Adults involved in volunteering is a regular work. But it's much rarer to see children and teenagers helping others. And that's a shame. From my own experience, I can say that when a children participate in good deeds, they bring even more joy and warmth into the homes they visit.

I have been a volunteer in the Maagal Volunteer Community of the Joint Distribution Committee for nearly four years now. 

I have a volunteer partner - my eleven-year-old daughter, Diana. She took the initiative to join the project on her own. Diana knew what I was doing and always asked how it went, what was interesting. At some point, she suggested joining me. Now, every time I have a task, she asks, "Are you going? Can I come with you?" And almost every time, she’s part of the action. The freedom to choose is important. Diana is not just my partner, she’s also my comforter.

I often have a lot of emotions. For example, one time we went to make crafts with children with Down syndrome. Diana was so enthusiastically interacting with them. When we left, she said, "Mom, thank you for this meeting. These kids are just like us. If they ever need help, I’ll be there for them." That moved me to tears.

My daughter understands my sensitivity and always comforts me. We return home feeling inspired, knowing that we’ve lived at least one day to its fullest. We see doing good as a necessity. Diana never asks why or what for—we simply enjoy it. And people always greet us with enthusiasm.

Natalya Kuleshova has been a volunteer with Hesed in Almaty since 2020 and plays an active role in the community's life. She organizes vocal lessons for children and youth, actively participates in the "Socialization" club, and takes part in projects such as the "Day Center," "Theater," and "Chronicle of Generations."

Natalya demonstrates professionalism in her work, finding an approach to each person and paying attention to everyone. She also contributes to the planning and organization of community events, concerts, and other activities, giving them a special touch and significance.

My name is Alexandra Viktorovna Barkova. I am 15 years old and I study at secondary school number 21 in the city of Bobruisk. In my free time, I enjoy music, needlework, reading and preparing for exams. I am also a member of the AJT teenage club in Bobruisk. I have been volunteering for 9 months now. When I first came to the club, I was immediately interested in the topic of volunteering. As soon as the opportunity arose, I began distributing food security kits for the Food Security project. I am very grateful that I have such an opportunity - the opportunity to please and take care of people. I want to wish all the volunteers patience and good mood so that they can bring good to people!

Hello! My name is Yaroslava, I am 16 years old and I study in the 10th form of the Theoretical Lyceum "Alexander Pushkin". I enjoy playing the piano, playing sports and writing articles, as I dream of becoming a journalist. A year ago I became interested in volunteering, the war that started in a neighboring country played a big role in this. From February to July 2022, my mother and I actively helped refugees. We prepared a large amount of food and delivered it to those in need. Then I became interested in whether we have volunteer organizations in Moldova and remembered the RVC, which my friend told me about. First, I got into the "School of Volunteers", where I learned from the coordinators what the Republican Volunteer Center is. I liked it right away. I realized that here I can develop myself, learn and gain new skills, communicate and help people, which is what I always wanted. I have been at the RVC for a year now, during which time I managed to try myself in various projects. Most of all I like "Call Center", as well as projects related to children. One of the projects that I lead is "Talking English", where I teach children English in an interactive way. During my activity there were many interesting cases, but most of all I remember the case from the "Clean Chisinau" project. Then we were cleaning the "Eight" park and collected about 15 bags of garbage. We had a real quest to get garbage out of the lake. We understood that it would not be possible to clean everything. Then a man who had nothing to do with volunteering came to help us. He literally climbed into the lake and helped us pull out a large number of bottles and other debris. After the action, we were glad that we managed to clean up the park a little and make it more pleasant. Being engaged in volunteer activities, I feel useful, I feel that people need my help and I believe that volunteering is my calling!

Hi! My name is Arina, I am 17 years old and studying in the 11th grade. I am a volunteer of the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC) in Chisinau. I found out about the RVC by the end of 2019 from a friend, but I couldn’t join because of the pandemic. After, I was indecisive, but then, I made a decision to join the RVC team in June 2022. Looking back at my first interview, I can't help but smile at how afraid I was. During the time of my engagement in the voluntary craft, I managed to take part in many projects of the Russian Exhibition Center, which are aimed both at improving our city and at socializing the elderly and helping children. I managed to participate in the projects “Clean Chisinau”, “Give me a paw”, “Chisinau Citizens of the 20th Century”, host English classes for children in the Jewish kindergarten, and also be a volunteer at the Europe Junior Cup Chisinau 2022 in August. In September, I was lucky to become a member of the VC Festival for 4 cities of our republic. Now, I am helping to coordinate the "Ready for School" project, which allows preschool children to learn the basic knowledge in mathematics and spelling. At the moment, I am also involved in the work of the call center, where I call weekly and inform people about our projects and events. This is not a complete list of what I do at the volunteer center. On the one hand, the RVC is a place where you do volunteer work and get tired of giving yourself away. But on the other hand, this is a place that inspires and fills with new knowledge. For example, here I learned about my Jewish heritage. Quite unexpectedly for me and my family, we found out that my great-grandmother was Jewish. Here I was helped to reconnect with my heritage and feel like a part of a friendly Jewish community. Joining RVC was probably the best decision of my life. Here I met a lot of new people, a couple of whom became my close friends and support. It was here that I learned a lot about Jewish culture, how to communicate with different people, how to work in a team and help others. The Republican Volunteer Center is not just a couple of offices in JCC KEDEM, it is a family and a second home!

My name is Alyona, I'm in the 12th grade at the "Petru Movilă" lyceum. I have always been interested in volunteering, because I wanted to help people, and I had always possessed the most important resources for this: time and desire. I started looking into volunteer centers and came across the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC). By the end of the summer, I filled out a registration form and was invited for an interview. This is how my volunteer journey began. At the moment I am participating in a project for children "How does it work?". In the classroom, I talk in a manner that is interesting for children about the work of the human body. I also work with older people in the "IT POP" project, which aims to teach mobile literacy to Hesed's wards. What I like about RVC is that absolutely everyone can find an outlet of expression for themselves here, as there are many projects for different age groups and interests. Volunteers are also not forgotten, for whom many educational seminars, training and master classes are held. I also want to note the coordinators who are always ready to help and make you feel at home as much as possible. I really enjoy being a volunteer and I'm glad to be a part of RVC!

My name is Grunya Varzar, and I am a volunteer at Hesed in Tiraspol. For over 15 years, volunteering has been an integral part of my life, where I find meaning and joy. My journey began with a desire to help those in need, and this realization was a revelation for me.

I hold the “Craftswomen” project close to my heart, where we create cozy items for those in need. The “Warm Kindness” campaign, where I knit socks and slippers, has become a celebration for me, as each stitch represents warmth and care.

Helping distribute matzah and food packages brings me joy, especially when I see the grateful smiles of those receiving help. These moments inspire me to continue my volunteer work.

Volunteering not only allows me to improve others’ lives but also helps me grow as a person. I meet amazing people, and each new acquaintance becomes part of my story.

I believe that every step we take toward kindness makes a difference.

Valentina is a retiree, but that doesn't stop her from actively taking part in the volunteer movement.

Her desire to connect with people, help them, and provide support led Valentina to volunteering. Since childhood, she has been very sociable, always surrounded by people. Loneliness is a significant issue for Valentina. Back in 1991, when almost no one had heard of volunteering, Valentina contributed a lot to the synagogue.

She learned about the volunteer movement at Hesed while attending the Day Center group. Valentina participated in the "Equals for Equals" program, having two wards whom she regularly visited. When the project "Origins of Mercy" started in Beltsy, she gladly agreed to be a part of it.

Currently, Valentina has four wards with whom she regularly communicates over the phone, assists at Hesed, and willingly responds to any request. She is constantly evolving, attending volunteer seminars and educational sessions with a psychologist, gaining even more experience and the right approach to elderly people.

Hello, my name is Kseniya Storozhenko. I am a volunteer at the center and very glad that I once learned about such a wonderful opportunity to benefit society. I am a student at the Tashkent branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University, and I have a rather busy schedule, but amidst lectures and homework, I always find time for volunteering.

I got acquainted with the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) branch in Uzbekistan in 2024. I was attracted to the youth club and the intellectual game “What? Where? When?”. Soon, from a guest, I turned into an organizer and now actively help conduct the game within the framework of the “Jewish Revival” project, as well as organize meetings in the Youth Club.

I enjoy coming to the center, where I feel like a member of a big, friendly family. Here I can gain new experiences, develop my creative talents, and make new friends. Most importantly, I can bring real benefits to people and make their lives better! I invite everyone who cannot pass by someone else's misfortune to join our big and very necessary cause!

Anna Grigorievna Rysina was born on September 6, 1926 – a volunteer. She is one of the first volunteers of the "Jewish Community Charitable Center 'Hesed Tikva'," dedicating 28 years of her life to the Bryansk Jewish charitable center "Hesed Tikva."

"...When I came to 'Hesed Tikva' 28 years ago, I wasn't yet 70. It was 1996. I was told that a Hesed was opening, and I said, 'Of course, I’ll go.' Everything here was so interesting! We visited the sick, those who were unwell. Back then, we didn’t know where the Jews lived. One person would mention someone, and another would say something about someone else. That’s how we searched for Jews. Some were afraid: 'Why does anyone need to know I’m Jewish?' At that time, the Hesed was still under renovation. My first job was to wash the light fixtures. I immediately became a trainer, leading a group in physical education. In the morning, I worked with retirees, and in the evening, I worked with those who were employed (and for almost ten more years, I ran in the park during the summer, although at 80 I became a little lazy). About a month later, Irina Iosifovna Chernyak, the director of the Hesed, suggested I take care of the library."

"...Before, I worked at a steel plant in Bezhitsa (a district of Bryansk), as a casting engineer. And at our factory, there was a good library. We read books, exchanged impressions, and always had a book club gathering. We discussed different books. I was there in the library for more than fifty years. So, when I came to the girls at the Hesed, I said, 'Teach me to be a librarian.' They showed me how to track books, how to organize them, how to maintain the borrowing logs. Well, I am, of course, obedient. Since we started dealing with the library..."

Thanks to Anna Grigorievna, the library was replenished with many new books, including historical women's novels and works about Jewish dynasties. Now, at 98 years old, Anna Grigorievna continues to actively participate in the life of the center, receiving care and support in return. Despite having suffered a leg injury, she still visits the Hesed several times a month. In her volunteer group, there are 10 people working in the library: issuing books, tracking incoming literature, improving the catalog, etc. She still participates in many events at "Hesed Tikva" and actively leads educational activities.

"Hesed is my family. Irina Iosifovna has created a great thing. What should a person do in life? My technology, my drawings, and technical conditions have remained. They work according to them at the factory. But here is the library. Irina Iosifovna created something that cannot be conveyed, how many people she saves with it."

"Once, I fell at home and broke my hip. I couldn’t get up. I fell, and I called Masha, who comes to me every day as part of the Hesed program. I said, 'I fell, I can’t get up.' She didn’t have a key. I crawled out of the room. I remember how they show in movies that soldiers crawl when their legs are injured. That's how I crawled to the door. Since I’m small, the lock is low, I stretched, opened the door, and passed out. Masha arrived with her husband. They lifted me, put me on the bed, and called an ambulance. If it weren’t for Hesed, I wouldn’t have survived. They immediately bought me a special anti-decubitus mattress, diapers, and wipes, and they also made a handrail for me in the bathroom."

Anna Grigorievna emphasizes the importance of reading and knowledge, especially noting that books are a "great thing." She advises young people to dedicate time to reading, expanding their horizons, and finding inspiration in literature. Anna Grigorievna treats everyone with respect, regardless of their nationality or background. True intelligence, she believes, lies in seeing a person as an individual first.

Despite her age, she continued to actively participate in community life, engaging in physical activity and library work. Her example shows that even in retirement, one can remain a useful member of society and bring value to those around.

Anna Grigorievna's advice: "Read, respect the people around you, be active and useful to society, and remember that kindness returns."

24 years old

Reception document service assistant.

Hobbies: I write poems, prose and I enjoy being photographed.

My volunteer career began when I was at school in 11th grade. My friend and I signed up for an action against extremism and drug trafficking. We walked around ​​the district and made photos of “advertisements” of drugs, smoking mixtures, and various inscriptions such as swastikas, which offend different nationalities. We sent all the information to a police officer.

Later, I was a volunteer in the search and rescue team «Liza Alert» and searched for missing people. I placed announcements about the search, notified the public about the results, and I was also the organizer of the «Memorial Day of the Perished Children» supported by «Lisa Alert».

I wanted to be a volunteer from a Jewish organization, and I learned about the existence of Hesed Ester and the fact that everyone could participate in cleaning the Jewish cemetery. This is very important for me as a Jew, as a member of the community, and it gives me great pleasure to do this activity. There is such a nice and useful action as cleaning the cemetery — thank you so much for it!

My name is Nadya, I'm 18 years old, and I attend a high school. I've always been interested in volunteer work but didn't know where to start. I learned about RVC in June from a friend who invited me to one of the volunteer projects. That's when my journey as a volunteer began. I was deeply inspired and filled with emotions by the people and their kindness. I wanted to try myself in other projects and learn more. That's how I joined this large team of volunteers.

During the summer, I volunteered as a logistics coordinator at a triathlon championship. Along with other volunteers, we supported the athletes, cheered them on, and energized them. Sports volunteering is a completely different world because it's filled with a desire to win, fatigue, motivation, and much more. I've never experienced the kind of fulfillment and energy anywhere else. It makes you feel like you're a part of something big and important. You realize how your efforts influence the development of sports and the world in general. The experience I gained through volunteering not only helps in my volunteer activities but also provides personal growth and opportunities to apply these skills in all areas of life.

What touches me the most about volunteering is how people come together to do something good for complete strangers. It makes me believe in kindness and humanity. The openness and willingness of other volunteers to guide, help, and explain things have charmed me. The overall atmosphere of ease and friendliness in RVC makes you feel comfortable and motivates you to do good deeds. You always want to come back here, not only for volunteering but also for the opportunity to meet new friends and conversationalists.

To those who want to start volunteering, I can advise you not to be afraid to reach out, ask questions, and learn the details. You will always be welcomed, and they will help you find your path in volunteering.