COPEDECO is a cooperative that develops projects that seek to improve the quality of life of groups in social difficulty in Alcantarilla, Murcia. This entity founded the last-mile parcel delivery company Bici Go in 2021, with the purpose of hiring people in vulnerable situations and helping to reduce local traffic congestion. However, the company found itself in financial difficulties to cover its expenses.
Faced with this situation, COPEDECO contacted the Repsol Foundation, who created a team of volunteers to address the challenges of Bici Go. In the initial phase of the project, they carried out a thorough analysis of the delivery processes and came up with ideas to inspire staff, such as becoming a parcel collection center or making purchases for people with reduced mobility.
In the second stage, they implemented these measures, complemented by the incorporation of an electric bicycle, donated by the Repsol Foundation, which became a key element for the efficient transportation of packages. Thanks to these improvements, deliveries multiplied considerably, which finally ensured the viability of Bici Go.
Today, the company has not only managed to save its business, but has been able to hire an additional person. As Mari Jiménez, president of COPEDECO, explains, the volunteers “put their professional knowledge at our service, not just their commitment. “They helped us thanks to their experience in accounting, marketing or process analysis.”
This initiative exemplifies how collaboration between organizations and volunteers can have a positive impact on the community and people's lives. Ana Castellano, one of the participants in this professional volunteering project, emphasizes that in this type of initiatives what is really important is “to listen a lot and not take anything for granted. And then, on the other hand, avoid voluntarism. “You have to be very professional and apply the tools that you know and that you are using in your daily life.”
