My name is Rasima and I was introduced to the Jewish Revival project by bringing my two year old son to the Mazal Tov program. Seeing the colossal work of the leader and teachers of the project, I wanted to contribute. At first, I helped draw posters for events, rehearsed sketches with children, organized holidays and matinees for children with their parents. Later, I started writing quest scripts and conducting them for children. Most of all I like to see the happy faces of children and their parents. The "Jewish Revival" project provides a unique opportunity for self-realization, helping people, implementing their ideas and learning new things. My son has been participating in the Mazal Tov program for five years already, and for me the main indicator of the benefits of these classes is that during all this time my child has never refused them. You can't fool a child's heart.

I am 19 years old. I go to Hesed for 14 years already. I study at the University. Actively I participate in many events of the community. We were always taught that «ours» need to be helped! Therefore, I became a volunteer. I organized different projects in the community, often I visit our veterans, I take part in all concert performances and festive events of the community. I like to be a volunteer, so, I realize myself in some plan. Communicating with the people who are older than me, I learn a lot of useful information. It would be more correct to say that this is very important for me. As, I consider that the volunteer movement is the voluntary movement directed to the improvement of the life. And the volunteers are the people working voluntarily, with the agreement and personal desire. The world is not without kind people. And not everything can be made always with the money.

Hello, my name is Galina Topolchan, and for almost 15 years now, I have been a volunteer at Hesed. Over the years, I have participated in various volunteer activities.

One of my projects is called "Synagogue," where my colleague, also a volunteer, and I host Saturday gatherings for elderly beneficiaries at the synagogue. The day before, we prepare a festive meal, strictly following the traditions of Shabbat. On Saturday, members of the community come together to pray, followed by a festive meal and pleasant conversation.

Another project I am involved in is called "Equal to Equal." My task is to maintain communication with my beneficiaries (currently 7 people), inform them about what is happening in the community, and update them on upcoming events.

I also participate in the project "From Heart to Heart," where we prepare dried fruits for members of the community. We gather together, wash and slice the fruits, and then dry them in special drying machines. The result is a very tasty and healthy treat to accompany tea.

Additionally, I assist the food coordinator in sorting and organizing food vouchers, as well as participate in packing food kits. I help organize events and set up festive tables, as well as perform various tasks at the request of Hesed staff.

Volunteering for me is an opportunity to experience positive emotions while improving the lives of others. I feel joy in helping those in need and receiving gratitude in return. I enjoy being part of a larger volunteer effort, and I am grateful that fate once chose this path for me!

My name is Alina. I am 21 years old. I am studying to be an economist. I’ve got acquainted with the Jewish community, starting with the Taglite. After this unforgettable trip, I started going to the youth club and there I learned about the volunteer center. I’ve been a volunteer in several directions for several years.

I feel the greatest pleasure from my volunteer activities with children. It is an amazing feeling when the little eyes of children start to shine, when you appear.

Hello, my name is Nina Uperenko, and I’m a volunteer. I’ve always enjoyed helping people who find themselves in difficult situations. I used to listen with great interest to a friend who shared stories about her work in the community, and when the opportunity arose for me to join the volunteer movement myself, I didn’t hesitate for a second!

Beyond the desire to help others, I was also driven by the need to maintain a connection between generations. This is very important to me, perhaps because things didn’t quite work out with my own relatives. In the people I help, I’ve found the grandparents I was missing!

As part of my volunteer work, I deliver groceries. But this is also a great opportunity to learn more about our clients, to find out what difficulties they face and what kind of help they need. For elderly people, communication and emotional support are also crucial. During my visits, I try to share a part of my soul with them, bringing more joy and positivity! I like to think that I’m helping to make my clients' lives happier and more comfortable. I invite everyone to join our big, friendly volunteer family! Together, we can handle even the toughest challenges!

Hi all! My name is Vyacheslav Gandrabur, I am 18 years old and I study at the International Lyceum in Chisinau. I love sports, especially football, as well as computer technology and programming. I learned about the Republican Volunteer Center from friends and classmates who shared their positive and interesting experience with me. I decided to learn what it means to be a volunteer, thus discovering new skills and unforgettable experiences. My main project at the RVC is "How does it work?", which is aimed at educating children. I tell the youngsters about the history and principles of work of various objects around us. However, my volunteer work began with the "Do Good" campaign, the purpose of which was to create and conduct presentations about volunteering for schoolchildren and students. The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has seriously affected the activities of volunteers. The approach to planning and holding events and lessons has changed. That is why I led the project "How does it work?" for a long time in an online format, which, of course, had its pros and cons. Luckily, with new volunteers and the reduced risk of Covid-19, we now have the opportunity to conduct classes in person, which makes classes even more fun. In my opinion, the most beautiful thing in the volunteer movement is emotions.I am pleased not only with my own positive emotions from volunteering, but also with the emotions of those people to whom I help. I also like that volunteering gives you the opportunity to gain social experience and develop other unique skills that can greatly help in everyday life. Volunteering is awesome!

Victoria Tonkonog is a new and particularly valuable volunteer in the city of Bishkek with her own unique story. At the age of three, she developed a severe disability due to a musculoskeletal system disorder and practically does not leave her home, receiving all the necessary assistance from Hesed.

During the pandemic, Victoria actively communicated with Hesed volunteers, participating in the "Food security," "Let's Connect," and "Holiday in Every Home" programs. Volunteers taught her how to use the internet, take virtual courses on drawing, and save her poetic works (Victoria writes poetry) in electronic format.

In one of the conversations with Hesed staff, Victoria expressed a desire to become a volunteer, fearing that her physical condition might be a hindrance. However, we found a special volunteer role for her—Victoria has been congratulating elderly wards on their birthdays for several months now. She does it creatively, incorporating her artistic approach, and both sides derive pleasure from this experience.

Victoria notes that volunteering gives her a sense of purpose, instills a feeling of involvement in a common cause, the joy of interacting with many people she didn't know before. Hesed's wards always express joy at the attention they receive on their birthdays from Victoria.

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!

Кuleshova Еugenia Iacovlevna. 28 years old. Advertisement Expert. How did she get to the volunteer center? In 2011 I have finished the leading seminar «Metsuda», the goal of which it was to create my own volunteer project. And since then, the volunteer activities have become an integral part of my life. Now, I can’t imagine my Sunday without Volunteer Center, without my project concerning the work with the teenagers. And even my 10 year old son is involved in a large number of promo events together with me. So, the opening of the Volunteer Center meant for me the only one thing -I’ll soon have a huge number of like-minded people who want to change this world for the better.

Why to be a volunteer? Because this is now the only possible (real and available to everyone) the way to change something around yourself. To make the world better, purer and kinder. Don’t sit and complain but to change, create, improve, and develop. Why is it actual today? For many reasons, actually. Of course because I have already said that only with your own power, desire and love you can change something. Since I mostly work with the teenagers, so, I can name several more specific reasons for them. This is a great way to find real friends. Not those who will be together with you only in social networks, but those who will be tested not only by a word but also by his deeds. This year, it was much talked about that we remember the veterans only on 9 May. So, our guys can proudly say that it isn’t so! I know that our teenagers visit the veterans not only on holidays, but also during the weekdays. It’s nice to be a part of something big and good, and the Volunteer Center is best suited for this.

My name is Elizabeth Garbelik. I am 16 years old, and I am a 10th-grade student at Gymnasium No. 3. In my free time, I engage in various creative activities such as music, painting, knitting, and more. But a special place in my heart is reserved for the Jewish community of Bobruisk, where I attend the AJT youth club and engage in volunteering. My journey began two years ago when I participated in the "Your Neighborhood" project. That's where it all started. I really enjoyed spending my free time helping other people and teaching them something new. After that, I volunteered in the Food Security and TechFriend projects, which were also very interesting experiences. It was a great pleasure for me to assist people in understanding their cell phones so that they could talk to their loved ones and friends over long distances. I was worried that I might say something wrong or lack the experience, but all those concerns turned out to be unfounded, and everything went very well. I wish every person to experience the feeling of joy when helping another person and making them happy!

My name is Oleg Zaharia. My wife Elena and I have been volunteers at the Center for two years now, participating in the "Healthy Vitamin Box" project. Within the framework of the project, we deliver food packages to elderly individuals in need.

It can be said that our daughter led us to volunteering. She attended children's programs organized by RVC volunteers. We were grateful to the volunteers who were willing to share their time and knowledge with the children, and we decided that we could be useful too.

Volunteering brings us immense pleasure. We deliver food packages to elderly people for whom both material and moral support are important. Our beneficiaries willingly share their thoughts with us, talk about their hobbies and interests. After such visits, we feel that we are doing something very important and we experience joy in improving the lives of elderly people.

Some of our beneficiaries have become our regular clients, and we have established truly friendly relationships with them. From them, we learn a lot about the history and traditions of the Jewish people, which helps us remember our roots.

For us, volunteering is an opportunity to make the lives of other people better, to help and support those in need. Moreover, it sets a great example for our children, who, by looking at their parents, learn kindness and compassion towards others. Additionally, volunteering helps strengthen and maintain connections within the community. We are very glad that we once chose this path for ourselves!

So let’s get acquainted! My name is Alexander Kamyshev. I was born in Krasnodar in 1972. I am a scorpio. I have a degree in radio engineering, another in optoelectronic physics. I have also more additional professions. I have many diverse interests — from electronics and botany, to theology and esotericism. I like being helpful. I like to share my knowledge, skills and experience.

Nowadays society is looking for something new and interesting. All people are bored. Therefore, my knowledge and new information interest people. And I am interested in them. When I first felt it, I realized the importance of sharing information with others, because it gives energy and power to develop yourself more and more. We will not be alone, because we are sharing and people will be interested with us. Over time, we will be recognized as specialists in one or several areas. And people will ask you questions! I think, to give, to give, to give — this is the motto of the real Master! And this is the most wonderful feeling in the world!