Siemens Energy volunteer scheme empowers young women in Bolivia

Energy professional Laura Sandoval realized the impact of her work with vulnerable young women when she gave them a simple gift: a box of personal care products. This was made possible by a company that champions female leaders beyond their day jobs.

Sandoval and her colleague Andrea Nicole Arispe, both female leaders at Siemens Energy’s Santa Cruz headquarters in Bolivia, transformed their colleagues’ goodwill into practical community support. They donated boxes containing scrunchies, hair clips, water bottles, soap, moisturizer and wash bags to women and girls at a local refuge. “These girls live together and don’t have anything they can call their own. To the boxes, we added a message: ‘I am loved’ to remind them that there are people who care about them,” Sandoval said.

Their efforts were part of the company-wide development program Energy Without Limits, which aims to foster female leaders. The program encouraged employees to channel concerns about gender equality into concrete actions. About half of Siemens Energy employees in Bolivia are women, Sandoval said. “As a company we are already very inclusive.”

The company supported Sandoval and Arispe’s “Sisterhood of Energy” initiative after they discovered a nearby shelter for victims of abuse and sexual violence. “The company [trusted] our vision and [provided] the flexibility needed to plan and execute the activities,” Sandoval said. “This support allowed the initiative to grow from an idea into meaningful sustained impact.”

As part of their volunteer efforts, the Siemens Energy team devised workshops ranging from first aid to basic carpentry, painting and dance. As employees forged friendships with residents, the young women’s confidence and skills grew.

Sandoval said these women had faced unimaginable challenges. “[We helped] them rediscover their confidence and potential. This was made possible thanks to the incredible teamwork, empathy and commitment of colleagues.”

Their efforts earned recognition for the company, including a global in-house award for corporate social responsibility and praise from Bolivia’s German ambassador. Colleagues worldwide have been inspired.

“In Bolivia, we’re a small company – just 55 staff – tiny compared to Siemens Energy in the rest of Latin America. Winning this global award, having such a big impact without a big budget, has opened doors for us to take the programme further,” Sandoval said.

In her role in business operations and compression services across Latin America, Sandoval liaises with teams in Brazil and abroad, translating information into practical strategies. “We have factories in Germany, Sweden, the US and India – I love getting to know the different cultures … I help connect teams and build our culture through clear communication. Every day I focus on making sure everyone has what they need to do their job and stay aligned with business objectives.”

Arispe works alongside Sandoval, managing orders, liaising with international colleagues, coordinating with factories and meeting operational goals. She is also involved in digitalizing business processes. “It’s a dynamic, rewarding sector – you have to be curious and open-minded. Your decisions will have a great impact in the longer term, for our future.”

Arispe wants to create more routes for women to succeed in business. “Throughout my journey towards leadership, I’ve benefited from strong mentorship and an environment where my strengths were recognised and developed. As a young female leader, I am motivated to contribute by building development paths that enable more women and youth to grow, perform and lead.”

This year the team will continue working with the shelter’s women and girls, encouraging them toward university and careers, especially in science, technology and engineering. “We don’t want to just leave them,” Sandoval said. Three-quarters of women aged over 17 from the refuge are now pursuing university studies or technical careers, demonstrating the initiative’s long-term impact.

Carving out time for the shelter has been a company-wide challenge. “This volunteering programme changed us too – it transformed us into better people,” Arispe said. “The Sisterhood of Energy was an extra mile for all the people who got involved … but when you have a purpose, you can commit to your end goal.”

Rather than distracting from their work, the development program has inspired both women to advance within the company. Both relish the dynamic nature of the energy sector as targets and technologies evolve.