President Borut Pahor, US Ambassador Brent Hartley and Japanese Ambassador Shigemi Jomori were among dozens of volunteers helping to convert an abandoned house into a centre run by Slovenian Philanthropy, a charity.

The facility will bring together charities, promote volunteering, and act as a learning centre for migrants as well as an office providing assistance to those without health insurance.

"Too bad we do not have more material. The positive energy present here today would probably suffice to build the entire house," said Tereza Novak, the executive director of Slovenian Philanthropy.

She hopes the centre will mark the beginning of a new method of cooperation between various organisations - NGOs, for-profits, government agencies as well as diplomatic missions. "We have different priorities, but we are in fact all working to improve life in our community," she said.

President Pahor, the honorary sponsor of the third annual event, said such actions were symbolically contributing to solidarity and humanity.

"None of us thinks we're here to do something tangibly big, in a symbolic sense we want to give Slovenian Philanthropy what it deserves - attention," he said.

US Ambassador Brent Hartley noted that volunteering was useful for those giving as well as those receiving help, which is "good for your soul."

Corporate Social Responsibility Week is an event organised by Slovenian Philanthropy and AmCham, the US chamber of commerce in Slovenia. Last year 74 companies and 1,200 volunteers contributed 8,200 hours of volunteering.