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.

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 Arina Baboglo, and I am a relatively new volunteer.

I have only been volunteering for 2 months, but the experience I have gained during this time would be enough for a year! I had the opportunity to explore the backstage of projects, acting as the logistics coordinator for the event "Love Story (2.0)". Thanks to this, I saw how much effort goes into each volunteer initiative, how much needs to be planned and considered to ensure that the project comes out in a magnificent "wrapper". This experience has been invaluable for me in terms of event preparation.

Volunteering helps you find new friends and like-minded people, as well as teaches you to work in a team and take responsibility. Moreover, you can try on various roles. I have been a teacher for children, a coordinator for projects and initiatives, and I am sure that many more exciting roles await me in the future. I enjoy the atmosphere in the volunteer center. Also, I like feeling like a member of a large and friendly team and knowing that I am making a real contribution to the common cause of helping those in need!

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 Mititelu Valentina, I am 16 years old and I am a first-year student at a teacher training college. I learned about the Republican Volunteer Center from my friend and started volunteering almost two years ago. My first project was called "Limba Noastră" where I taught Romanian to children. Participation in this project helped me become more punctual and responsible, as I realized that I have obligations that I should fulfill. In the volunteer movement, I especially like communication with different people, regardless of their age and interests. I love to learn something new and develop, as well as help people and see their smiles after helping. During my participation in the projects, I met a lot of wonderful people and there were many pleasant stories. One of them happened during the delivery of new phones. To old people. We helped them figure it out by explaining how each program worked. It was very interesting to listen to their stories that happened to them throughout their lives, and it's very nice to see smiles and joy on their faces. I understood that our communication was necessary for the elderly, and it brought pleasure to both of us. I am proud of my decision to become a volunteer at the Republican Volunteer Center, and I do not regret my choice at all. Activities at the RVC brought me new knowledge, a large number of interesting acquaintances and vast experience of working with people.

Curiosity led us to volunteering. My sister and I attended Romanian language classes at the International Training and Professional Development Center at KEDEM and became interested in the stands of the Volunteer Center. They were so bright and interesting that we wanted to learn more about it.

So we became volunteers for the "Call Center" project, which is designed for communicating with elderly members of the community. Our task is to provide information about upcoming events, congratulate them on holidays, conduct surveys, and find out what assistance they need. When the military actions started in Israel, we also called the elderly to provide prompt assistance.

We have also been involved in other volunteer initiatives. Last year, Kristina participated in the "Clean Chișinău" campaign on the Day of Good Deeds, and I helped organize a master class for the elderly in Buděšty. Together, we also assisted in conducting a master class for participants of the "Day Center" project.

We participate in the IMPROmedia project, and among other things, voiced an animated video on the history of Purim. We also joined the "Memory in Documents" project, but it is currently suspended due to the military actions in Israel. We have made several festive visits to community members with gifts and have also participated in workshops on making crafts and gifts for the elderly.

Volunteering for us is an opportunity to lead an active life, communicate, and help those in need of support. We take part in various events organized by the Volunteer Center and KEDEM, and we are very glad that we once followed our curiosity!

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!

Hello, my name is Malika, I am 14 years old, and I study at the B.Z. Hertzl Lyceum. My decision to become a volunteer was completely conscious and aligned with my inner desire to help others and be useful to society. Moreover, volunteering is a great opportunity to try myself in different areas and grow as a person.

I have participated in various projects such as “Origins of Mercy”, cooking masterclasses, and nutritionist lectures. Each of these events allows me to discover new facets of myself and learn something new. Participating in the center’s events also allows me to immerse myself in Jewish culture and study traditions.

The RVC team has become a real family to me, where friendly and trusting relationships thrive. We support each other like close relatives. And, in essence, what unites us is no less important than blood ties – it is the desire to help others and bring joy to those in need. I am very happy that I chose this path and invite everyone to become a part of our big volunteer family!

Hi all! My name is Nikita Katernyuk, I am 15 years old and I am in the 10th grade. I like making new friends and trying new things. For a long time my main goal was to improve my communication skills, to become a more sociable person. Then I realized that volunteering is a great opportunity for my socialization. After a long search for a suitable volunteer center, I settled on the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC). I have many good memories associated with this place, because even as a child I attended a children's camp from KEDEM, but then I did not yet know about my Jewish roots. When I first came to the RVC, I was struck by the huge number of projects that are aimed at helping the elderly and children. The opportunity to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of the Jewish people, which is provided by the RVC, is also very important for me. For 2 months of my volunteer activity, I managed to participate in such projects and promotions as delivery within the framework of the Healthy Vitamin Box, Call Center, "The Origins of Mercy" seminar, "Love Story", "IT-DED", "All to the museum” and “Chisinau residents of the 20th century”. I try to join all directions of the RVC, but for the most part I specialize in the project "The Origins of Mercy". Volunteering has become a real passion for me, and I am just starting my journey in this field. I am very glad that I am part of the team of the Republican Volunteer Center! It was here that I developed new abilities and talents, and also learned that I am part of the Jewish people. Jewish culture has become very important to me and I will learn more about it.

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 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.