For Rogelio del Valle, Operations Assistant at Tenaris's premium threading facility in Argentina, volunteering started as something new: a chance to spend a weekend doing something meaningful with his daughters. Years later, it has become an experience he always wants to return to.
Del Valle is one of many Tenaris employees who participate in Voluntarios en Acción (Volunteers in Action), the company's annual community volunteering program in Argentina. Over the years, the initiative has brought together employees and their families to renovate schools, build infrastructure and support local communities near Tenaris's operations.
"The first thing that surprised me was the logistical scale and the quality with which the activities are organized," del Valle recalled. "That's when I understood the real impact Tenaris can have in the community."
What started as curiosity soon became something deeper. For del Valle, the most rewarding part is the people, both the colleagues who share the same willingness to help and the community members who benefit from the work. "Interacting with people who have the same desire to contribute is something beautiful," he said.
He has participated alongside his wife, Daniela, and their daughters, Amorina and Chiara, turning each volunteer day into a family experience. "It brings us closer together," he said. "Sharing these activities as a family and seeing ourselves in a completely different context from our everyday routine is something special." The experience has left a lasting impression on his daughters, who now invite their school friends to join. "It fills us with pride to see that they participate enthusiastically and feel the same desire to help from the heart."
Each volunteer day brings moments that stay with him. Del Valle remembers conversations with neighborhood residents who have witnessed Tenaris's community commitment over the years. "At one point, it was building schools. Now we are helping to renovate many others," he said. "You feel like you are bringing life back to those places. The renovations bring joy."
As a shift leader, del Valle sees clear parallels between his daily work and the volunteer experience: planning, coordination, teamwork and a shared commitment to getting things done right. "When everyone pushes in the same direction, things happen," he said.
After years of participating, del Valle says the experience has also helped him rediscover the value Tenaris brings to the communities where it operates. His message for those who have not yet joined is simple: "The time to lend a hand is today. Sometimes it is hard to step out of the routine, but knowing that you can contribute that small grain of sand makes change possible."
And for anyone who feels they might not have much to offer, del Valle is clear: "Every volunteer hand is necessary and valuable. Tools and materials would be of little use without people willing to turn them into action."
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