Hello everyone! My name is Liza, and I am the coordinator of the animal assistance project (assistance to the Krasnodog animal shelter). All the inhabitants of our planet, including myself, see homeless animals every day, and I want to do at least something to help them. I found out 2 years ago that in our city there is a shelter for animals “Krasnodog”. Our volunteers and me went to help the shelter, and I was very impressed. I saw many injured animals, and they suffered from people’s behavior. When I had seen this, I wanted to show people what happens to those whom we do not care about. That’s how the project, which I coordinate, has appeared in our volunteer center.

Rina grew up in love and attention. She finished secondary and higher education in the field of visual arts, dreamed of becoming the second Marc Chagall and being world famous, rich and with her head held high. But fate decided otherwise. In January 2015, because of an accident, Rina Chuguevets became disabled in a wheelchair. Now she sees things more clearly. It turns out that someone feels uncomfortable, something is not adapted to people with disabilities, and someone needs someone. I started to think every day that «I CAN HELP YOU». When Rina had recovered, she changed the prestigious work of the art historian in favor of a simple teacher at the correctional school. You give much more than you get. And this is not only about money. Then she began to help in various charitable funds, took the dog from the «Krasnodog» orphanage. She has provided assistance to this place until the present day.

Now there is absolutely no question how and whom to help. There are lots of requests, which find her open heart. Rina became experienced volunteer in the community after she had graduated from the “Metsuda” program. Today, Rina manages several volunteer projects, including the Shemesh project, aimed at socializing and helping children with special needs and their parents. The project volunteers organize and hold holidays, concerts. In addition, there was recently held the premiere of the play of the Shemesh puppet theater.

Eremina Margarita, I am 26 years old. I study in college of art and culture on theatrical creativity, and I also participate in the youth Jewish theater. I have got to the volunteer center because I attended the youth Jewish club, and I have learned about such remarkable programs. Why am I engaged in the volunteering? Why is it actual today? To bear to people good things is the same as the most valuable gift; people became more mercantile nowadays, and now even the smile on their faces is a rarity, to see a smile on their face is a great happiness for me and pride there are the same adherents with me as I am. The time which is spent for the volunteer actions, I consider the most wonderful and the most remarkable because at this time we give the happiness to people.

Lokshina Tatyana Evgenyevna, 38 years old, a translator Having arrived from Israel in September, 2014, I have got my friendly family in Hesed «Tikva» where I am always helped and on any question answered «to rise on my legs» in the city in which a lot of things weren’t familiar for me. Precisely, I decided to offer my help in those small affairs, feasible to me, and which are the usual work of the volunteer center. Today, I lead the direction – «Family volunteering». The sense of this direction of the volunteer activity is in the following: the lonely client of a Hesed is consolidated to a family, and we several times a month visit him and whenever possible we help the family. The work of the center is always actual. It is very important to have any support and in difficult life situations to get this support.

Savonichev Alexander, 29 years old. I am a builder. I have got to volunteer center quite recently, just 3-4 months ago (I was brought by one good friend of mine) and I have already managed to participate in a huge number of different actions: departures outside of the town, the work of madrikh with the children, both cleaning of cemeteries, and a campaign of the visits to the veterans, and the participation in big city campaigns. But the Moked Lokashish project, with which we help elderly people to do small repair works, is the closest to me. As for me, it is actual to be the volunteer today because every time, I feel as I bring benefit to the society and indirectly I do many people a little happier.

My name is Denis. I am 19 years old. I am the coordinator of the Birthday project.

Everyone who is a volunteer, probably, asks himself what is volunteering for him/her? Volunteering for me is one of the opportunities to help people selflessly. Such situations show our humanity and sense of community. I understand that helping others, I also help myself.

Volunteering is a two-way process of sharing good deeds.

My name is Alina. I am 21 years old. I am studying to be an economist. I’ve got acquainted with the Jewish community, starting with the Taglite. After this unforgettable trip, I started going to the youth club and there I learned about the volunteer center. I’ve been a volunteer in several directions for several years.

I feel the greatest pleasure from my volunteer activities with children. It is an amazing feeling when the little eyes of children start to shine, when you appear.

Ermakova Irina Aleksandrovna, 45 years old. She is a therapist of the highest category. She is a lot of years in the community. Irina with her husband and three remarkable daughters constantly participate in all communal projects and events. Irina, as the highly skilled doctor, constantly advises all members of the community who ask her for the help. Annually, in summer camps, she remains irreplaceable and the most favorite person both for the adults, and for the children. Irina, as the member of dancing collective, always participates in the concerts or statements devoted to various Jewish holidays. And three her daughters, very gifted and musical little girls, are the leading soloists in the musical and vocal ensembles. According to Irina’s words — profession of the doctor, is her personal attitude towards the people and her desire to help those who are nearby, — and it is also that driving mechanism of the fact that she is a volunteer of the Jewish communal center.

I am 19 years old. I go to Hesed for 14 years already. I study at the University. Actively I participate in many events of the community. We were always taught that «ours» need to be helped! Therefore, I became a volunteer. I organized different projects in the community, often I visit our veterans, I take part in all concert performances and festive events of the community. I like to be a volunteer, so, I realize myself in some plan. Communicating with the people who are older than me, I learn a lot of useful information. It would be more correct to say that this is very important for me. As, I consider that the volunteer movement is the voluntary movement directed to the improvement of the life. And the volunteers are the people working voluntarily, with the agreement and personal desire. The world is not without kind people. And not everything can be made always with the money.

I am 16 years old. I am a vocational school student. Besides, I go to choreography school and take part in fire shows. I have been attending the Jewish Community Center all my life. I take an active part in many Jewish Community projects, help organize concerts, performances, and festive events. I have even volunteered as a madrichim at the summer camp. I have decided to become a volunteer because I like to help people and I love children. As a volunteer, I gain experience, develop new valuable skills and knowledge. In my view, a volunteer is a person who voluntarily and free of charge helps those in need. I believe that our activity is useful and necessary.

I am a teacher. Today, I am engaged in the production of the purified bottled water. I have got to the Jewish communal center when I began to bring my daughter to the summer camp, a few years ago. I became the volunteer absolutely consciously. I consider that each person wants the heat and kindness, and the volunteers give to the person the chance to feel necessary and to give the heat and attention. And the volunteer, helping people, also feels necessary for the people. I worked as the volunteer in «Mini-Club», being engaged with the children as the teacher, also, I participate in various projects of the community. As the volunteer I take part in the “Kosher-Smack” project devoted to the preservation and promoting of the Jewish cuisine among the younger generation. Volunteering, from my point of view, is a disinterested and voluntary aid where especially people need it. And the volunteer, in his turn has an opportunity to self-actualize through the activity, to embody some his aspirations and requirements through the service to people. I am in the center on the photo.

My name is Victoria. I am 37 years old. I have three children. I have got a degree in medicine and I am a lifelong learner. I have recently returned from Moscow where I attended extension courses in immunohistochemistry.

I like to take a nap, have a cup of coffee, take pictures, travel, do some needlework.

My first experience as a volunteer was in 1997 when we were packing food and hygiene kits. After that, I participated in all charity events and other activities carried out in our Jewish Community. I can talk about that for hours.

I have noticed that there are 2 types of volunteers: active and passive ones. I belong to the second group. I never come up with new ideas, I only do what I am told to do. But whenever my help is needed, I am always there.

Volunteer activities have become very popular nowadays, and I always take pictures in the Jewish Community Center. I have even held an exhibition of family photos within the framework of the project called Family Memories Are Jewish Community Memories.

Within the framework of the charity event dedicated to the International Children’s Day, I gave master classes to children and we sewed puppets for the show which was performed in the orphanage. My eldest daughter Margo helped me give a master class in body art at Purim Fair.

Besides, I am a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.

And I am always eager to help others