Building a safer future: our volunteering in action

During this third week of the Yellow Social Month, our professionals committed themselves to three fundamental lines of action for the well-being of the communities where we operate: forest fire prevention and safety, setting up safe educational environments, and hands-on teaching for children to learn how to act in risk situations.

In the summer of 2022, a devastating fire destroyed thousands of hectares in the municipality of El Hoyo Pinares (Ávila). With the aim of actively supporting its recovery, a group of 40 Prosegur employees, including the valuable participation of local colleagues, traveled to the affected area to contribute to the restoration of the land, halting soil erosion and preventing the risk of future fires.

This solidarity day combined awareness with direct action on the ground. The event had the institutional support of the municipality's Councilor for Forestry, Jaime Gallego Alonso, who conveyed to the participants the deep environmental and economic impact of these fires on a town that relied primarily on tourism.

After receiving technical training in planting and conservation from experts at the FDI Foundation, the team got to work preparing the ground and planting 256 native trees. This collective effort will contribute to creating a key natural firebreak for the regeneration and protection of the area.

Convinced that decent and well-maintained school facilities are essential for the well-being and protection of children, our volunteers mobilized in Guatemala, Peru, Paraguay, and Colombia. Working alongside local communities, they transformed key educational spaces into protected, colorful environments optimized for the students' daily development.

In the Peruvian capital, the "Transforming Spaces" initiative became an exemplary model of collaboration and commitment. Over two days, the Prosegur volunteer team, in partnership with América Solidaria, joined forces with teachers and parents from I.E. Matsu Utsumi, one of the latest schools incorporated into our Piecitos Colorados program.

On the first day, the educational community prepared the surfaces, and the following day, our volunteers dedicated themselves to completely painting and renovating the primary school pavilion. Thanks to this joint effort, not only has a safer and brighter environment been created for the 100 primary school students who benefit, but new tools have also been provided to enhance their learning and spark their curiosity.

The initiative in Antigua focused on creating safe environments at the "Mariano Navarrete". In collaboration with the educational community, our volunteers focused on two key areas: sports and technology.
The team of 28 volunteers dedicated their efforts to improving the sports facilities, achieving a comprehensive renovation that will benefit the school's 500 students. The initiative not only promotes physical activity but also ensures that students have safe spaces for their development. In parallel, volunteers from the IT team carried out maintenance on the computer room equipment, ensuring the continuity of digital education at the school.
 

In Belén (Concepción), the community of the Basic School No. 1889 San Miguel, which belongs to our Piecitos Colorados program, now has a completely renovated play area. A team of Prosegur volunteers dedicated an intense day to the comprehensive rehabilitation of its playground.

Alongside parents and teachers, our volunteers worked on the perimeter fencing of the space and on tuning up all the play equipment, bringing color and safety back to the recreation area. Thanks to this intervention, nearly 100 early childhood education children now enjoy a protected environment, promoting free and safe outdoor play.

In Pereira, a region historically marked by reconstruction efforts following past earthquakes, our volunteering focused on the emotional and educational well-being of the youngest children. In partnership with the ICBF (Colombian Family Welfare Institute), a team of Prosegur volunteers transformed a space in the school into a cozy reading corner.

The initiative benefited 120 boys and girls, who now have an ideal space and a new collection of books to learn and dream. This initiative provides the school with a haven for learning and promoting culture, reaffirming our commitment to the areas that need us most.

Protection is built not only by improving the physical environment but also by training people in a culture of prevention. Under this principle, we developed our educational safety workshops aimed at children, which were carried out during this third week in Colombia and Paraguay:

In addition to the opening of the reading corner, the volunteers in Pereira gave educational talks on prevention and self-care for the children in the community. These sessions aim to empower students, providing them with simple, preventive guidelines to navigate their daily activities with complete confidence.

Our volunteers in Asunción conducted a valuable training day at the Piecitos Colorados Sagrada Familia schools. To prepare as facilitators, the Prosegur collaborators previously received methodological training delivered by DEBROCA, a specialist in child pedagogy. Through the story of "Gua'a the Macaw" and the tale of "Rosita the Little Bee," the volunteers guided the children through three fun educational challenges designed to teach them to identify everyday risks at home, school, and on public roads in a very relatable and natural way.

During these playful dynamics, the little ones learned to associate their emotions with safety using a color-coded traffic light, which helped them recognize uncomfortable situations and understand the importance of turning to trusted adults. They also made their own contact cards to know what to do if they get lost, practiced how to avoid household accidents, and absorbed key guidelines on road safety and the correct use of the emergency telephone number.

With the closing of this third week, we consolidate an international effort that demonstrates that protecting the future is built step by step, thanks to the commitment of our volunteers.                                                             
We reach the final stretch of this exciting solidarity journey. Don't miss the conclusion of the Yellow Social Month! Follow the day-to-day of our initiatives on Instagram (@fundacionprosegur) and join us to continue making the world a safer place for everyone."