I set off from Pamplona, Spain, and arrived in Dakar for the long-awaited moment when I finally met my other European colleagues from Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Spain. Together, we would be supporting local populations through different initiatives.

But we would not be alone in our endeavour, as we were joined by other Senegalese volunteers. We all left for Saraya located about 750km from the capital in the South-Eastern region of the country, where we would be spending the week.

On Day 1, we distributed the tasks among the 40 or so volunteers with our main  activities including helping run the medical camp at Baralaya village, painting schools and some administrative things like document filing.
I feel lucky to have been able to take part in almost all of the activities that week. I found that people in Senegal are always willing to give a hand, with a smile in their faces and a special something in their eyes that cannot fail to move you. The whole experience made me re-think Europe and feel like there is a big part of the human spirit we need to recover.

In Africa

Being in a remote corner of Senegal, I saw a part of Africa that you will not see if you travel there for the typical holidays – a place where there is no running water, where women wash themselves and their clothes in ponds or streams, in the same parasite-laden water they use to drink, which in some cases causes blindness. I saw areas where there is no electricity; where colourfully-dressed women carry their children on their backs and heavy loads on their heads, where sadly the population is subject to diseases and under nourishment that kill many of them. Therefore, being able to contribute to bringing healthcare to people through this opportunity was even more meaningful.

I will never forget a 30-year-old mother with 5 kids, affectionately looking after her youngest son who was about 2 years old and who showed signs of moderate malnutrition. She seemed to be blind in one eye. As we were taking them to Saraya hospital, she spent the entire journey in the car protecting him from the air conditioning.

Another very moving experience was taking part in the cleaning activities and helping to paint schools and healthcare centres, together with the members of the local community. I remember the school at Saraya, where I worked with the children who, I would like to believe, are the future of Africa. These children painted the school with us, always holding out their hands, willing to help me move something or just to pass me the paint, and who even sang some songs in Spanish with me.

Thank you

I will always be grateful for this opportunity to experience Senegal and Africa. I feel very proud wearing the orange T-shirt given to me as a Solidarity Holidays participant. This experience also gave me the push I needed to go back to the volunteering activities I was involved in a few years ago. What I experienced in Senegal will be the shot of adrenaline I need to keep me going in difficult times.

I think it is essential that ArcelorMittal continues to carry out humanitarian projects. I believe that thanks to this Solidarity Holiday week, several lives were saved in Senegal. This alone is ample reason for continuing the work started there. I would also like to encourage all my colleagues to take on experiences of this kind, which help us grow as individuals and help us transform tomorrow. Together, we can do it.

Author: Carmen Toni, Supplier Accounting, Construction (Distribution Solutions), Berrioplano, Spain

Inspired by the success of their first ever official marathon in 2010, ArcelorMittal employees from Villa Constitución, Argentina, organised a marathon of 10 kilometres, 5 kilometres and a short 0.4 kilometres which was attended by around 500 people, adults and children alike. This community day of sporty fun and the red-nosed guest of honour that joined it are fast becoming a special part of the town’s events calendar.

For those of you who have not heard of it yet; Villa Constitución is a small town located 250 kilometres outside of Buenos Aires in Argentina. This small town of roughly 50,000 residents is also the location of one of ArcelorMittal’s major long carbon facilities through Acindar, a company which is part of the ArcelorMittal Group.

For the second consecutive year, the Villa Constitución site hosted the marathon for residents and their children.

Like in other areas, ArcelorMittal’s footprint in this region is not limited to the business aspect and steelmaking activities. The Company is also committed to being an integral part of each community in which we operate. And events such as this recent marathon are only one of many ways to do so.

With around 500 runners, participation this year was even higher than the very successful launch event last year and a good day of family fun in the sun was had by all. 50 children took the chance to race those 0.4 kilometres, and just because it was not necessarily competitive sports did not mean that it was not taken seriously! Proper time keeping was done by 2 ArcelorMittal organisers with the help of some trackers and some technology! Coming 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the marathons was recognised by trophies.

Presence of famous local clown ‘Toad Pepe’ ensured a memorable day was had by all, especially the kids who are hopefully already looking forward to the next such event where ArcelorMittal and the community come together.

Collaboration: Carlos A. Vaccaro, Manager External Affairs,  ArcelorMittal Acindar

These are the lines with which Brittany Devenyi opened her special in the Canadian publication, The Waterloo Chronicle, in Ontario.

Sophia Schulz is the daughter of Jason Schulz, Galvanize Reliability Team Leader at ArcelorMittal Dofasco. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, a disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system making it hard to breathe or digest food. Only half of those with cystic fibrosis will live into their 40s and beyond.

But this has not dampened the hope or efforts of Jason and his wife. Together with Sophia, they call themselves Team Zoom Zoom after a song that Jason and Katie sing to little Sophia each time before chest therapy. They have become champion fundraisers for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, raising 60,000 CDN $ in 3 years, and regularly take part in events to raise awareness of the disease.

But that’s not all. Katie Schulz has been named ‘Local Hero’ 2 years in a row by Canadian television network CTV. She is also President of the Kitchener-Waterloo Cystic Fibrosis chapter. For the last Great Strides Walk, an annual event organised by Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the Schulz family raised 29,000 CDN $ – thanks to the generous support of ArcelorMittal Dofasco colleagues, friends, and family who have all played a big part in supporting the Schulz’s.

The goal across Canada is to raise 2.5 million $. All of the money is put toward research to find better treatments and to prolong the lives of sufferers.

Jason, who has been working at ArcelorMittal Dofasco since 2000, lives with his Team Zoom Zoom in Dundas, Ontario. “Our hope is that treatments will continue to improve and that eventually a cure will be found for this genetic disease, so that our daughter Sophia will live a long and happy life,” he says.

If you would like to donate or get involved, please visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca or contact Jason Schulz + 1 905 548 7200 ext 3001.

Email Team Zoom Zoom at Jason.schulz@arcelormittal.com or mrskatieschulz@gmail.com

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition affecting the glands that produce body fluids or secretions. In CF, these secretions are stickier and thicker than normal. This hinders the functioning of important organs Some 94% of CF deaths are due to respiratory failure. With improved medical care, the outlook for patients with CF has been improving progressively. Currently, half of those with CF will live into their 40s and beyond. Women at all ages have slightly lower chances of survival than men, for reasons that are still unclear.

The assembled guests of honour, including the Mayor of Dąbrowa Górnicza, other local political leaders and representatives of educational institutions, were genuinely impressed by the sight that met their eyes when the symbolic ribbon was cut and they were allowed into the building. The kindergarten’s entrance hall is supported by huge columns in the shape of coloured pencils and miniature tables and chairs offer a feast of colours. But the guests did not limit themselves to sightseeing. In a mini-amphitheatre situated in the garden adjacent to the kindergarten building, children sang and performed well-known hits adding a touch of music and entertainment to the event.

The facility is a response to the initiative of The Women’s Council whose members represent the interests of 1,300 women employed at ArcelorMittal Poland. The opening of the company’s first kindergarten is also a reflection of one of the 4 pillars of ArcelorMittal’s Corporate Responsibility strategy – investing in our people. This particular project aims to show the world and our employees that it is perfectly possible to reconcile a career with taking good care of their children. “Top class facilities like these, right next to the place of work, will allow parents to work at peace, knowing that their children are happy in excellent surroundings not far from their place of work”, agreed Sanjay Samaddar, CEO and BOD Chairman at ArcelorMittal Poland, during the opening ceremony.

The parents of the children who will soon become constant visitors to the facility are equally delighted by the building itself and the possibilities it offers for the development of their little ones.

By Barbara Schramel, Communications & CR, ArcelorMittal Poland

It is not often you hear stories about how people were happy paying income tax. Being able to determine and direct where your taxes are spent is even rarer. This, however, is exactly what has been happening in Brazil, thanks to a programme run by the ArcelorMittal Brazil Foundation.

The ‘Citizens of Tomorrow’ programme aims to improve the life and future of Brazil’s children – quite literally – its citizens of tomorrow. The majority of initiatives through the Citizens of Tomorrow are related to education.

The resources in 2010 were raised by ArcelorMittal Brazil’s employees, their families and the customers and suppliers of the company, all allocating part of their income tax to be used for the Income Tax for Children and Adolescents Fund!

The amount raised in 2010 was distributed to 69 institutions assisting children and adolescents in 27 different Brazilian cities. Funds went towards teaching materials, the hiring of teachers and promotion of workshops. Altogether, 15,502 children and adolescents benefited last year from the contributions collected via Citizens of Tomorrow.

Since 1999 Citizens of Tomorrow has collected over 14 million Brazilian reals, which is approximately 8.5 million USD, all of which have been passed on to institutions registered with the Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents in Brazil.

Find out more - The ArcelorMittal Foundation

Collaboration: Eimar Fonseca Magalhães, Communications, ArcelorMittal Brazil

It was just like Matias said – when we met,we all felt like we had known each other for our entire lives. In no time we formed a small group of friends from different countries, different cultures and different ages with one main thing in common – to work for the benefit of a community that had already accepted us as being one of them.

In just two days, we had built and painted the walls of an entire house, ready to start on the second one. Although none of us had any experience in construction (and in our day to day life were not even very good ‘handymen’), the willingness to help these people that were far from wealthy in financial terms but were so rich in their generosity and culture, made us accomplish things I had not imagined possible.

Today (Day 2), the group had the opportunity to eat with the community the typical Mexican and local dishes they prepared. There was so much food I have never had before (and some things I will probably never eat again) – stuffed chilli wraps, tacos with cactus leaves and cheese, tuna (not the fish as we seem to eat in other countries but the mexican spanish fruit of the cactus plant, also known as Indian fig), typical Mexican sweets made of milk and many, many other things I don’t remember the names of. Together with this amazing group from ArcelorMittal and the families today, I felt like I was eating at the best Michelin-starred restaurant of the world.

There are so many things I could try explain and write about but I would need days and days to write down everything that I am seeing, experiencing and feeling. I came here with the simple aim of having a unique experience and contributing but what I am really doing is living a whole lifetime in just one week.

A big thank you to everybody who has made this possible!

Collaboration: Nathalie Rehaen, Project Manager Americas, ArcelorMittal Foundation

It all began on Saturday, June 18 when I boarded a plane at an Argentinian airport. After 10 hours of flying, I arrived at Mexico City with high expectations! I was about to meet the colleagues who would be my teammates of sorts at the ArcelorMittal Foundation Solidarity Holidays in Mexico. Chosen as volunteers from all over the ArcelorMittal world from hundreds of applicants, we were coming together to help the people of the Cerrito de Camargo community in the state of Guanajuato build houses.

It may sound cliché but when I met my teammates we clicked right away. To an outsider it may have looked like we had known each other a lifetime. To me, it is amazing how similar we all are despite coming from very different countries with different cultures; all united by this strong desire to help others and make the best of this great adventure for which we have been selected.

On our first day in Cerrito de Camargo, we were introduced to people in the community and the warm welcome we received was truly amazing. They were very grateful for what all of us volunteers were doing for them. The men and women of the community continuously thanked us for coming to help them build their homes. The reaction from the children was very touching and moving – we received a lot of hugs and beautiful smiles.

But the truth is that it is I who wants to give thanks for this chance and these moments. The first thank you is to ArcelorMittal for giving me this great opportunity to help others. Secondly, thank you to my colleagues, my teammates, for this week together and giving me a chance to know them – all of them are truly great people. And finally, I want to thank the people of the Cerrito de Camargo community for the reception and all the affection that we are being given. I am equally grateful to them for letting us help.

My only thought after just the first day there is – I will always remember Mexico and its people.

Collaboration: Rebeca Araya Morales, ArcelorMittal Foundation & Corporate Responsibility Coordinator, ArcelorMittal México
Inset image – Matías Wolkowicz at the building site

May 22 marked the end of the 4th Film Music Festival in Kraków, Poland. The successful event was organised for the 2nd consecutive year in the former electrogalvanizing plant of ArcelorMittal Poland. For 4 days, audiences had the opportunity to enjoy music composed for motion pictures and computer games – in a truly unique location! Read on…

This annual event, organised by the Kraków Festival Office and radio station RMF Classic, is listed among the most prestigious music festivals in the world. Tickets sold out even before the advertising campaign began. Every evening, more than 3,700 avid music fans gathered at the plant to listen to dozens of performers – orchestras, choirs as well as soloists.

The screening of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’, with live music performed by Sinfonietta Cracovia Orchestra – under the baton of conductor Richard Kaufman and accompanied  by the Pro Musica Mundi Choir – aroused the most excitement.

Another highlight of the festival was the concert featuring music from 2 computer games: Final Fantasy (organisers were honoured to welcome its 2 composers – Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu to the festival) and Wiedźmin 2, composed by Adam Skorupa and Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz, and conducted by Grammy Award winner, Arnold Roth.

Enthusiastic cheers rose from the audience after just the first few notes as fans recognised each piece, which is even more impressive considering the fact that Final Fantasy consists of 14 different parts.

Also playing at the festival, Joe Hisaishi – who was dubbed by Western critics as the ‘John Williams of the Orient’ – performed in Europe for the first time, presenting his most famous piece, ‘Princess Minaoke’.

The audience was especially touched by the finale – a Polish television production entitled ‘Czas Honoru’ (Time of Honour), with music performed by the Aukso Orchestra under the lead of conductor Diego Navarro. A splendid ensemble of Polish actors appeared on stage and the composer, Bartosz Chajdecki, signed autographs for his fans.

But the Kraków Music Film Festival is not the only cultural event which will be held against the unique post-industrial background of ArcelorMittal’s former electrogalvanizing plant. In fact, a 2nd music festival, the Sacrum Profanum Festival of Contemporary Classical Music, will also be held from September 11 to 18 at our ArcelorMittal Poland facilities. 

Collaboration: Violetta Kałużny, Barbara Schramel

I have just spent a week participating in an ArcelorMittal Foundation Solidarity Holiday in Bosnia. A team of eight employees volunteered at the Most Mira Festival to help bring children from different faiths, backgrounds and ethnicities together. Yesterday was the culmination of the week with a final performance which involved 500 children.

The event went well and it was very rewarding to see the children laughing, playing and most importantly, making new friends. We had hoped to raise awareness of the Most Mira project, so we were also excited to see a BBC news crew and local media in attendance.

I have learnt a lot during the past 7 days and it has been a week of ‘firsts’ for many of us. For Albon Azizi from Hamburg, ArcelorMittal Germany – it was the first time he kept a diary. Sava Pavkovich, ArcelorMittal USA, and Valeria Corbenelli, ArcelorMittal Logistics, Italy learned circus tricks!

It’s these little memories that I take home with me to Chicago. Now, I will not think of war when I think of Bosnia. Instead, I will think of the generous hospitality we experienced from everyone we met, especially from Predrag Sorga from Prijedor. I will remember the surprise birthday party the team held for myself and Ramona Ionela Constantin of our Galati site. I will remember Anna Wos, ArcelorMittal Poland with her camera, capturing everything she saw. And I think we will never forget Valeria getting locked in the bathroom! The quiet manner in which Tomas Kruk, a colleague from Ostrava, taught children to play the guitar will stay with us too. On the other hand, it will be impossible to forget the sight of dozens of hungry children charging towards Albon as he attempted to give them food.

All these experiences together meant we all stayed up late each night chatting and reflecting. Though we came from different backgrounds, spoke 15 languages and were different ages, we got along well with each other and used each others’ talents and strengths to help make the Most Mira Festival a success.

A week ago, I never imagined that it would be this difficult to say goodbye to people I had just met and to a country that I had never been to before. To use one of Wald’s superlatives, this has been a “life-changing” experience, and one that I know we will all remember with fondness.

Caption: Candice Olson, Internal Communications Manager, ArcelorMittal USA, with one of her media workshop students in Bosnia.

It is strange to wake up and realise that our time in Bosnia is coming to end. Time has flown by, but we still have much to do before we return home. Tomorrow will be the climax of the Most Mira Festival when all the children give a final performance to showcase everything they learnt over the past week. We are all excited to see the various workshops come together, and we hope many of the locals will attend.

This afternoon we had a dress rehearsal. For the first time, all 500 children worked together to contribute to the performance. Tomas Kruk, ArcelorMittal Ostrava, helped the children in the music workshop keep a steady drum beat while Anna Wos, ArcelorMittal Poland, practiced dance routines with her students. Meanwhile Ramona –Ionela Constantin, ArcelorMittal Galati, helped her team to produce artwork for the stage.

It was a little surreal to see children walk around on stilts, juggle bowling pins and balance on stunt bicycles. Walking alongside the children and helping them to balance were Sava Pavkovich, ArcelorMittal USA and Valeria Corbenelli, ArcelorMittal Italy, who assisted the circus workshops throughout the week.

“It was amazing to see the children’s progress from day one to today’s dress rehearsal,” said Sava. “I hope learning fun skills with people from all over the world will give the children a different perspective on friendship.”

Throughout the week, the media workshop children have captured the various activities on tape. Their task for tomorrow’s show is to make a short film and to interview participants, organizers and volunteers. Assisting them are Albon Azizi from ArcelorMittal Hamburg, Wald Lesniak from ArcelorMittal Hamilton Dofasco and myself. Albon is even a guest star in one of the films!

After the dress rehearsal, we returned to our home away from home and chatted about the local and international response to the Most Mira Festival. This morning, much to our delight and amusement, Sava was featured on the front page of the local newspaper together with a child practicing walking on stilts. It is encouraging to see the local media take an interest and we also appreciate all the comments we have received on this blog!

By Candice Olson, ArcelorMittal USA

Caption: Sava Pavkovich, ArcelorMittal USA, teaches a Most Mira Festival participant how to walk on stilts.