Hello! My name is Maxim Valutsa, I'm 34 years old, and I am a volunteer at the Kishinev Volunteer Center. My journey to volunteering was relatively short—this activity became the result of my desire to develop social connections and help other people. By profession, I am a translator, which, to some extent, implies studying other nations and their traditions.

I have had a long-standing interest in the Jewish people and Israel. I have always been impressed by the achievements demonstrated by its representatives in various fields on the world stage. Despite their small number, the role of the Jewish people is challenging to overestimate. The desire to learn more about Jewish culture and traditions prompted me to visit our synagogue. I sincerely hope that someday I will be able to visit Israel!

How did I join RVC? It happened in July 2023. At a certain point, I wanted to learn more about the Jewish cultural community, and I turned to the KEDEM website. I called the number provided, and eventually, I was invited to a meeting where Avital detailed how KEDEM's activities are organized. On the same day, I met with the coordinator of the call center, Eugene, who told me about the volunteer center.

I won't hide that I was very interested in getting to know the volunteers, so I attended a meeting with new volunteers where Alexandra Frecautsan thoroughly explained RVC's volunteer activities and projects. This meeting was decisive for me! Alexandra literally ignited in me the desire to help other people and bring them joy!

Now, on my volunteer record, there is participation in various RVC projects: delivering assistance to the elderly, participating in Shabbat meetings, working in the call center, environmental activities, and more. Special training sessions and seminars greatly help improve my volunteering skills. I've already had the opportunity to participate in two such events – in Vadul lui Voda and Truskavets, where I met like-minded people and experienced incredible emotions.

I can confidently say that volunteering has turned my life around and made me think about important things. I am glad to be part of RVC and to be able to be helpful to others. It brings me immense pleasure!

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.

Hi all! My name is Linda Shcherbatova, I am 35 years old. I am a studied catering technologist-designer. At the age of 15, I joined the Jewish Cultural Center "KEDEM" and began to expand my educational horizons. Volunteering has always held a special place in my heart, thanks to my parents and grandparents who raised me the right way. At the moment I am participating in the project "The Origins of Mercy", which brings me joy, especially considering that my grandmother Greta is far away from me, because due to circumstances she had to move to another country. Often I meet older people who resemble my loved ones Greta and Izya. Their manners, habits or appearance give the impression that my relatives are next to me. What does it mean to be a volunteer? This is a moment of sincerity when you lend a helping hand in any situation. It is a manifestation of gratitude when you accept the arms of a person who has lived for many years. In their eyes you see only positive emotions accumulated over the years of life, and upon returning home you feel the aroma of the velvet skin of their hands. Being a volunteer makes me proud! This is a charge of positive emotions in our difficult time!

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!

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!

My name is Emiliya Chernyavskaya, I'm 32 years old. I came from Russia. In the early part of 2022, my family repatriated to Israel, but I couldn't go with them and immigrated to Moldova. Currently, I live in Chisinau and am glad to have ended up in this city, which allowed me to get acquainted with RVC.

I'm quite new to the volunteer center, having joined after a volunteer vacancy fair, and I immediately started my activities. For me, RVC is an opportunity to find a new circle of friends and look at life from a different perspective, to prove through my own actions that there is goodness in life.

I try to get acquainted with all the projects and participate as much as possible in various activities, but most of my time as a volunteer is directed towards the Call Center, communicating with the elderly over the phone. Currently, I call elderly people living in Israel who need communication and support. Along with other volunteers, I gather information about those who need help and talk to those who lack communication. I am glad that I can provide some support to these people even from a distance.

Recently, I was able to join the "Volunteer School" seminar, which allowed me to get to know participants from other RVC projects and gain useful knowledge that will help me in my volunteer activities.

Why did I choose RVC? Because I knew it was associated with KEDEM, and that means there is a part of Jewish life there. My family lives in Israel, and for me, it's an opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of the Jewish people. And since the current activity of the Call Center is focused on calling the elderly in Israel, it brings me even closer to my loved ones, allowing me to support everyone there.

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!

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.

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 Angela Shuruba, and I am a volunteer at the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC). My main occupation is working as a salesperson. I used to work at the "Zorile" shoe manufacturing enterprise.

I learned about RVC by chance when I attended events at KEDEM. I was looking for an opportunity to get closer to my roots, study the history and culture of the Jewish people, and participate in Jewish life. When I asked about educational programs at KEDEM, I was given a few phone numbers and invited to have a chat. Later, I filled out an application and gradually became part of the RVC team because I found here what I was looking for—a warm, friendly atmosphere, a wonderful team, educational and creative programs, the support of a psychologist, assistance to the elderly, and the opportunity to interact with interesting people.

While my children were little, my daughter and son attended an art club and took part in youth programs. Currently, I'm more drawn to KEDEM's activities, and I've become a volunteer at RVC.

I love the projects I'm involved in; they fill me with joy. Communicating with the elderly, whether in person or over the phone, is an opportunity to help them feel less lonely and to let them know that they will always have support and assistance. That's why I volunteer in the Call Center direction of the "Friendship by Phone" project and "Sources of Mercy." I accompany the elderly to the store or on walks.

"Regardless of how wealthy you are, you can always share with others." That's what volunteering is all about—having the opportunity to do a good deed, whether it's sharing your time, experience, or even just a kind smile. It's what I can do, and it makes me a bit better.

Hi all! My name is Victoria, I am 28 years old. For more than 8 years I have been a volunteer in the Republican Volunteer Center. There was a time when I came here from time to time, but in 2019 I returned to volunteering in full force by participating in the Good Deeds Day. I believe that such large-scale events are a very convenient and suitable opportunity for those who want to try their hand at volunteering. I do volunteer work in my free time from my full-time job and other hobbies. I love creativity and I coordinate 2 wonderful projects: "IT Grandmother", where my friends, colleagues, and I teach older people computer skills, and "Our hands can do everything" - art workshops where everyone can try new techniques or remember what he once knew. Master classes are held online for both volunteers and elderly clients of Hesed. For me, volunteering is not only mutual assistance, but also an opportunity for self-development and communication. Everyone can share their knowledge and skills, even if they are not an expert or a master. Every contribution is important, no matter how small it is. I believe that such an atmosphere reigns in the Republican Volunteer Center, and this is one of the reasons why we all love this organization so much. The second reason is the connection with Jewish traditions, culture and community. This is exactly the place that allows me to be closer to my roots! Grow and help make this world a better place!

My name is Vladimir Neznaiko, I am a student of the Anton Chekhov POTL and I am an active participant in the volunteer movement at the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC). My story began when I accidentally found out about RVC through my friends. I was looking for ways to get involved in charitable causes and help those in need when I came across information about RVC volunteering. This was a great opportunity for me to do a good deed and contribute to public life. More than six months have passed since then, and I continue to actively participate in various RVC events. I helped with logistics at various mass events, participated in the organization of Good Deeds Day 2023, collected food for the people in need, organized and hosted classes for children and much more. Why RVC? In this volunteer center, a huge number of projects are focused on helping members of the Jewish community, and here I can get closer to the culture of the Jewish people. My great-grandparents were Jewish, but like most stories from that time, their papers have been weathered, blown away by the winds of time, and eventually lost. By helping out on RVC projects, I can be closer to my historical roots. I like the volunteer movement for its diversity, emotional involvement, and depth. Here I meet many different people, work in a team with like-minded people, learn about different cultures and social problems. It makes my life more meaningful and more interesting. What I especially appreciate in the volunteer movement is that here I can contribute to solving social problems and help people in difficult life situations. It gives me a sense of satisfaction and pride in my contribution to the common good. I am sure that the volunteer movement is useful not only for society, but also for the volunteers themselves. It helps to develop and expand horizons, set new goals and achieve them. I believe that each person can contribute to the common cause and become better, and volunteering is one of the most effective ways to do this.