Each year, Henkel’s “Volunteers at Heart” program offers employees the chance to use their professional expertise to make a meaningful difference. Whether it is by supporting the development of sustainable business models, contributing to educational initiatives, or helping protect the environment – they spend one month working with charitable organizations around the globe. Because real societal progress happens when people use their skills to uplift others.
Story
Stepping out of the daily work routine: How corporate volunteering creates meaningful impact
In this story, you will learn:
- What the three pillars of volunteering at Henkel are
- The tasks Alexander took on with United Way in Ghana
- What Sarah’s volunteering experience in Spain looked like
- How Steffen supported Solidaridad in Colombia
- Why Ana Mae applied for the Volunteers at Heart program
- What Proshanta experienced during his NGO assignment in India
Social commitment and corporate responsibility are an integral part of Henkel’s corporate culture. The global volunteering strategy is built on three pillars: Individual volunteering allows employees to receive support for their self-organized initiatives – in the form of paid leave, product donations, or financial assistance through the Fritz Henkel Foundation. Team volunteering enables employees to apply for projects where they volunteer together with colleagues to support social causes. The third pillar, skill-based volunteering, focuses on leveraging specialized expertise where it creates the greatest benefit. This is exactly where “Volunteers at Heart” comes in: Henkel employees partner with non-profit organizations where they contribute their professional know-how – for example, by developing marketing concepts, optimizing IT structures, or designing training programs. The volunteers are granted paid leave for the duration of their assignment, and travel expenses are covered by the Fritz Henkel Foundation. The program demonstrates how Henkel embeds social responsibility into its corporate strategy – and how lived values can create positive change far beyond the workplace.
Five “Volunteers at Heart” share insights into their experiences, showing that personal engagement creates value not only for the community, but also for the volunteers themselves.
Alexander Klar, Senior Manager Transaction Services at Henkel &
Volunteer at Heart at United Way in Ghana
“I discovered United Way Ghana through extensive research. The organization supports young entrepreneurs in the country in bringing their business ideas to life. It was important to me that I could make the best possible use of my personal expertise. Direct mentoring is what I enjoy most: talking to people about their challenges and brainstorming together on how to overcome them. I’ve founded a company myself, so that knowledge was just as useful as what I’ve learned from my work at Henkel. Because even though I work in financing, a global corporation naturally faces very different challenges than a small start-up.
At United Way, for example, there is a project that turns waste from cocoa production into fish feed. The challenge: up to now, the pellets had been shaped by hand, which meant only a very limited amount of feed could be produced. A suitable machine costs around 5,000 euros. That’s not much by European standards, but for the Ghanaians it seemed like an insurmountable hurdle. So we had to get creative. We discussed a model in which future buyers would contribute money as investors.
At the same time, I learned that things simply work differently in Ghana. You need individual strategies and approaches. For example, the weekly market is the most important place to sell goods – not only food, but all kinds of everyday products – far more important than supermarkets or online shops.
What inspired me was the creativity and optimism with which people in Ghana approach things. That’s something I want to carry with me into my everyday life.”
Sarah Mielke, Corporate Communications Manager at Henkel &
Volunteer at Heart at United Way in Spain
“Since joining Henkel, I’ve had many opportunities to broaden my horizons and try new things. After spending three months at our Dubai office last year, I wanted to experience something completely different this time and decided to apply for the Volunteers at Heart program.
This gave me the chance to work with the NGO United Way Spain for a month. The organization connects companies with social projects, focusing on healthy communities, youth opportunities, financial stability, and resilience. The program I joined was particularly aimed at creating opportunities for young people and supporting them within the education system – a mission that immediately resonated with me.
After the assessment and a perfect match with my profile, I was able to contribute my communications expertise in a targeted way. Together with the team, we analyzed audiences and their needs, defined key messages and tone of voice, and developed a strategy to make the organization’s work more visible and easier to understand.
Alongside this, I took part in various volunteering activities that left a lasting impression on me. One moment that stands out to me was visiting a retirement home. The openness and appreciation that can arise from even the smallest gestures deeply moved me. Language hardly mattered – true connection often comes through attention and attitude.
Before the journey, my goal was simply to gain new experiences. I returned with the feeling that I truly made a difference. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how much impact you can have by applying your own skills – and how much you grow in the process. I’m very grateful for this experience.”
Steffen Hünker, Manager Public Affairs & Governmental Relations at Henkel &
Volunteer at Heart at Solidaridad in Colombia
“My job is all about building bridges between politics, business, and civil society – and that’s something I truly enjoy. Early in my career at Henkel, back when I was an intern in Purchasing in Amsterdam, I already worked with Solidaridad. The organization specializes in promoting sustainable supply chains – including palm oil production. A key focus is working directly in the growing regions with smallholder farmers, supporting them on their journey toward greater sustainability.
As a volunteer and political advisor, I traveled through Colombia with Solidaridad, visited plantations, and spoke with smallholder farmers about their challenges. One thing quickly became clear in these conversations: Implementing European standards and regulations often reaches its limits here. This new understanding is something I can bring into both my work at Henkel and in politics. When I’m back in Brussels or Berlin, I can look at the challenges of smallholder farmers from a completely different perspective.
My experience also reinforced how important it is to read between the lines and understand the social context. If I weren’t so happy in my current role at Henkel, I could easily imagine switching sides and working full-time in development. That’s why I truly appreciate that, through Volunteers at Heart, I was able to combine both worlds. And I’m convinced that the more Henkel employees step outside Henkel’s four walls and gain their own volunteering experiences, the stronger our internal community will become – and the greater the intrinsic motivation to drive social and sustainable engagement forward."
Ana Mae Codizal, Senior Web Editor at Henkel in the Philippines &
Volunteer at Heart at PHINEO in Berlin
Before joining Henkel, I was working in employee engagement and responsible for CSR activities. So naturally, I was curious to see how Henkel approaches this area. That’s when I discovered Volunteers at Heart – a program that immediately caught my attention. The idea of traveling and doing something good for others sounded exciting. My colleagues – from my immediate team to management – were very supportive of my participation. The location wasn’t a decisive factor for me, so I applied for all opportunities. PHINEO in Berlin was looking for someone with a communications background. The organization acts as a bridge between companies and NGOs, strengthening sustainable and strategic social engagement, and is part of the global United Way network. The goal was to increase visibility for their work in Germany as they don’t have a regional marketing team. From day one, I felt very welcome – in Berlin in general, but especially within the team. Everyone made me feel like I belonged. Through this experience, I learned how important it is to be open-minded: Whatever skills you have, you can always use them to help someone and make a difference. Volunteers at Heart is a great program – not only because we get to do good, but also because it’s an honor to represent the company. For me, it was a major boost of moral that the company believes I have what it takes to support an organization like PHINEO. It also opened my eyes to the many facets of CSR. I really hope more people, especially back home in the Philippines, feel inspired to join this program.”
Proshanta Sakar, IT Consultant at Henkel &
Volunteer at Heart at Ashoka – Connecting Dreams Foundation in India
“Through Volunteers at Heart, I had the opportunity to use my skills beyond my daily work to create social impact. I grew up and studied in India – I received so much from society, but until now, I never had the chance to give back. For one month, I joined a team dedicated to empowering students and educators in rural schools. The goal was to drive change through social entrepreneurs – or as they call them, ‘changemakers.’ My role focused on building an AI-based IT platform for managing community, enhancing engagement and facilitating impact tracking. The school system in India has evolved since I left university, yet there is still much to improve. I witnessed this firsthand during our regular team meetings: over cups of tea, we discussed social issues, bringing together people from different backgrounds, generations, and mindsets. I truly enjoyed those conversations and learned a great deal. Most importantly, the experience taught me resilience. In the social sector, especially in education, frustration is common. People have ideas and motivation, but hurdles are everywhere. I learned the importance of recognizing your breaking point – knowing when to step back, let go, or think outside the box. This journey also helped me develop new skills. Interacting with such a diverse group – from officials from the education system to small children – required leadership and a high level of empathy. Of course, you can’t change the world in one month. But when I presented our concept, I saw it spark inspiration. It encouraged others to create their own ideas. They will start small, but they will start. And I was able to contribute to that cause.”
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
CONTRIBUTING TO THRIVING COMMUNITIES
Paving the way to a viable and sustainable future for all with passion and commitment – that is one of our ambitions as "Pioneers at heart for the good of generations". Organizations and private initiatives around the world rely on the support of people who are willing to help on a voluntary basis.
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