Cooking together in the “Gruft” (caritas care centre), planting trees or helping out in a retirement home – there are many ways to get involved in charitable work. Since 2023, employees in Austria have been able to take one day off a year to do this. In Austria alone, employees have done good for the environment and society on 329 days. In addition, there are countless Volunteer Days with numerous helping hands in other UNIQA countries.
Maximilian Kunz and Dori Thiel, UNIQA IT Services, spent a day with Caritas Socialis: “The best way to find yourself is to put yourself at the service of others. These words by Mahatma Gandhi make it clear that working for others can be important in many ways. In line with our claim ‘living better together’, we spent a day wrapping biscuits for Caritas Socialis, the proceeds of which will benefit important initiatives. A good feeling!”
In addition to the good feeling of helping, an afternoon at the Red Cross Austria Tafel team gave colleagues from the Culture & Employee Experience team plenty of food for thought, especially when it comes to their own purchasing behaviour: “Together with the local team, we sorted leftover food from the shops and then handed it out to people in need. It was impressive to meet such a motivated community of people who dedicate their Saturday afternoons almost every weekend to this campaign and to exchange ideas with them”, says Jennifer Tretzmüller.
There can not be enough helping hands for a good cause. So, it is even better that many colleagues used the Volunteer Days as team days and did something good together. After all, getting involved together strengthens both team spirit and a sense of togetherness. Manuela Mayer, Payroll AT: “We had the opportunity to support the work of the Thermenlinie-Wienerwald-Wiener Becken landscape conservation organisation – an incredibly rewarding experience. It was impressive to see how much passion and dedication this organisation puts into maintaining and preserving our beautiful natural landscapes. We were particularly impressed by the great teamwork, which was not only effective, but also strengthened our bond and team spirit enormously.”
UNIQA colleagues at the landscape conservation association Thermenlinie-Wienerwald-Wiener Becken
Fotocredit: LPV/F.Hohn
The UNIQA Corporate Business Team also experienced a special team spirit during their day together at the Regenbogental therapy centre. The farm supports children and families in crisis and grieving situations as well as children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. With the help of co-therapists such as horses, lamas and goats, individual strengths are encouraged, and new perspectives are created. Their summary: “It was impressive to work together as a team and support the therapy centre in its important tasks. The great cooperation and commitment of everyone showed once again what we can achieve together.”
UNIQA Corporate Business Team at the Regenbogental therapy centre
‘Together boundless’ was the motto of the 7th National Winter Games of Special Olympics Austria in Graz this year. Like no other sporting event, these competitions stand for inclusion in the best sense of the word. 140 UNIQA volunteers lent a hand again this year, including ten colleagues from Burgenland. “Our commitment as volunteers at the Special Olympics (Winter) Games is invaluable. We can show that everyone is valuable and deserves the opportunity to realise their dreams. The athletes can showcase their abilities, gain self-confidence and be part of an inclusive community during the Games. And with our support, we are contributing to the smooth realisation of the event and an encouraging, inspiring atmosphere,” says County Director Herbert Kaiser.
Regional Director Herbert Kaiser at the Special Olympics
The days were characterised by numerous moments full of fun and community. An experience that Regional Manager Frank Wiemer will also remember for a long time: ‘It's great to see how committed and enthusiastic the athletes are about taking part in the Special Olympics Games. Their joy of life captivates everyone. These are unique moments and experiences that we as volunteers and as a team from the Service Centre Eisenstadt were able to gather at the Special Olympics Winter Games in Graz.”
Team Service Centre Eisenstadt at the Special Olympics
Our commitment to a good cause extends far beyond our national borders: from Slovakia to Albania, UNIQA employees have once again been involved in charitable work this year. For example, in Warsaw, Poland, where employees helped out at an animal shelter for homeless dogs. A second UNIQA Poland volunteer programme took place at the Society of Friends of Children (TPD), also in Warsaw. TPD runs community centres for children, where the youngest children can spend their afternoons safely under the care of qualified adults, develop and get to know children from their immediate surroundings.
In Slovakia, for example, colleagues once again took part in the largest annual Slovakian corporate volunteering event, Naše Mesto. For almost 20 years, the initiative has been connecting companies, municipalities and the civil sector with a clear goal: to clean, beautify and visibly improve the cities in which we live. Katarina Stryckova, CSR expert at UNIQA Slovakia: “We are helping to foster the relationship between residents and the city in which they live and work. As a company, we take responsibility for the environment in which we operate, support people's commitment to what is happening in their surroundings and create opportunities for cooperation between communities, participating companies, non-governmental organisations and the population.”
In Brno, Czech Republic, UNIQA volunteers lent a hand at the St Agnes assisted living centre and, as they did last year, helped to clean the hostel. After the day, the colleagues remember not only the good feeling of having contributed to something meaningful and the great atmosphere, but above all the gratitude of the employees at St Agnes. Some colleagues also used the Volunteer Days to help deal with the consequences of the extraordinary floods that hit the Czech Republic and part of Slovakia this year.
In a world where environmental protection and community care are more important than ever, SIGAL UNIQA also demonstrated its commitment to a better life through concrete and inspiring initiatives. Employees in Albania and Kosovo organised a series of clean-up campaigns to protect nature and raise awareness of the importance of a clean environment. For example, in an organised clean-up campaign on Velipoja beach, in a coastal clean-up campaign for a clean environment in Durrës and Kavajë or as part of the ‘Let's Clean Brezovicën’ campaign. In Macedonia, employees continued the tradition of donating blood to help those most in need and set an excellent example of solidarity. “These initiatives not only improve the daily lives of the communities in which we operate but also inspire others to help protect the environment and help people in need. Now is the time to act and take sustainable steps that will help preserve the planet for future generations,” says Avni Ponari, CEO of SIGAL UNIQA Group.
UNIQA employees in Durres
Maximilian Kunz and Doris Thiel at Caritas Socialis
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