Hello, my name is Ivan Kostenko, and I am an experienced volunteer. I took my first steps in volunteering several years ago in my hometown. At the youth center, I helped organize events for young people and provided support to children from low-income families. This activity perfectly matched my inner desire to help other people.

Currently, I hold the position of co-coordinator of the "Good Life" project, which is aimed at conducting various socially significant events and implementing volunteer projects. Our assistance is directed towards children with special needs, veterans, youth facing difficult life conditions, and other categories of people in need of our support. We have a cohesive team, which helps us achieve impressive results in the field of volunteering.

Volunteering brings me immense pleasure, and the main problems we face are the lack of resources and time. However, they are quite solvable if we apply a creative approach and learn to plan effectively. For example, we successfully attract resources from external sources to implement our projects.

For me, "being a volunteer" means actively participating in society's life, helping it become better. At the same time, I myself have the opportunity to develop and reach new heights. I am glad to be among volunteers and grateful that I once chose this path!

My name is Yana, and I started volunteering in September 2022. What motivates me to volunteer? Firstly, I believe that through volunteering, we not only make the world a better place but also improve ourselves. During this time, I have changed for the better, and I don't want to stop here. Secondly, it's an unforgettable feeling when you know you are contributing to the development of your city and country and making a positive impact on society. Thirdly, I simply love it! Volunteering has become my lifestyle, and I don't want to change it. In the Sumy Volunteer Community, I found a true volunteer family where you not only help others but also receive support and motivation yourself. Now, volunteering is my personal contribution to our common victory so that I can later understand that I also made efforts toward it and was not indifferent to Ukraine's fate. When I do good deeds, I experience a very pleasant feeling that is impossible to describe in just one word. It's a mix of happiness, joy, satisfaction, inspiration, and pride... My heart warms when, after doing a good deed, I see a contented, well-fed cat or receive a smile and hear kind words. Back in my school years, I read a beautiful quote by Amelia Earhart, with which I completely agree: "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees." I hope that through my good deeds, I inspire someone to do good, and together we create a global cycle of kindness in the world.

My name is Larisa Vorovko. Currently, I work as a specialist in the communal sector, and I have had several professional directions in the past. However, each time I found many positive aspects in these changes: new knowledge, skills, acquaintances, and friends. Experience is always valuable! I joined Volunteer Community at Hesed Hanna in December 2021 because of a strong desire to help those in need and because I know how to knit. I came across a request for help in knitting items for premature babies from one of the charitable organizations on social media and decided to reach out. We talked, and since then, I have become an active member of the "Thread of Kindness" club at Hesed Hanna. I love to learn and constantly develop myself (especially informal education), so I didn't miss the opportunity to participate in online training at the Volunteer Community school. It's truly a wonderful school, and I recommend it to everyone! I'm proud to be part of a creative team of like-minded individuals!

My name is Lyubov, I started my volunteer journey four years ago. It was then that I first heard about the volunteer center at one of the charity events in Sumy. Having joined the vocal and theater group "Aviv", I began to actively participate in concerts and various volunteer events. This is how my volunteer work began. Subsequently, I learned that there are many different, interesting projects here. I was offered to try myself as a volunteer animator. I liked this lesson very much, I didn’t even expect from myself that volunteering can be so fun, varied and creative. The feeling that there is meaning in life, there is truth that there is something like a soul that requires the creation of something beautiful in the world - this is what encourages me to volunteer. After all, in fact, it's just "unrealistic" that we can make a contribution, really significant, and make this world a better place, improve someone's mood, and therefore health and life, more beautiful! We can influence the world! Add light to it! It also illuminates me from the inside. In my free time, going to play with children is great not only for them, but also for me.

I've been involved in volunteer activities for just over a year.

I believe that in such challenging times, people, especially vulnerable groups, need assistance. For me, volunteering is, above all, a moral duty to myself and to society. From the beginning of my volunteer journey, I realized that I enjoy doing good deeds and helping people.

Currently, volunteering plays a significant role in my life, and even with a busy work schedule, I still find time for it.

By doing good deeds, I feel that even one small person can become part of something big and positive in this world.

Hello, my name is Oksana Yemilyantseva. I feel like volunteering is in my blood because I have always strived to help people. Initially, I independently sent aid to families in need, but then I realized I could do more and started participating in various volunteer activities at sports festivals, where I helped with organization and event management.

Becoming a volunteer at the center has allowed me to provide more extensive assistance to those in need alongside other volunteers. I help organize concerts for our beneficiaries and also volunteer at sports events. Each time, I acquire new skills and knowledge, expanding my experience and realizing my potential.

Despite sometimes feeling tired (after all, I'm only human), I can't say that my volunteer work comes with serious difficulties. I believe I can overcome any challenges because I have many like-minded individuals around me whose support I feel! The key is not to back down in the face of difficulties but to find ways to overcome them.

For me, volunteering is an opportunity to help others and to change our society for the better. I am confident that our unity in the desire to support people in difficult circumstances is the key to a happier society where everyone can receive what they need.

My name is Tatyana Erushevich. After moving to Kryvyi Rih in search of educational activities for my child, I came across a wonderful opportunity to become part of a volunteer family. It all started when I saw an announcement about volunteer opportunities in the "Volunteer Community" Facebook group. It immediately caught my attention, and I decided to give it a try. At first, I simply brought my child to various clubs, but one day, while observing the work of volunteers, their dedication, and enthusiasm, I felt a strong desire to contribute to this noble cause. Since then, I have become an active participant in all volunteer initiatives. I was fortunate to help generate ideas and coordinate the "Shabbat Guest" project, which involves baking challah and other dishes. This project is truly special because it brings people together and creates an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality. My experience in volunteering has taught me that kindness and solidarity can change the world around us. I wish every volunteer in our network to continue illuminating hearts with the light of kindness, not only in our country but throughout the world. Let's work together to make our world a better place!

I am a teacher-volunteer with a big work experience. I am not indifferent to everything that occurs in Jewish community and not only there. I managed to start many projects, among which there are Sunday school that became one of the best Sunday schools in Ukraine and the first Jewish kindergarten “Prakhim” at the municipal pre-school institution №81. This project was launched with incredible difficulties and it has been working since 2000. I have worked it up and successfully presented it when I studied at the Jerusalem University according to the Melton program for teachers of the Jewish education.I have also initiated and organized such projects as:

1) Publication of the book-almanac «Shofar» about the history of Jews living in the Cherkassy region (assistance in preparation and publication);

2) Organization of a traveling exhibition «Anne Frank. History Lesson» and holding the city competition of compositions in this subject;

3) Help in perpetuation of the Righteous gentile A. Shulezhko (organization of anniversary actions in the city, edition of the book «Pam’yaty Slavetnoy Zhemlyachky», participation and help in installation of a memorial board in the city);

4) Publication of methodical works and scenarios of the Jewish holidays (“New Jewish School” Publishing house, St. Petersburg).

5) Writing poems and songs for children, poetic translations from Hebrew and Yiddish for vocal collectives.

The Jewish period of my life began in 1993 when I returned to my hometown from Poltava. In 1994 my volunteer activity in the Jewish community had started. Doing good deeds, having satisfaction from the fact that you help somebody, and a pleasure from self-realization is what unites all volunteers! I still continue my volunteer activity in the community. I am the Head of Literary club in Hesed and every month, even several times a month, hold thematic meetings with the participants of the Jewish revival programs. I have brought up many generations of the Jewish children. Together with the knowledge of the Jewish culture I strive to foster the desire to do good.

Olga Nikitina. I am 24. 3 years I lived in Israel. I am the member of the volunteering Center from the day of its opening, because I often attend the Community Center «Thija», and I couldn’t miss the new initiative, which is very useful for our community. As for me, the volunteering, first of all, is a pleasant possibility to help to the other people, and desirably, I am very glad to help with the things which I can do by myself. I became the co-author and the volunteer of the project “Kind Guest”. And I get much pleasure cooking according to the recipes of our ancestors, thereby, making the goodness to the members of my community in the present. People say, that my dishes are very tasty. And I think, it is so because I do it with all my love.

Hello, my name is Zhanna Khomenko. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be helpful to those around me. My first step into volunteering was making toys for children. With them, I hoped to bring more joy and positive emotions into the lives of little ones. I believe that any help is important, but I wanted something more, something grand and significant, so I joined the volunteer center.

Since then, I have participated in various volunteer actions and projects. In addition to making toys, I cooked jam for charity fairs and also taught other volunteers how to crochet. I am glad that my skills have proved useful for our common cause. Moreover, I am ready to learn something new so that my abilities to help others expand.

Volunteering brings me immense pleasure. The only problem I encounter is a lack of time. But I try to structure my schedule to find time to help others, and most of the time I succeed.

Today, I can confidently say that volunteering has opened up new horizons for me. It also helps me feel useful to others. I am energized by their gratitude, and I want to do even more!

I — am an eyechar in the IT company, but according to my profession, I am a psychologist. I am a volunteer with an experience, many years I volunteer in various projects in our Lviv Jewish community. Very much I like to take part in a project of Art and workshop in the Shabbat’s Guest direction, where we produce shabbat attributes (glasses and candlesticks) from clay for elderly people. Also I take an active part in the project “ It is good to be healthy” , I try to lead a healthy lifestyle and by my personal example I show to the others as it is cool!

I am Mira and I am a DVC volunteer. Previously, I have already participated in volunteer events - mainly related to eco-activism and helping animals. But these were one-time attempts that did not bring the feeling of being involved in something big. In addition, I was limited by the need to look for "partners in good deeds", that is, people who would organize the process or support my initiative. I got all this in full in DVC! I ended up here along with other Hillel Dnepr activists on the initiative of the coordinator of the volunteer center. Here I am attracted by the regularity and high level of organization of assistance, the possibility of self-development and continuous learning in this area. A year later, I significantly improved my own communication skills and ability to navigate the terrain. And most importantly, I felt that my efforts bring real benefits to this world. You don’t always have time to get everywhere on time, you don’t always have a resource - but when you find time for kindness, it becomes a little better. Both for me and for those who come out to help. Thank you for the opportunity to take action!