Corporate volunteering: a day for others, an experience for yourself

Delighted by the launch of Groupe Mutuel’s volunteering day initiative in early 2026, Allona Raoul seized the opportunity to support the Fondation Mère Sofia in Lausanne, an organisation known in particular for providing meals to people in need.

Throughout the day, she helped prepare meals, serve food, wash dishes and make desserts, moving from one task to another from 9 am to 5 pm.

For her, the experience fulfilled a deep desire to make a difference: “I am fully aware of how fortunate I am, and I feel a responsibility to contribute, in my own way, to greater solidarity.”

Among her strongest memories are the many encounters she had during the day. “I met people from all walks of life who shared a genuine desire to help others.”

For Allona Raoul, the initiative perfectly embodies the values upheld by Groupe Mutuel: “It turns the company’s values and culture into tangible actions.” She concludes with a simple invitation: “Take the leap and give a little of your time. You will probably come away with far more than you have given.”

As part of a Lions Club initiative supporting Maison Azur in Sion, Paul Rabaglia helped organise an event aimed at raising awareness of this palliative care facility and collecting funds to support its work.

During the day, he welcomed visitors who came to learn more about the facility and its mission. What left the strongest impression on him, however, were his interactions with the patients and healthcare professionals: “I discovered that a palliative care home can truly be a place of life.”

The experience gave him an opportunity to step back from his daily work routine, while also allowing him to build new connections and expand his network. Above all, what he remembers is the remarkable commitment of the people who keep the facility running: “Passion, incredible dedication, and a constant focus on finding solutions rather than managing problems.”

For him, the volunteering day is a valuable break in the year: “It’s a chance to do something different, discover other activities and gain perspective. You go there to help, and very often you come away saying thank you, because you have received more than you have given.”

Highly involved in community life in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Ksenia Tugay chose to volunteer with Mont Solidaire, an association that promotes social and intergenerational connections. She joined a team organising community meals for older residents of the region.

Her day included preparing meals, serving guests, decorating tables and helping with the clean-up, all in a warm and friendly atmosphere alongside volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds. “It was an incredibly rewarding moment of sharing.”

The experience reinforced a belief that is particularly important to her: the vital role social connections play in healthy ageing. She was also impressed by the dedication of the volunteers who organise these events every month with enthusiasm and creativity, despite limited resources.

For Ksenia, the volunteering day is an opportunity not to be missed: “It is a rare opportunity to contribute to a cause that matters to us without having to take time off work.”

She hopes the initiative will encourage others to get involved as well: “Every small step, every gesture, and even a single day of volunteering makes a difference.”