Hello! My name is Gulmira, and I am a volunteer for the "Jewish Renaissance" project. Why did I become a volunteer? Perhaps because I love people and want to share a part of my warmth with them. I came to volunteering following the call of my heart, and for three years now, I have been bringing joy to the beneficiaries of our center.

By profession, I am an artist. I graduated from the Higher School of Folk Dance and Ballet in Tashkent and have 16 years of experience working as a soloist and stage master at the State Musical Comedy Theater. In addition, I am involved in teaching - I teach folk and modern dance to students of the children's studio at the operetta theater.

As part of my volunteer activities, my students and I have participated in festive events organized by the Jewish community of Tashkent. We have also performed at concerts organized by the Joint in Uzbekistan: "Birthday" and "The World Through the Eyes of Children." I like to think that each performance helps make the lives of other people more joyful and interesting! I am confident that many more interesting years of volunteering await me in the future!

I am a volunteer, I like to write prose, act on stage or put on small plays.

My volunteer career started with a Shabbat at home of an elderly single woman, who has hearing problems. I also worked with children with disabilities.

I do volunteering because I like to make people happier, make them smile, give them attention and let them understand their importance. I also like to feel that people need me while helping them.

At the moment I am working on creating a project for BBYO and I have already two ready-made projects.

My Jewish history began with my great-grandmother, who was a Polish Jewess. When they moved to live in Ukraine, all documents indicated that they were Ukrainians. However, they did not forget about their traditions and kept them, which was passed on to my family. My husband has Jewish roots and is an Israeli citizen. For him, the traditions and culture of his people are very important, and he introduces our family to Jewish holidays and traditions. I am originally from Ukraine, but due to the war in my home country, I had to move to Chisinau with my two sons Roman (16 years old) and Maxim (11 years old). At first it was very difficult - a new city, everything is new. But I managed, and for almost a year now we have been living in Chisinau. Looking back, I remember how difficult, difficult and dangerous our departure was, since my city of Kherson was at that time, and there were battles. Immediately upon arrival in Moldova, I began to look for the Jewish community, as it was important for me to learn more about Jewishness, which would help me continue to live in Israel, because it is not in vain that they say that all Jews return to their native lands in Israel. Attending a Hebrew course was my first step in introducing and getting to know KEDEM. I began to learn about the projects and activities that exist there. Our whole family became actively involved in the life of the community, trying to attend all the events. My children are involved in many projects according to their age - Roman is actively involved in Haverim projects, and Maxim attends meetings within Haverim Junior, and they are delighted. I can say that the RVC Volunteer Center gave us life back! I am an RVC volunteer because I love people and I love helping! I learned about the volunteer center back in the summer, at the ANAVIM festival, and began to get acquainted with projects, choosing activities that were interesting for me. Now I'm part of a volunteer center. Since I don't currently have a full-time job, I have started to devote more time to RVC projects. As a professional psychologist, I chose to volunteer with the elderly and demented people because I understand how to work with them. In addition, I help to organize women's groups within the framework of the project "About self-love", so that every woman can feel confident and love herself. I want to express my gratitude to KEDEM and the Republican Volunteer Center for the opportunity not only to help people and make them happy, but also to develop myself and learn new things.

My name is Victoria Koval, and I am a student at the "Raisa Pekalo" Medical College. For me, volunteering is not just an activity; it's a way of life. I have many hobbies, and I find joy in creating various things with my own hands: painting, sculpting, and weaving – these are all my passions.

About six months ago, I joined the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC). I learned about it by chance through TikTok and decided that this was exactly what I wanted to be involved in. It offered a new experience, new acquaintances, and the ability to manage my time. I was drawn to the friendly and supportive atmosphere at RVC, as well as the opportunity to be inspired by this experience and attend educational meetings with various specialists.

Currently, my activities are focused on working with elderly people through online projects and socializing with the elderly. This allows lonely individuals to feel less isolated. I am also actively involved in the "Bring a Smile" project, where we hold interactive meetings for children in hospitals. Additionally, I participate in environmental projects because this topic is close to my heart.

I am ready to respond quickly to tasks, learn, and adapt. My goal is not just to participate but also to contribute to new projects. After all, the RVC team is always ready to help with the implementation of new ideas.

What do I gain from volunteering? One volunteer hour a day may seem small, but in the end, it adds up to 365 volunteer hours a year. For me, these aren't just numbers; it's time invested in good deeds and supporting those in need. For me, the Republican Volunteer Center is a large and friendly family that inspires me every day.

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 Zahar Ustinov. I am a student at the Agricultural College in Vitebsk and have been volunteering with our center for several years. Since childhood, I have been involved in the community. My mother took me to the Synagogue and the community center, which undoubtedly shaped my view of our community as a large, close-knit family. Naturally, I developed a desire to help members of this family. At the age of 11, I became an actor in the "Menorah" theater, and at 13, I read weekly Torah portions for teenagers.

In the AJT Teen Club, I launched my first project, "From Chess to Gadgets," aimed at bringing together people of different generations—youth taught older adults the basics of working with devices and gadgets, while grandmothers and grandfathers taught us to play chess! Soon, my second project, "Sefer-Seret," focused on books and cinema, will begin.

In addition, I have participated in other volunteer projects and events, and I am currently involved in the "Kosher Guest" and "Theater of Three Generations" projects. Volunteering provides me with invaluable experience in various aspects of life and allows me to meet interesting people. Most importantly, it gives me the confidence that I can make a real difference, and that brings me great joy!

Hi, I’m Gil. A narrator, host, guide to the courtyards of Arbat, a volunteer with the "Maagal" movement, and much more.

Every mentally healthy man eventually ponders the meaning of life. If he is truly healthy, he will find it on the path to understanding the Almighty. If not yet — there are other options. Consequently, the question of the meaning of life arises. When I first encountered this question but didn’t know who to turn to or where to go, I decided not to waste time and, just in case, started doing good deeds (which, by the way, turned out to be very useful at all levels).

I've been a volunteer for many years: I visit clients at home, deliver humanitarian and food aid, and bring holiday gifts. I also organize free tours and lead community events.

And how can I do a good deed? Only by doing what I know and for those who need it. It's all very simple.

Hello, my name is Maria Barmina.

My desire to develop myself and interact more with people led me to volunteering, and the first step was participating in the "Bring a Smile" project, where I was invited by a friend. That's when I got acquainted with the Republican Volunteer Center and realized that it was the place where I could express myself and learn something new. The first experience turned out to be successful, so I decided to continue my volunteer activities.

In six months of volunteering, I have had the opportunity to participate in various projects. Within the "Call Center" project, we called elderly clients, communicated with them, and found out what assistance they needed. I also worked with children in a kindergarten and continued active participation in the "Bring a Smile" project. Each project requires deep immersion and encourages the discovery of new talents.

In addition to participating in projects, I attended a seminar for volunteers at the Volunteer School Hub, where we were taught how to launch and implement new projects. I am grateful to the center for giving me the opportunity to discover new facets of my personality by participating in various volunteer initiatives. For me, RVC has become a home where I am awaited by close friends and like-minded people. Together, we are capable of a lot, capable of changing people's lives for the better, and we do it every day! Now I can proudly say "I am a volunteer" and invite everyone to become part of our friendly team!

Hello, my name is Nikolai Lovin. I am a cadet at the Military Academy of the Republic of Moldova. Summer vacation has given me free time, and I decided that I want to use it wisely. My goal is to leave a mark in this world that I could be proud of, so I decided to try myself in volunteering. I chose to volunteer at the Republican Volunteer Center RVC. Coming here, I learned that RVC is located in the building of the Jewish Community Center KEDEM, and I understood that this is what I need. The historical connection with my great-grandfather, who was a Jew from Odessa, reinforced my confidence in this choice. This decision promised me the opportunity to get closer to Jewish values and continue their development within myself. My first steps in volunteering turned out to be very interesting and important. By participating in various events, I gradually integrated into the team. The triathlon championship particularly stood out to me, where I got to see how events are organized from the inside, and the "Origins of Mercy" seminar, which expanded my horizons and provided valuable skills in working with the elderly. The project with children at the "Sévivon" kindergarten impressed me especially. It was an opportunity to immerse myself in Jewish culture and bond with the children. Volunteering not only gave me new knowledge and skills, it changed me. I realized that doing good is not only important but also truly simple. Every time I participate in projects, I find meaning and joy in this time, improving the world around me and bringing smiles and happiness to people.

I am Nata Britkova. I am 33 years old, I am a director, theater and film actress. As a teenager, volunteering and non-formal education attracted my curious attention. For all the years that I was engaged in volunteering in various organizations, participated in various projects, both in Moldova and abroad, it turned out that the RVC was the best thing that could happen to me! My volunteer work began after Good Deeds Day in 2022. Then I gradually began to get acquainted with the projects, and there were quite a lot of them at the RVC, and I wanted to take part in each of them. An interesting fact is that my teacher, an acting coach of the improvisation format, has Jewish roots, but before that I had little knowledge of Jewish culture. Thanks to the RVC, she began to get involved in educational meetings and seminars, thereby learning more about the holidays and traditions of the Jewish people. The Republican Volunteer Center is a platform that allows you not only to help, but also to develop yourself and your abilities, and since I have knowledge of acting, I decided to create the IMPROart project. Some time later, after attending the Network of Volunteer Coordinators workshop, I became its co-coordinator. This project is about the art of improvisation, theater and cinema, which allows all volunteers to reveal their talents. Thanks to the volunteer center, I have the opportunity to continue the work of my teacher and her sister, who, as a person of science, also took part in the development of improvisation. In addition to the mentioned project, I actively participate in environmental events, conduct team building events for volunteers and am a member of the logistics team, thereby developing my creative and creative visions to help the coordinators create unforgettable events. I am proud to be a volunteer of the RVC! Volunteering is about real life!

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!

Hello, my name is Elena Berezovskaya, and I am a volunteer at RVC. Since childhood, I knew I wanted to help others and even dreamed of becoming a doctor. Perhaps this desire to be helpful was inspired by the behavior of my many neighbors from 14 apartments in a large old courtyard in Chisinau, where everyone lived harmoniously and was always ready to lend a hand. My family also had a great influence on me — we had an unspoken rule: anyone who came to our home should be fed, warmed, comforted, and helped.

I had my first volunteering experience in Rybnitsa, where I was invited to try myself as a volunteer at the Hesed Rachel Day Center. My first group consisted of elderly clients, and I felt like I was surrounded by my own grandparents, who were genuinely interested in me and what I was sharing. I felt the same warmth and involvement from the staff: the head of the Day Center Lilia Katz, the director of Hesed Raisa Moiseevna Akulova, and the wonderful cook Maya — I felt at home!

Later, from April 2000 to January 2007, I conducted group discussions with lonely elderly clients at the Day Center. Even after finishing my volunteer work at Hesed, I continued to gladly attend Shabbat gatherings and celebrate traditional holidays with members of the Jewish community.

In early March 2022, I decided to help Ukrainian refugees and brought clothes, dishes, and bedding to the RVC. But what I thought would be a one-time act turned out to be my entry ticket into the volunteer call center. Later, I participated in the RVC project "All About Everything" — leading group phone discussions with lonely elderly individuals. I’ve also been part of the “Phone Friendship” project for over two years.

I enjoy feeling like part of a big and friendly volunteer family, and seeing that my efforts bring real benefit to others!