Giving is its own reward

Daniel del Valle
Executive Assistant

Daniel del Valle participating in a school event

Meet Daniel del Valle, Executive Assistant to the Division CEO for Food and Healthcare Technologies in Alcobendas, Spain. With more than four years of experience at GEA, Daniel brings a passion for discovering new cultures, having traveled extensively, including memorable experiences in Africa and Japan. He dedicates his time to international volunteer work, fully embracing embodying GEA's commitment to making a positive impact globally.

How did you get started in volunteering?

It started when I was still a student at the Polytechnical University of Madrid. A fellow student and friend of mine told me about a digital literacy program in Burundi that was looking for helpers. The right candidates should be able to speak French and have computer science expertise. I’ve participated in digital literacy programs before – and I love African countries – so it didn't take much to convince me to join the project. I flew to Burundi and spent two weeks there. My primary task was to explain the targets of the digital literacy project to the Burundian government and convince them that it was important.

What unique skills do you tap into?

"The type of help needed is so varied that every type of skill can be valuable. Speaking several languages is important and computer skills are also very much in demand. However, all kinds of skills can turn out to be useful, for instance, we need people with video-making skills, people who know Kirundi – the local language of Burundi – and people that can help identify relevant funds and apply for funding for the projects. But, in general, people who are dedicated and committed are welcome. During my stay in Burundi, my primary tasks included doing translations, looking for funding for the projects, and applying my IT skills to help with the digitalization of the country, for example teaching people how to use a mouse, it’s not so easy when you try it for the first time. Through workshops and meetings, we met the European Union ambassador in Burundi, as well as people from the Burundian Ministry of Education and the Burundian Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were interested to see how to improve the digital literacy in rural areas of Burundi. It was amazing to see how much effort was put into educating young as well as older people in Burundi about digital devices.

"Computer science is the same everywhere, it's like a global language, so the skills I use in my job as an executive assistant are the same that I apply as an international volunteer."

Digital literacy in these countries is really important. This is also important in Europe; I am now in a project in the community of Madrid for older people to use computers for such important things as making a doctor’s appointment or asking for an appointment at the bank.

What reward or satisfaction do you get from volunteering? How has it changed you?

Being a volunteer and working with international cooperation has allowed me to see life through a different lens. It has taught me to put my own life and problems into perspective. What may seem like a difficult situation in my daily life is often a smaller problem that can quickly be solved. I think it’s important to remember that, in other parts of the world, there are people facing much more difficult challenges, such as trying to prevent or cure a disease like Malaria or recovering from war. That's what my cooperation role in Burundi has taught me.

"We should help each other more without expecting anything in return. Just for pleasure, or just for being good with others."

As an employer, does GEA value your volunteer efforts?

Absolutely. GEA provides employees with one paid day off each year to pursue skill-based volunteering projects. The company also hosts a platform (EngageHub) that employees across the globe can search to find volunteer opportunities that suit their interests and skillset. There are so many non-profit organizations that need support, which means there is something for pretty much anyone at GEA who wants to get started as a volunteer.