• Corporate philanthropy

International Volunteer Day: update on the 1MillionHours2Help volunteering programme of BNP Paribas

Since 1985, December 5th has been a celebration of the commitment from all those who give their time to help society at large. With this International Volunteer Day – estimated at one billion participants – the UN highlights the vital role volunteers play towards a more just and sustainable world. It is a vision of the world that BNP Paribas supports and to which it wishes to contribute, notably through its 1MillionHours2Help volunteering programme.

One million volunteer hours to support fairer and more sustainable growth

BNP Paribas launched 1MillionHours2Help on 5 December 2019, with the aim of enabling its employees to work a collective total of one million volunteer hours per year. The programme was part of the social commitment signed by the Group with the International Federation UNI Global Union in September 2018, which concerned fundamental rights at work.

“We launched 1MillionHours2Help in December 2019, a few months before the outbreak of an unprecedented crisis that would highlight the frailties of our societies. Our employees have contributed to inspiring acts of solidarity that have spread throughout the world. Thanks to their professional involvement and their personal commitment to support community associations. I am particularly proud of their mobilisation in this uncertain time.”

Antoine Sire, Head of Company Engagement at BNP Paribas

Committed employees

The associations supported in this framework work to...

Promote the social inclusion of young people

Accelerate 
the energy 
transition

Support positive impact entrepreneurs' initiatives

Help 
local 
communities
In this way, employees can engage, individually or collectively, on a variety of topics that affect them and that correspond to the four pillars of BNP Paribas' corporate commitment. In 2021, as in 2020, some of these solidarity hours were carried out remotely, to respect health standards and protect participants while continuing to intervene on behalf of society and the planet.

“1MillionHours2Help means on average, depending on business lines or countries, that each and every one of our employees has about half a day a year to help an association. The programme has been designed to allow them to give their working time to help the most vulnerable populations or to protect our planet. A period like the one we have just gone through makes that even more meaningful: thank you to all our volunteers!” 

Sofia Merlo, Head of Group Human Resources at BNP Paribas

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