Sixth Cellnex Volunteer Day

On 14 November Cellnex offices in several European cities became a meeting place for solidarity, inspiration and social action at an event to celebrate Volunteer Day under the umbrella of the Cellnex Foundation. Although this day is commemorated internationally on 5 December, at the Foundation we brought forward the celebration to honour all those who dedicate their time and effort to making the world a better place.

This year, Nadia Ghulam’s story marked the fourth edition of the event with her emotional testimony in Barcelona and Madrid (online). An activist, writer and survivor of the war in Afghanistan, Nadia shared with us an unforgettable lesson about resilience, solidarity and the importance of volunteering as a tool for transformation.

A meeting of resilience, art and connectivity

Nadia’s voice resonated powerfully at the start of the event. Her life, marked by war and sacrifice, led us to reflect on humanity in times of adversity. She told us “One day of war means turning history back ten years” as she recounted how she survived a bombing in her country that left her in a coma for months and took away everything except hope.

From a very young age, Nadia took on a man’s role in her family, dressing like her deceased brother so that she could work and support her family. Years later, she made it to Catalonia, where a family took her in and enabled her to rebuild her life. Today she works tirelessly as a social educator and since 2006 she has run her own foundation, Ponts per la Pau (Bridges for Peace), which supports more than 550 vulnerable Afghan women.

“What can I contribute to my country from here?” she asked herself. “My time is the most valuable thing there is,” she concluded. Nadia has dedicated her life to being the voice of silenced women, proving that volunteering is the vehicle that turns solidarity into action.

After the talk, attendees from both cities participated in Connect-Art, a collaborative workshop organised jointly with the FDI Foundation and United Way Spain, bringing together our volunteers with persons with intellectual disabilities to create works inspired by telecommunications symbols. These pieces, full of colour and meaning, represent not only technological connectivity, but also human connection, the true driving force of our society. The colours and brushstrokes of this workshop symbolised a bridge between different worlds, and the result was magical: works full of meaning, created from a place of respect, empathy and collaboration.

Global commitment

The volunteering spirit extended still further, with various activities organised to help build community and strengthen ties in countries where Cellnex operates: Italy, France, the UK and Poland.

• Italy: In Rome, volunteers worked alongside young unemployed immigrants in a mandala workshop. These works, created using recycled materials, served as a tool to explore self-leadership, stress management and communication skills. The activity not only fostered creativity, but also helped to build more harmonious and effective workspaces.

• France: A masterclass focusing on diversity, inclusion and employability was held in Paris. Participants worked on collective intelligence to identify employment access barriers for young people in vulnerable situations, proposing practical and realistic solutions. Cognitive biases and their impact on job opportunities were also discussed.

• UK: The volunteers took part in a webinar aimed at charities supporting migrants. They shared tools for improving employability and strategies to overcome barriers such as language and lack of recognition of foreign qualifications. This activity had an indirect impact on more than 300 people who benefited from these organizations.

• Poland: In Warsaw, volunteers took part in an internal event that underscored their past contributions and their impact on local communities. This event was an opportunity to reflect on the work performed and to reinforce their commitment.

The power of volunteering

Cellnex Volunteer Day is not merely an annual event. It is a reminder of the impact every small gesture can have on someone else’s life. It is part of our identity. It is how we reach out, listen, learn, and connect with the world. The four editions of this event have shown that corporate volunteering is an essential pillar for generating social impact. According to internal surveys, 91% of employees have a positive opinion of such initiatives, which makes us proud.

Volunteering is the bridge that connects our mission with the needs of others. As Nadia taught us: “Our goal as human beings is to show solidarity, to contribute to the world for a just and hopeful humanity.”

Here at the Cellnex Foundation we will continue to promote projects that foster employability, equality and inclusion through volunteering. We know that every action counts and that together we can build a more just, more humane and more sustainable society.

Thank you, volunteers, for your generosity and passion. This day is for and by you: Happy Volunteer Day!