Hello, my name is Polyakova Nelly. Since childhood, I couldn't pass by others' suffering and always strove to help those in need. This drive led me to medicine. My professional career ended due to my age (I am 87 years old), but the desire to be useful to people remained.

Many community members came to me for consultations, and I was always ready to answer all their questions. So when the idea of creating a medical online project came up, I happily agreed! For over three years now, I have been a volunteer for the "Health Hour" project. As a professional neurologist, I provide consultations and educational work within the project.

I enjoy volunteering because, unlike professional work, it has no age restrictions. You can help others regardless of how old you are. At the same time, you continue to grow and develop, meet new people, and always receive words of gratitude, which support you better than the most modern medicines! Volunteering helps me lead an active life, and even at 87, feel active and in demand!

Hello, my name is Kseniya Storozhenko. I am a volunteer at the center and very glad that I once learned about such a wonderful opportunity to benefit society. I am a student at the Tashkent branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University, and I have a rather busy schedule, but amidst lectures and homework, I always find time for volunteering.

I got acquainted with the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) branch in Uzbekistan in 2024. I was attracted to the youth club and the intellectual game “What? Where? When?”. Soon, from a guest, I turned into an organizer and now actively help conduct the game within the framework of the “Jewish Revival” project, as well as organize meetings in the Youth Club.

I enjoy coming to the center, where I feel like a member of a big, friendly family. Here I can gain new experiences, develop my creative talents, and make new friends. Most importantly, I can bring real benefits to people and make their lives better! I invite everyone who cannot pass by someone else's misfortune to join our big and very necessary cause!

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!

My name is Viorika Kelban. I joined RVC about two years ago thanks to a friend who was a volunteer at the center and enthusiastically told me about its activities. I wanted to become part of this wonderful project where compassion and caring for others are the main values.

My first volunteer projects were the Healthy Vitamin Box and "Memory Café" for elderly with dementia. I also participated in delivering Shabbat packages to our wards. After the Day of Good Deeds, I became interested in the "Home Care" project, where I enjoy interacting with people of different generations, learning their life stories, and sharing my own.

The "Preserving the Memory of Jewish Life" project opened up the tragic pages of Jewish history in Moldova to me—pogroms and the Holocaust. I try to attend all events dedicated to these tragic events, which make me reflect on our history and the fate of the elderly who witnessed these events.

In this context, I was drawn to the "Roots of Mercy" project, which focuses on caring for the elderly. Volunteers strive to ease the lives of the elderly and fill them with bright colors. Thanks to volunteering, I have become a real "good wizard" who, together with others, is capable of changing lives and society for the better!

Hello, my name is Yuri Ailer. I have been a volunteer at the center since 2021. Currently, I am participating in projects such as "Jewish Traditions" and "Synagogue," where I help participants study the Torah and Jewish traditions and holidays.

I also visit the synagogue, where I assist the elders in conducting prayers and observing the necessary traditions. I like to think that through my efforts, I contribute to preserving the rich cultural heritage of our people.

Volunteering has become an opportunity for me to fulfill the main commandment of loving your neighbor. I am convinced that a person's spiritual needs are no less important than physical ones, and with God's help, I strive to meet them.

By becoming a volunteer, I have been able to fulfill my desire to benefit society, but at the same time, I derive immense pleasure from my activities! I am very glad that I once became a member of our friendly volunteer family and invite everyone to join it as well!

Hello, my name is Olga Beller, and I have been a volunteer at the Republican Volunteer Center since March 2024. My journey into volunteering lasted 1.5 years, during which, after moving to Moldova in July 2022, I tried to adapt to the new country and put my experience in organizing events for people of all ages to good use. The Volunteer Center has become a place for me where my skills and experience are gratefully accepted, and where like-minded people await, for whom helping those in need is more than just words.

In March 2024, I became part of the friendly RVC team, and my duties included working in the Call Center as well as delivering food packages. A great help in fulfilling my volunteer duties was obtaining a Moldovan driver's license, which allowed my husband Vladimir Vasilenko and me to actively participate in Good Deeds Day, delivering "Healthy Breakfast" food packages to our beneficiaries.

Congratulating people on Pesach from April 22 to 29 also brought me many positive emotions in return. I enjoy working in the Call Center: I love communicating with people, informing them about various events, congratulating them on holidays, and providing necessary information support. I am happy that I once made the right decision to become part of the large RVC team!

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!

Hello, my name is Lilia Braga, and I am a volunteer with Hesed in Rybnitsa. My desire to help those in need and the realization that I can truly be useful to people led me to volunteering. Throughout my volunteer activities, I have participated in various volunteer initiatives and continue to lead an active volunteer life today.

I enjoy organizing Shabbat gatherings for our clients and assisting with the distribution of matzah and food packages. I have also been involved in projects such as "Visiting the Day Center" and "Peer to Peer." Currently, I have two clients whom I regularly call to check on their health, provide necessary assistance, and inform them about upcoming interesting events.

For me, volunteering is an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of our society. It brings new acquaintances and new knowledge, as well as a sea of positive emotions when you hear words of gratitude from your clients.

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!

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!

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!

Hello, my name is Maria Barmina.

My desire to develop myself and interact more with people led me to volunteering, and the first step was participating in the "Bring a Smile" project, where I was invited by a friend. That's when I got acquainted with the Republican Volunteer Center and realized that it was the place where I could express myself and learn something new. The first experience turned out to be successful, so I decided to continue my volunteer activities.

In six months of volunteering, I have had the opportunity to participate in various projects. Within the "Call Center" project, we called elderly clients, communicated with them, and found out what assistance they needed. I also worked with children in a kindergarten and continued active participation in the "Bring a Smile" project. Each project requires deep immersion and encourages the discovery of new talents.

In addition to participating in projects, I attended a seminar for volunteers at the Volunteer School Hub, where we were taught how to launch and implement new projects. I am grateful to the center for giving me the opportunity to discover new facets of my personality by participating in various volunteer initiatives. For me, RVC has become a home where I am awaited by close friends and like-minded people. Together, we are capable of a lot, capable of changing people's lives for the better, and we do it every day! Now I can proudly say "I am a volunteer" and invite everyone to become part of our friendly team!

Hello, my name is Yefimova Musya Gershkovna, and I am a volunteer at the center. My volunteer work began 25 years ago. Throughout this time, I have been actively involved in the life of Hesed and have helped in various volunteer initiatives.

Among my volunteer duties is assisting in sorting food vouchers by sorting them by dates and surnames. Additionally, I enjoy finding new owners for things, thereby giving them a new life. I am convinced that such help is extremely necessary for those in need.

At the moment, I am involved in most of the actions organized by our center, including the "Craftswomen" projects and, of course, the Day of Good Deeds. But I also pay great attention to preserving Jewish cultural heritage in Transnistria and often suggest various creative initiatives aimed at supporting traditions.

For me, volunteering is an opportunity to bring real benefits to those who need it. Additionally, such activity encourages you to be creative and find solutions in any situation. Well, and, of course, it's an opportunity to meet new people and gain new knowledge!

Hello, my name is Evangelina Grigonis, and I'm a volunteer. As a member of the community, I pay close attention to everything happening within it and, whenever possible, I assist in various projects and initiatives. I have been involved in several community and city events.

I am also a representative of the AJT youth club and lead several different projects. I easily find common ground with children and enjoy teaching them something new. That's why I conduct informal education sessions at the children's club and help out at a summer day camp during school holidays.

Among my other volunteer projects are "Food Security," where we collect food packages and distribute them to those in need, as well as "Generations Chronicle" and "Shabbat as a Separate Form of Art," where I assist in organizing and preparing meetings for participants. Additionally, I contribute to the "Socialization Club" and "Day Club."

I appreciate that volunteering opens up vast opportunities for self-realization and communication. Moreover, I like seeing that my efforts are needed and important. I believe that volunteering is the best way to make our world a better place!

Hello, my name is Tatiana Semenovna Kotova. It can be said that my path to volunteering began in 2021 when I brought my grandson to the Jewish Community Center for the "Mazl Tov" program. It was then that I first learned about the "Jewish Renaissance" project, met the team, and the visitors.

I really liked the atmosphere and the people I communicated with. We formed a friendly team of parents and children, actively helping to set up the stage and prepare performances for our children. I gladly participated in plays and productions, helped make decorations and costumes for our children and parents.

Now I participate in various volunteer initiatives. Considering that I am retired, I can devote more time to volunteering and I do it with pleasure. For example, I conduct baking masterclasses for the participants of the "Women's Club," sharing my culinary experience. I enjoy sharing my knowledge, as I have accumulated enough over my lifetime.

The "Jewish Renaissance" project has become a second home for me, where I am awaited and where my experience and knowledge are needed. But, most importantly, volunteering helps me realize myself in new directions, gain new knowledge, and, of course, meet new people. Our center is a place where everyone will find activities to their liking and at the same time can become part of a unified volunteer movement.

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!

Hello! My name is Kamila Sabitova. You could say that my volunteer work at the Jewish Center began with getting acquainted with the "Joint" Branch in Uzbekistan, which happened in 2015. At that time, I accepted an offer to organize an event for the employees. Over the past 4-5 years, I have been involved in organizing team-building activities and also helping to find venues for events within the "Jewish Revival" project.

Since last year, I have officially become a volunteer of the "Jewish Revival" project and serve as a speaker in the "Women's Club," where I regularly hold motivational meetings for women, demonstrating through my own example that a successful career and a happy personal life can be perfectly balanced. My listeners say that I change their worldview, and I like it!

By education, I am a historian, so I am interested in everything related to the history and traditions of the Jewish people. As the owner of a small travel agency, I have the opportunity to explore the world and share new knowledge with other people. I am grateful for once finding myself in the Center and making the right decision. Volunteering allows me to share my experience, develop creative abilities, and most importantly, feel useful to others!

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!

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! 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!

Hello! My name is Oksana Roginskaya, and I am a volunteer at the center. Why did I choose volunteer work? Probably because I wanted to be useful and bring joy to other people. I knew about the center for a long time and even joined its group on VKontakte, although at that time, I had no free time for real acts of kindness. Back then, I worked at a hotel and simultaneously studied at a restoration college.

I first got involved in volunteer activities in 2017 when I read in the center's group that they needed a volunteer for the carpentry workshop. My second "volunteer task" I received at the September festival of the non-governmental charitable foundation for the systemic support of people with autism, "Anton is nearby." So, I gradually got involved, and volunteer work began to bring me great pleasure.

In my second year of volunteering, I joined the sewing workshop at the employment preparation center, where I work now. My main job (hotel administrator) allows me to dedicate a lot of time to volunteer activities, which I am very happy about! I work with children with autism and share the warmth of my heart with them. It's not difficult at all! On the contrary, knowing that I am needed by others fills my life with meaning and allows me to feel happy!

Hello! My name is Gulmira, and I am a volunteer for the "Jewish Renaissance" project. Why did I become a volunteer? Perhaps because I love people and want to share a part of my warmth with them. I came to volunteering following the call of my heart, and for three years now, I have been bringing joy to the beneficiaries of our center.

By profession, I am an artist. I graduated from the Higher School of Folk Dance and Ballet in Tashkent and have 16 years of experience working as a soloist and stage master at the State Musical Comedy Theater. In addition, I am involved in teaching - I teach folk and modern dance to students of the children's studio at the operetta theater.

As part of my volunteer activities, my students and I have participated in festive events organized by the Jewish community of Tashkent. We have also performed at concerts organized by the Joint in Uzbekistan: "Birthday" and "The World Through the Eyes of Children." I like to think that each performance helps make the lives of other people more joyful and interesting! I am confident that many more interesting years of volunteering await me in the future!

For 5 years at the Jewish Community Center "Shemesh," Julia has been an active volunteer, a certified AJT madrich, and the leader of the "Shatil" youth club. She actively participates in children's programs, charitable actions, and various community projects. One of her notable volunteer activities is her involvement in the "Let's Connect" project. For a year, Julia has regularly conducted Zoom sessions for the elderly, and these meetings are highly appreciated by the senior members of our community.

"Participating in various volunteer projects, charitable actions, and training at the 'We are Together' volunteer school seminars brings me immense pleasure, joy, and a sense of involvement. Volunteering is an important part of my lifestyle. I wish new volunteers to use their time resources for meaningful and charitable endeavors."

Natalya Kuleshova has been a volunteer with Hesed in Almaty since 2020 and plays an active role in the community's life. She organizes vocal lessons for children and youth, actively participates in the "Socialization" club, and takes part in projects such as the "Day Center," "Theater," and "Chronicle of Generations."

Natalya demonstrates professionalism in her work, finding an approach to each person and paying attention to everyone. She also contributes to the planning and organization of community events, concerts, and other activities, giving them a special touch and significance.