Global Community Day: Citi Volunteers Join EIT Food to Empower Through Cooking
The collaboration took place within the framework of the AMPLE programme—an award-winning social innovation project launched by EIT Food and supported by the Citi Foundation.
For three lively and flavour-packed days in June, nine Citi volunteers teamed up with alumni from AMPLE in the welcoming kitchen of Entreculturas, a key local collaborator of the programme. Together, they prepared traditional Spanish dishes including paella, Spanish omelette, croquettes, and a delicious chocolate cake. But beyond sharing recipes, the initiative created a space for connection, mentorship, and community building.
AMPLE, which won Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge in 2023, aims to provide individuals from vulnerable backgrounds with the skills and confidence needed to pursue opportunities in cooking, urban gardening, and agrifood entrepreneurship. Since its launch, the project has empowered participants in both Madrid and Poland through hands-on training and social integration pathways.
This year, Citi Spain chose to align with AMPLE as part of its annual Global Community Day—an initiative that mobilises Citi employees worldwide to volunteer their time and talents in support of local communities. Citi volunteers contribute to more than 6,500 hours of service annually, addressing a wide range of societal challenges.
The cooking sessions at Entreculturas not only served as a cultural and culinary exchange but also reinforced the shared values of inclusion, solidarity, and innovation that underpin both AMPLE and Citi’s community engagement work.
As the aromas of traditional Spanish dishes filled the kitchen, so too did the sense of purpose and camaraderie among participants—a testament to the power of collaboration in driving meaningful social change.
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