Hi all! My name is Vladislav and I want to tell you about my favorite pastime - volunteering. For me, this is not just a process, but a way of life that helps me make the world a better place. My friends also volunteer with me, which makes me very happy, as the process itself becomes more entertaining. We have many funny stories together that we often like to remember, as well as we take care of several grandmothers whom we regularly help. For me, volunteering is not only an opportunity to help others, but also a chance for personal development. This is the ability to realize my responsibility to society and understand that my actions can make the world a better place. When I do good deeds, I feel that there is a kind-hearted message from me to the people who need help. This way I spend a few hours a week that later aree transformed into someone's smile or just comfort and safety and I think that it's really worth it, at least from my point of view.

For me, volunteering is not only the pursuit of individual success but also a path to giving back to society. I have always believed that successful individuals should dedicate some of their time to public needs. So, when I had the opportunity to do something useful for people, I gladly took it.

My volunteer journey began with organizing sports events, particularly sports competitions and training sessions for running and Nordic walking. It was not only an opportunity to engage in sports but also a way to provide support to the community. I actively participated in projects of Hesed and the Maccabi sports club, helping organize active parks and sports events. In this way, I combined my love for sports with volunteering and assisting others.

Certainly, volunteering comes with certain challenges, but I see them as minor obstacles. The most important thing I gain from volunteering is motivation, energy, and immense satisfaction from being able to help others and make the world a better place.

My name is Oksana, and I work at the aviation meteorological station in Kryvyi Rih. My hobby is knitting and embroidery. One day, my friend told me about a club that creates items for prematurely born babies. Since I have knitting skills and love doing it, I decided to join this good cause. So, for the past 3 years, I have been a part of the "Thread of Good" in the Kryvyi Rih Volunteer Community.

I wish your team a constant influx of new volunteers who bring a fresh perspective and enthusiasm.

May your inspiration know no bounds and persistently support you on the path to achieving your goals.

May each of your creative successes become a new stage of growth with every project you undertake.

I wish you many new projects that will not only expand your activities but also have a positive impact on the community you support.

He has been involved in volunteering before but got acquainted with the network during his wife's online training at the "Volunteer School." Since then, he has dedicated 5-8 hours weekly to creating good deeds with other participants. Initially, he participated in the "Interaction" project, where they delivered food packages to Hesed clients, communicated with them, and assisted with household issues. Later, he participated in the "Caring Connection" project and, for two months, delivered phones to about 40 Hesed clients. With each passing time, the number of projects he participates in increases. As he works in higher education, he involves students and colleagues in volunteering.

He is inspired by the people around him, and his family motivates and supports him.

He is grateful to the Volunteer Community network for the opportunity to help, develop, meet people, establish connections between cities and countries, expand his horizons, and enrich his knowledge with new and very interesting experiences!

My journey to volunteering began for mercenary reasons. I have a son with a disability, and I realized that he needed more social interaction and variety in life. Therefore, I willingly responded to the invitation of our leader to participate in an event for children from orphanages and people with disabilities. So, in 2012, my son and I joined the ranks of volunteers. The first step was assisting in organizing the celebration of Odessa City Day.

Volunteering literally turned our perceptions of life upside down. I understood that I enjoyed helping people, and it brought me immense pleasure. My son experienced the same emotions, and we decided to dedicate all our free time to volunteering.

Now I am actively engaged in volunteering. I have participated in an educational Ukrainian marathon for people with mental disabilities, the "Living Healthy" campaign for visually impaired children, cemetery clean-up, assistance in organizing open days, and the "Women's Club."

The main challenge for me is a lack of time. However, it is more than compensated for by the positive emotions I gain from volunteering. I make new connections, acquire new knowledge, and discover new facets of my personality. All of this helps me in my professional and personal life! I have realized that by giving a part of myself to others, I receive so much more in return!

Volunteering is my destiny, the call of the soul and a conscious path that can be called a lifestyle. There is always a lack of humanity in our society when you start looking around... I joined the team of volunteers out of an inner impulse, my love for children and needlework combined here. For me, knitting miniature clothes is a real pleasure. The project "Tangle of Kindness" in the Volunteer Community network was the starting point of my volunteer journey in this team. Then Tatyana Kuts, who led this project, offered me to become the project coordinator. Without hesitation, I agreed, because if an experienced person saw potential in me, then I can cope with all the tasks. Thus began a new chapter of my volunteering. Leading volunteers is a huge responsibility that requires many skills. But thanks to a team of welcoming volunteers, I adapted easily. I feel that I am on my way, and despite all the stereotypes, now all people are aware of how important volunteering is.

For me, volunteering is an opportunity to help those in need and make positive changes in the surrounding environment. My journey into volunteering began during the time when the war started in Ukraine. I couldn't stand aside and immediately joined the volunteer movement.

All my efforts are directed towards projects within the Volunteer Community, where I serve as a coordinator. We provide assistance to those in need and contribute to improving the lives of others.

Despite certain challenges, volunteering gives me new knowledge, new connections, and brings great satisfaction from the fact that I can help others and make the world a better place.

Hello! My name is Oleg. I got acquainted with the volunteer movement at one of the city events. Volunteers then organized a children’s entertainment location, with interesting master classes. And then I thought, «I, too, can teach good children!». My passion is pottery. And it’s these skills that I now pass to children. I participate in all activities where you can place a potter’s wheel and share your skills. I also take part in environmental actions. And I am a volunteer for helping elderly people — to rearrange furniture, make repairs, fix furniture. I like helping! I feel right!

My volunteering story began when I quit my job. To get rid of negative thoughts, I decided to go through the rest of the yarn. These leftovers were very small balls, and I was sorry to throw them away. I wanted to knit something small and cute. In search of schemes for crafts, I looked on the Internet and came across the "28 loops” club in Ukraine. I found a coordinator in the city of Krivoy Rog. At the moment, for almost 2 years I have been a volunteer in the "Tangle of Kindness" in the city of Krivoy Rog. I don’t know if it’s a lot or a little, but for me this time was full of new pleasant acquaintances and good deeds. I did not count how many hats, socks and plaid vests I knitted. But I always knitted with good wishes and a part of myself. Give away a particle of the kindness of your soul, and it will turn into a large one and unite with other particles. Thus, goodness and light will never disappear.

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.

Volunteering is a part of me. I started by simply helping people. Over time, it became clear that those around me needed my assistance on a regular basis, and, most importantly, I needed to feel useful myself. By becoming a volunteer, I turned helping others into my "job."

I enthusiastically participate in initiatives and projects by the Volunteer Center (ВЦ), such as "Day of Good Deeds," assisting Hesed, "Collect a Backpack for a Child," and "Children's Protection Day." Although there are times when I lack time, I make an effort to dedicate a few hours to helping others. In those moments, my mood improves, and I feel joy knowing that my assistance is needed and has no boundaries.

My name is Sergey Baranovsky. I graduated from comprehensive school No. 8 in Mogilev-Podolsky. I am volunteer of Hesed since 2004. Volunteering for me is one of my hobbies in off-duty time and a method of self-realization. I try to participate in all volunteer actions, and also I am all-time participant in the “House Master” project.