The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team in France recently organized the second Cisco France#GivingBackDay and 74 volunteers participated. Under a shining sun, they spend half a day helping local non-for-profit organizations multiply their impact.

The volunteers could choose from 7 activities for social good, all within walking distance from the Cisco Paris office. Some decided to help decorate a shelter for the homeless, or to give a hand to a local organization specializing in rehabilitation through gardening.

Others gave their time to sort food and material in a charity grocery shop, helped the Connected Bees team jar its last honey harvest, or helped unemployed people prepare for job interviews. In addition, 13 employees learned live-saving techniques from the Red Cross.

Cisco employees gardened and improved the living space of sheep, which graze along a hard-to-manage railroad embankment, promoting biodiversity and reducing the need for pesticides.

The event has become a victim of its own success. Last year the CSR team proposed 4 activities with 34 volunteer spaces. This year, we doubled the number of volunteer opportunities and the event was full again. Overall, Cisco employees volunteered 225 hours in a single day!

Cisco volunteers sorted 15 tons of donated products for the "Libre-Service Social"

"Thanks to the incredible energy of the volunteers we had an even bigger impact this year," said Carol-Anne Cisse from the French CSR team. "I'm so happy to see more colleagues ready to give time to local non-for-profits and to help others. It's great for the community but also for team building."

The volunteers where delighted by the experience and appreciated the convenience of a group volunteer project.

"I always wanted to help the local community but never found the time or the right non-for-profits to do it," said Fran?ois Rabaey. "It's a great idea to propose volunteering actions a few minutes away from the office!"

To learn more about all of Cisco's CSR activities in France watch this video:
https://youtu.be/n1_JNfla9MU

To read about the Cisco employee volunteers have around the world, visit csr.cisco.com