica O2 Europa.
Being a Telefónica Volunteer is not obligatory, but it is useful to know about all the voluntary projects underway and to know one can participate in them. Fundación Telefónica has a different way of managing volunteer service, since many of the social projects have been proposed by employees themselves. Therefore, volunteers are truly at the center of many of Telefónica’s social programs.
Telefónica Volunteers creates committees of volunteers regionally or locally, staffed by socially committed volunteers. Their function is to provide communications and facilitate interaction between the program’s volunteers, as well as extending the coverage to throughout the country and ensuring that members have a coordinator close by.
Voluntary Service in Line with Telefónica Group’s Strategy
The Corporate Volunteer service of Fundación Telefónica is considered an invaluable means of channeling part of the company’s social commitment. In fact, the Telefónica Volunteers’ program has been gaining in importance and budget as the Telefónica’s commitment to Social Corporate Responsibility expands.
Through this program, Telefónica wants to make volunteer service a strategic value. Efforts will not be in vain, since volunteer service in line with the company’s strategy guarantee long-term sustainability. A fundamental element of the program’s success is the fact that Fundación Telefónica concentrates on activities in which it can optimize the use of its strengths. In this way, the program ensures that its efforts generate valued added quality. The ultimate result is broad participation from employees and greater acceptance by the community.
At the end of 2008, Telefónica Volunteers had 21,281 employees enrolled, a 17 percent increase over the previous year. This level of participation and the amount of growth since the start of the program in Argentina in 2000 makes the Telefónica Group one of the leading companies in Corporate Volunteer service worldwide.
Fundación Telefónica Joins the Global Corporate Volunteer Council
One of the biggest milestones in the history of the Telefónica Volunteers program occurred in 2008: the Foundation was incorporated as member of the Global Corporate Volunteer Council (G-CVC), an organization that brings together multinational companies interested in Corporate Volunteer service programs at international level. The G-CVC is part of the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE),a non-governmental organization which advises the United Nations, the only network of associations that promotes all forms of volunteer service world-wide.
The extensive experience of Fundación Telefónica in the field of volunteer service served as a model at the International Corporate Volunteerism Conference held in Rio de Janeiro in September, where eighteen of the world’s leading companies met.
How can Telefónica Volunteers Help?
- By participating in specific activities planned and developed by Fundación Telefónica. The foundation sets up collaborative agreements with various non-profit organizations, as well as looking for synergies and possibilities from within the company’s own social action programs. Examples from 2008 include the volunteer participation at both “Telefónica Volunteer Day" and “Interactive Generations”, as part of the Proniño and EducaRed programs, respectively.
- By participating in social projects designed and implemented by themselves or other colleagues, with Fundación Telefónica providing the general and specialized training, technical advice and financing. Any employees or group of employees enrolled in the Telefónica Volunteers program can present their social assistance projects. At present, due to the great number of requests presented, in some countries internal contests are held for volunteer project proposals. Examples of these in 2008: the “5th National Contest for Social Projects" in Argentina, the “Projects Contest" in Brazil, the 3rd Contest for Aid to Solidarity Projects" in Spain, and the “First Brilliant Minds Contest for Social Projects” in Peru.
Finally, since active volunteer service fits directly into the concept of Telefónica’s Corporate Social Responsibility, whenever possible, volunteerism is made compatible with working life. For this reason, every year employees can spend some of their work hours doing volunteer service.
Telefónica volunteers can help out financially through a monthly donation to specific projects, such as Proniño, or giving of their time, or both options combined. In any of these cases, the volunteer activities are carried out with well-established and reputable organizations, or with new ones that have proven their clear objectives and sound work method.
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