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!

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.

Hello, my name is Lyubov Zavalnaya, and I am a member of the large volunteer family at the Shymkent Volunteer Center. I joined the community 18 years ago, and over that time, I grew from a project participant into an active volunteer. Perhaps this happened because I’ve always had a desire to help others, and volunteering gave me the opportunity to do real good deeds.

I’m currently involved in several projects. As part of the Good Deeds Day campaign, we help organize and deliver food packages. I also participate in preparing and running holiday events for Passover, Purim, and Rosh Hashanah. For children’s celebrations, I happily bake homemade pies to delight the youngest members of our community. I love seeing the joy in the eyes of those we help, and every time I’m reminded that I’ve chosen the right path.

And I have a special joy in my life—my daughter Taisia has followed in my footsteps and become a volunteer too! Now we participate in many actions together, and I’m truly proud of her. Of course, the example of older generations is important in raising the younger ones, but I like to believe that the desire to do good runs in the genes of our whole family.

I encourage everyone to join our large volunteer community, because together—we are a powerful force capable of making this world a much better place!

I have been volunteering for 5 years now. I have always felt the need to help people, so as soon as I got to the Southern Volunteer Center, I immediately joined the volunteer activities. These were a variety of events and people, all kinds of actions aimed at helping and supporting. I do not take back anything and I can proudly say that I became the best volunteer in Krasnodar in 2019. It is important for me to be part of a strong team of caring people. If we look around, we can see many situations where perhaps the help of a volunteer is needed. Sometimes, just by helping a person to brighten up his loneliness, we save a life, and sometimes by extending a helping hand, you can help make the right choice. Now my life cannot be imagined without volunteer help, since the responsibility for my ward Bella Leontievna has appeared - an absolutely lonely woman who was saved during the pandemic. Now she has become a part of me. Taking care of her, I understand that I saved at least one human life. I also often have to collect humanitarian aid and take care of refugees. I do it with great pleasure, realizing that anyone can find themselves in such a situation! I am sure that the world will be saved not by beauty, but by kindness!

Hello! My name is Lola Zotova, and I am a volunteer at the center. By education, I am an art historian, and I am very pleased that my knowledge has proven valuable to the members of our community.

One could say that volunteering was "introduced" to me by my daughter, whom I took to the "Mazl Tov+" program. A decisive moment for me was meeting the leader of this program. I was impressed that a person with such deep encyclopedic knowledge and great professionalism willingly dedicates themselves to our children.

I also wanted to share what I know and can do. I proposed participating in volunteer-based projects, and I am very glad I took this step! Today, I help immerse both young and adult members of our community into the world of art. What could be more pleasant than seeing gratitude in the eyes of our participants and feeling useful to others?

As a volunteer, I participate in cultural programs within the "Jewish Renaissance" project, where I teach drawing to all who are interested and provide important knowledge in the theory of art. Thanks to my rich teaching experience in higher education institutions, I can captivate my audience and am delighted to open new horizons for them.

Volunteering has become an opportunity for me to help others unfold, develop their talents, and unleash their creative abilities. I am grateful to have joined the volunteer center and hope for long-term collaboration!

Hello everyone! My name is Tatiana Komova, I am 24 years old, and I have been a volunteer for over 3 years. My journey into volunteering began with the “Caring Connection” project, where I participated in distributing smartphones. After interacting with many elderly people, I realized how lonely many of them are, and I wanted to make their lives better.

I started conducting online events and providing technical support for the elderly. Besides technical skills, I also have creative inclinations, so I happily joined the “Handy Hands” and “Craftswomen” projects. I also take part in large-scale events like “Day of Good Deeds.” I believe such events are a great opportunity for those who want to try their hand at volunteering.

For me, volunteering is not only a way to help others but also a means to grow and develop. Here, you will find everything needed for communication and self-improvement. You can make a meaningful contribution even if you’re not a master or an expert, and your opinion and input are always valued. I invite everyone to join our large and friendly volunteer family to grow together and make our world a better place!

The familiarity with Judaism and Jewish life, I began with my aunts, who studied at a Jewish Orthodox school, approximately at 12 years. They led me into the synagogue and helped to settle. Then I began to attend the synagogue more often. It was the time when I kept Shabbat, Koshrut, and Tfilin. I am interested in the volunteering. Because the youth must know about its roots, understand who they are and be proud of them. But when you are young, it is difficult to understand this, and especially by yourself. So, I try, as much as possible, to help the young people to learn their history, to help to understand that the Jews are one big family.

Hello, my name is Alisa Kilibaeva, and I am a volunteer. Since childhood, I could never remain indifferent if someone needed help. I felt a strong need to assist and improve the lives of others. As I easily connect with people of different ages and always seek active communication, my creative talents pushed me to find ways for self-realization.

Volunteering has united all my aspirations and desires. Today, I actively participate in the community's life and various projects, as well as city and community events. I volunteer in projects like "Shabbat as a Separate Art Form," "Rapid Response Group," and "Food Security." I also enjoy working with children, so in the summer, I help in the children's day camp and conduct classes as part of informal education at the day center.

Additionally, I assist in organizing themed evenings for youth and participate in AJT international quizzes, intellectual games, and represent the community at various events. Volunteering has opened up unlimited opportunities for self-realization, and most importantly, I feel part of a significant and important mission to help others!

My name is Elizaveta, or Liza for short.

In 2022, due to a chain of random events, I joined the Republican Volunteer Center as a volunteer for the "Call Center" project due to the military crisis in Ukraine, and this moment significantly influenced my life thereafter.

After completing work with clients from Ukraine, I also began participating in projects aimed at interacting with various age groups from our country. Throughout the summer of 2022, I taught drawing lessons to children from the Jewish kindergarten, and besides that, I had the opportunity to participate several times in the "IT-Grandparent" project aimed at increasing technological literacy among the elderly. I also participated as an interviewer and copywriter in the "20th Century Kishinevians" project, and later became part of the initial composition of the Jewish youth theater "Dor." Among the recent projects, I can mention "IMPRO-media," where, under the careful guidance of Viki and Nata, a large team of volunteers created an animated film dedicated to the holiday of Purim, which gave me the opportunity to try myself in various production formats: dubbing, script writing and editing, as well as recording musical accompaniment.

Honestly, now it's difficult for me to remember all the projects in which I was involved in one way or another, but I can confidently say that all of them had an undeniable and extremely significant influence on me and my personal development.

I am very glad that I became a volunteer at RVC, because it was here that I got acquainted with Jewish culture and unexpectedly discovered the presence of Jewish roots on my father's side, which I had not suspected or thought about before.

Thanks to RVC, I attended the wonderful family Jewish festival "Anavim" and subsequently began attending the Jewish youth platform "Haverim," which gave me a huge boost in understanding my Jewish identity.

If not for all these elements, I would hardly ever have had the opportunity to participate in organizing and conducting large-scale events such as Community Shabbats, Avdalas, or off-site events, such as the volunteer conference in Ukraine or the "Generations Shabbaton: Festive Tishrei" as a madrich.

In conclusion, I can only say that I am very happy and grateful to fate for introducing me to such a wonderful community and such wonderful, friendly people who have truly become close friends to me and my loving family. I like "KEDEM" because here you are accepted as you are, and all your skills find application in the most suitable and interesting format, including for yourself. As a teenager, I was able to acquire a huge amount of skills and knowledge necessary for the future, and I really feel that I am developing my potential, so I want to express my immense love, respect, and gratitude to all those whom we encountered in one way or another on this path!

Maria Skibitskaya is a physician, a graduate of the Kuban State Medical University (general medicine specialization). She was born in Krasnodar, in a family of doctors. A patriot of her city. An athlete with a sports rating in synchronized swimming. Works as a physician, providing a qualified medical assistance. Long lines of patients prove this – many people want to get fast and efficient help, which Maria provides.

Maria is actively involved into the social life of her city, giving lectures and writing articles for scientific and popular magazines and participates in cardiological, surgical and therapeutic conferences. Involved into scientific work.

She is also an activist of the Krasnodar Jewish community. Maria is an author of the project The School of Health, where she gives lectures on health and a healthy way of life. She generously shares her knowledge with other people and carries out preventive work. She is full of enthusiasm and creative plans. Her first volunteering action took place in the framework of Metsuda, where she helped elderly people.

Being a graduate of the Metsuda, Maria has created her own volunteering project The School of Health, where she gives various workshops dedicated to a healthy way of life.

Maria considers, that every person must help those, who need help, when she has an opportunity to do that. “Volunteering for me is the joy of others, gratitude, positive emotions. These things lack so often nowadays!”

My name is Oksana. I brought my daughter to the Jewish Community Center three years ago. She eagerly attends classes and events held in our center.

The atmosphere in it contributes to bringing people of different ages together. Not only do our children find friends here, but we, the adults, also find ourselves here. My husband Andrei and I actively participate in the life of the center. Our professional activities allow us to provide equipment and household appliance repair services in the center absolutely free of charge.

In this way, we support our center and happily take part in family projects. We are ready to share our knowledge and experience with the children attending classes in our warm, cozy home.