More solidarity to build a better world

Martin Luther King once said: ‘If I help a single person to have hope, I will not have lived in vain’. This really resonates with me, because I believe that it is only by helping those who are less fortunate than us that we will be able to build a better world. My name is Nieves Durán, I am 55, and I am an economist, even though I like to say that I am first and foremost a volunteer. I joined AXA in 1996, and have built my career within the Group since then.

Some time ago, on the radio, I heard a woman say that she refused to accept that her life ended at the age of 50, and I fully agree with this! I am very active and do a lot of sport, from mountain biking to hiking in the mountains (Mera Peak, Kilimanjaro, Chopicalqui, Chimborazo…) and climbing. I have also been a keen cross-country and downhill skier for many years. To celebrate my 50th birthday, I completed the world’s longest cross-country skiing race, covering 90 km! Even after achieving these goals, I still have lots of dreams, such as cycling from Madrid to Beijing while raising awareness of the importance of protecting the environment along the way.

In addition to sport, one of the things that I most enjoy on a personal level is no doubt getting involved in solidarity actions. This is something that I have been doing for a long time, since I was a teenager. When I was growing up, I took part in a range of different solidarity projects: with Médecins Sans Frontières in Equatorial Guinea or with a teacher from Isabel La Católica University in Lima.

In 2018, I saw a TV show on the humanitarian drama unfolding in Greece with the arrival of thousands of migrants. I got off my sofa and travelled to the Katsikas refugee camp, in the north of the country. Once there, I was able to help support the thousands of people who were arriving on the Greek coast.

On my return, I saw that AXA Hearts In Action was funding a program to integrate young refugees, which I was delighted to be part of.

This is not the only AXA Hearts In Action initiative that I have been involved in. I have also worked with the Robin Hood restaurant set up by the NGO Messengers of Peace to serve meals to homeless people, I have accompanied people with mental disabilities as part of a hiking club, I have supported the Paralympic Committee, and I have helped plant trees in forests and clean up natural environments.

One of the experiences that has had the biggest impact on me to date is without a doubt giving Spanish lessons to refugees. This program was launched in 2020 by AXA Hearts In Action with the Red Cross temporary reception center, through which immigrants are provided with training to help facilitate their social and professional integration. AXA volunteers got involved by giving six Spanish lessons to migrants who already had an advanced level of Spanish and were looking to improve this.

Thanks to this initiative, I had the opportunity to meet Ziad.

We have done far more than just the six lessons initially planned with Ziad. And now, we even meet up for walks in the mountains or other activities.

At just 20 years old, Ziad is very mature and has strong views. He decided to come to Spain to become a professional athlete. He is very optimistic and respectful, and I believe that the benefits of us meeting have been mutual. Not only because I have been able to help with his integration in Spain, but also because he has helped me to grow as a person and gain more knowledge of Moroccan culture. Talking with him is inspiring and fills you full of enthusiasm for life, gives you the feeling that anything is possible, despite the difficult moments that we may all face. Thanks to Ziad, I am more appreciative of small everyday things. Above all, I feel his joy, achievements and happiness as if they were my own.

I am very proud of Ziad, his courage, his tenacity.