Hello, my name is Yulia Meikshans. Although I officially received the "volunteer" status relatively recently, volunteering has been in my blood since the beginning of my conscious life!

From a young age, I joined various volunteer movements. I helped anyone who needed support. I fed animals, collected gift sets for children in orphanages, and tried to provide help wherever it was necessary.

Over time, the "scale" of my volunteer activities changed. By becoming a volunteer at the Jewish center, I gained the opportunity to help a large number of people. This can be financial support or tangible physical assistance. There are always those who need help right now, and I am ready to provide it!

It saddens me that our society operates on the principle of "every man for himself," but I am happy to see that there are people who disagree with this. These are volunteers who have decided to dedicate a significant part of their lives to helping those in need. Now I am part of a big and friendly family, and together we are changing our society for the better, making it kinder and more responsive to the problems of others!

I am confident that each of you also has a volunteer spirit that will inevitably lead you to volunteer work!

Hello, my name is Olesya Ryabova. My journey into volunteering began in childhood, thanks to my mother. She grew up in an orphanage and instilled in me a desire to help others. Even back then, I realized that the most frightening thing in life is loneliness.

My volunteering debut took place in 2008 when I helped a pregnant woman with a 7-year-old child with disabilities. Since then, I have become part of the volunteer movement and actively participate in various projects, including delivering Shabbat and food packages. Often, my daughters accompany me — it’s the best way to show them how many people need our support and care. For me, the greatest reward for helping is the happiness in people’s eyes!

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!

Hello, my name is Elena Chernous. My journey as a volunteer began several years ago when I wanted to help deliver food packages. I saw a message in the parent chat of the Emuna AJTJunior family center's children's program saying that help was needed to deliver food packages for an upcoming holiday. I decided to participate in this initiative.

My first recipient was a kind and welcoming person. She was so happy with the delivered food and the attention she received. I was pleased to have brought not only food but also joy and hope to a lonely elderly person! I saw how important it was for her! I can say that this moment was a turning point for me, and I decided to dedicate myself to volunteering.

My daughter Sofya is also getting involved in the volunteer movement. One day, I needed to deliver a food package to a recipient, but I had no one to leave my daughter with. I took her with me, and I have no regrets. It's very important that our children learn the best from their parents because we are their role models! Since then, Sofya sometimes joins me on my volunteer visits to the elderly, showing empathy, interest, and asking questions. I am confident that she will become a volunteer in the future too!

I am now involved in many different projects, and I enjoy watching how our close-knit team of volunteers handles them excellently. Thank you for being there! Together, we are capable of so much!

My name is Konstantin Fridman, I am an active volunteer in Minsk Jewish organizations. I can't say that I had a specific reason why I started volunteering, but most likely it was hereditary - my parents were also active members of the community. Since childhood, I was taught to treat people as I would like to be treated, and this became the basis of my life and work. I am a very sociable and outgoing person, and therefore volunteering for me is a pleasure. Although not everyone may enjoy volunteering as a main activity, I am sure that the emotions and gratitude that I receive from the people I help are the best rewards for my efforts. I advise everyone to try to participate in any of the volunteer programs, as my grandmother, parents and now myself recommended it to me. Who knows, maybe you will find your calling in this and become active volunteers like me!