Between you and a thousand hands, we make a more inclusive world, DIVT 2025
Telefónica’s solidarity movement is one of our greatest strengths. The Telefónica Foundation’s Social Action and Volunteering programme is one of the largest corporate initiatives in the world, with 54,000 employees and an impact on more than 1.2 million people in 30 countries. Our colleagues, encouraged by our company and our values, contribute to helping those most in need by sharing their knowledge, time and enthusiasm.
And there is a day that commemorates the efforts made throughout the year, a global day that reflects Telefónica’s social commitment: our big annual event dedicated to solidarity, Telefónica’s International Volunteering Day. This year it will be celebrated around 6 June in all the countries where we operate.
Under the slogan, Between you and a thousand hands, we make a more inclusive world, the 2025 edition (the 21st!) will once again stand out for its high level of participation and our involvement in a wide range of initiatives such as digitalisation workshops for the elderly, computational thinking for children, activities to promote the safe and responsible use of technology among young people; inclusive leisure and sports activities with people with disabilities; environmental actions and many other solidarity initiatives.
Thank you, colleagues and volunteers, for inspiring us with your experiences and reflections.
Liliana Flores works in the Control department in Mexico. Her main work as a volunteer has been to accompany, care for and be totally available to offer moments of joy to children and families in different activities.
‘I focus on listening to them, supporting them and making them feel special. The activities are usually fun, full of games, laughter and genuine connection. It fills me with joy to see how, despite their different difficulties or circumstances, the children are full of energy, joy and love for life. These are moments that transform you.’
“For me, Telefónica’s International Volunteer Day represents much more than a date: it is a form of recognition, inspiration and motivation. It is a day that celebrates the commitment of so many people who are already part of this movement, and at the same time, it is an open invitation to more colleagues to join the causes we promote. Telefónica’s Social Action and Volunteering Programme is a powerful platform that allows us to turn our energy and time into real actions that transform lives. It is an opportunity to live our values from the heart and as a community.‘
’The most valuable thing that volunteering gives me is human experiences. Meeting such special people who, although they often need our support, end up teaching us very profound life lessons. They inspire me with their strength, resilience and ability to smile despite everything. I recommend volunteering because it is a genuine act of giving without expecting anything in return… and yet you get so much out of it. I love spending time with children, they fill me with a very special energy, the kind that makes you smile with all your heart. In the end, it’s an exchange of love, empathy and learning that transforms you and makes you appreciate even more what you have.”
Mónica Conde is part of the IR and Innovation team for the Northern Region (Telefónica Spain) and her main role as a volunteer is to bring technology to older people through the Reconectados initiative.
‘It’s something you can do with strangers by approaching an association or nursing home, and you can also do it at home with your mum, or even your mother-in-law. We also forget that older people are getting younger and younger, and they start out trying to understand their smartphone and end up chatting with AI.’
‘For me, DIVT is a day when Telefónica employees from different areas, with or without positions of responsibility, get together to help. It’s an unmissable annual event, and once you try it, you want to do it again, but it’s just one day, a one-off event, and then you realise that you have to find out about the Social Action and Volunteering Programme and discover that there are more activities throughout the year.’
‘Volunteering allows me to be a better person and have a more open mind, to understand that my mum prefers to search for something on YouTube rather than Google, to think about how microplastics also affect birds’ habitats, or to notice whether or not a bakery is accessible when I go in.’
‘I recommend it because everything you do counts, whether it’s a lot or a little, and it’s also “easy”. I mean, if the barrier to trying is that you don’t know how, with the volunteering programme, you have a framework with lots of activities with different associations, so you’re sure to find something that suits you and that you enjoy.’
Armando Apolinar is a leader in Networks, in the Technology area, in Venezuela and collaborates with numerous solidarity activities. “I contribute with all my affection and learn from each one of them. The DIVT is one of the most eagerly awaited days of the year. Helping others allows me to establish a unique connection with different sectors of society and the environment; it’s something bigger than yourself. Feeling that your time and effort have a positive impact gives meaning and direction to your life because you achieve a real goal, you live it in every part of the process. This could be participating in digital workshops (mega room); interacting with the environment (planting trees, cleaning beaches, among others); interacting with digital tools (connecting employment – training talks); educational activities with people with different abilities and much more.”
Nicole Prüße works in the Employee Experience and Engagement area at O2 Germany: “As a volunteer, I accompanied older people on a digital treasure hunt around the city. This involved walking together through a beautiful park and its surroundings, helping them discover the digital world in a fun and interactive way. For me, our Volunteer Programme is a valuable opportunity to contribute to the community alongside my colleagues, while promoting digital inclusion. It is a way to connect generations, share knowledge and help others gain confidence in using technology. Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose, team spirit, responsibility and the courage to take on new challenges; that is the Telefónica spirit that unites us.
It gives me the opportunity to make a real difference in other people’s lives, while learning from their experiences. I would recommend it because it fosters empathy, strengthens community ties and creates moments of mutual inspiration.”
