2025 was a year of growth, active listening, and collective building in Latin America for both Volies and myself. Across the region, I had the opportunity to work closely with companies, social organizations, and volunteers on a wide range of initiatives, all with a shared goal: strengthening volunteering as a strategic tool for social impact, personal development, and community transformation. We designed projects in Argentina, deepened social engagement in Mexico, celebrated and recognized volunteers in Panama, and implemented experiences alongside volunteers in Chile and Argentina. And without a doubt, Colombia deserves a special chapter, which will soon tell its own story.
Mexico: Strategy, Social Fabric, and New Connections
In Mexico, together with Diana Guevara, Volies’ project coordinator in the country, we drove two initiatives that left a significant mark on the year. The first, at the beginning of 2025, involved supporting Banamex in a strategic analysis and reflection process of its Corporate Volunteering Program.
Building on a 20-year program diagnosis, an analysis of the context and trends in corporate volunteering, and collaborative work with key areas—such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Talent, Diversity and Culture, Internal Communications, and business units—we developed recommendations to strengthen the bank’s volunteering efforts in its new stage.
It was an extremely enriching process that opened deep conversations about the role of volunteering within corporate strategy at one of Mexico’s leading banks. Thanks to the Banamex Volunteering team for their trust and shared work!
The second major initiative was the First Mapping of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), “Connecting CSOs to Boost Corporate Volunteering in Mexico”, developed in collaboration with Ticket for Change Mexico and supported by Cemefi. This mapping aims to identify and highlight CSOs, strengthen their capacities, and connect them with new collaboration opportunities with companies.
As part of this process, we held the first in-person Working Café at Gentera’s facilities, bringing together 10 social organizations from different regions of the country. It was a space for genuine exchange, creativity, and community building, which will continue to grow through virtual meetings and new connections.
Argentina: Designing Programs for Sustainable Impact
Chile and Argentina: Corporate Volunteering in Action with SAP
Throughout the year, guided by Emilio Sierra, Volies’ Director in Colombia, Volies supported SAP Latin America in organizing its volunteering programs in Buenos Aires and Santiago.
In Buenos Aires, in collaboration with Asociación Mensajeros de la Paz Argentina, activities included landscaping projects and recreational sessions with older adults and children from the Family Support Program. In Santiago, Chile, together with Fundación Trascender, we conducted Future Skills workshops focused on leadership and innovation for students from schools with high vulnerability rates.
These experiences highlight the tremendous transformative potential of well-designed corporate volunteering.
Panama: Recognition, Networking, and a Forward-Looking Vision
The year concluded in Panama with a deeply inspiring and very special experience for me. Fundación Trenco, AES Panamá, and Ricardo Pérez joined forces to enhance their corporate volunteering programs and create a shared space to recognize and celebrate their volunteers. Under the motto “Together Driving Volunteering!”, the event brought together business leaders, volunteers, and strategic partners, reaffirming that corporate volunteering is a driver of civic engagement, talent development, and social cohesion.
I had the honor of delivering a presentation to executives and volunteers, sharing how corporate volunteering creates value both for society and for the organizations and teams themselves. In my role as Director of Volies and Latin America Lead at Voluntare, I was able to present several Voluntare studies with data and trends to inspire company leaders and volunteers.
Additionally, as part of International Volunteer Day, I attended the event organized by Voluntarios de Panamá, where the country’s progress in building a volunteering ecosystem was shared, along with plans leading into the International Year of Volunteers 2026 (IVY 2026), led by UNV Latin America.
A Special Chapter: Volies Colombia
2026 will be the International Year of Volunteers, and at Volies we will continue working—with the same passion, commitment, and conviction—to ensure that every experience, partnership, and project keeps multiplying impact across Latin America.
