Hello, my name is Ekaterina Stoetskaya, and for over 10 years I have been involved in volunteering. My first step on this path was participating in a choir for veterans. Since then, I have been involved in many initiatives and have become part of a large team that helps make our world a better place.

Over the years of my volunteering experience, I have seen many times how easy it is to solve any problem if we tackle it together. This is the power of the volunteer movement, where the trickle of your personal help turns into a powerful river of real support. I participate in several projects: "Helping Hands" for the wounded, "Day of Good Deeds," "Children's Protection Day," "Volunteer Day," and others.

I enjoy fulfilling my volunteer duties and draw inspiration from each new initiative. I like helping others. I know that many volunteers lack time, but I have no problem with that. I consider myself lucky because I am doing what I love and at the same time bringing real benefit to our community.

Volunteering allows me to feel involved in a larger common cause and realize that my contribution to improving the lives of others is very important. Receiving words of gratitude from our wards makes me feel a great desire to do even more good deeds!

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.