- 100 of the Group’s employees have already joined the new volunteering program sponsored by Enel Cuore in collaboration with four leading Italian organizations in the voluntary sector
Milan/Rome, December 16th, 2022 – Enel has resumed its corporate volunteering program that sees the Group’s employees involved in three Italian cities, in collaboration with several major voluntary sector organizations, to play an active role in the development of the local area and contribute to the social growth of the local communities by implementing dedicated initiatives. After a forced hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and after the first remote volunteering experiences, Enel’s volunteers got back to work in November this year throughout the country, from North to South, as part of four flagship projects in Milan, Rome and Palermo.
These initiatives, which currently involve 100 employee volunteers, are made possible largely thanks to the invaluable support of Enel Cuore, the Group’s nonprofit organization, which has opened up opportunities for cooperation with four voluntary sector associations: Fondazione L’Albero della Vita Onlus in Palermo, Caritas in Rome and, in Milan, Fondazione Arché Onlus and Associazione Quartieri Tranquilli. Enel’s volunteering program was one of the most appreciated corporate projects among its employees: from 2019 to 2020, 710 volunteers participated nationwide, with approximately 6,000 hours of volunteering for the local communities.
“The Corporate Volunteering program is back again after a forced hiatus due to Covid-19, which made it impossible to continue this charitable initiative, which was very well received by our colleagues across the country,” said Nicola Lanzetta, Director of Enel Italia. “It is only thanks to Enel’s people that we can continue to offer concrete support to leading voluntary sector organizations all over the country in order to socially and economically assist vulnerable people. We are very proud to be on this journey that is sure to strengthen the sense of belonging of our colleagues who can share their experiences and expertise, with the aim of achieving common goals that are aligned with the principles of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.”
The first leg of the program, from November 21st to 23rd in Milan, featured the ‘Hummus’ project, a joint effort with the Fondazione Arché Onlus, which made it possible to renovate and set up a food hub for families experiencing economic hardship who are assisted by the foundation. The second initiative took place on three separate days in Palermo (November 30th, as well as December 1st and 15th) with the ‘Varcare la soglia’ (Crossing the threshold) project, implemented in collaboration with Fondazione L’Albero della Vita Onlus, in the San Filippo Neri district (Zen 2). It consisted of two different experiences: a craft workshop during which handmade gifts were made for families in the neighborhood in the lead-up to a special Christmas party, and the ‘ImpariAMO’ workshop providing children with educational support on STEM subjects. On December 14th, 15th, 16th and 20th, in collaboration with the Rome-based Caritas, Enel’s volunteers will take part in the project “La porta è sempre aperta” (The door is always open), a fundraiser to provide shelter for homeless people who have lost their homes and have ended up living on the streets. Enel’s volunteers are in charge of the stalls distributing ‘panettoni’ (traditional Italian Christmas cakes) for charity and of conducting workshops, providing entertainment and helping in the canteen that caters for the elderly people staying at the Santa Giacinta homeless shelter. On December 20th – the first stage took place on December 2nd – the ‘Illuminiamo le tavole’ (Lighting up tables) project will kick off in Milan, in partnership with Associazione Quartieri Tranquilli (Quiet Neighborhoods Association): grocery bags will be filled and electric cars will be used to deliver them to various families in need who are assisted by Fondazione Arché.