Volunteer Conference 2024
The All-Ukrainian Volunteer Conference, which took place in Truskavets to mark the 10th anniversary of the volunteer movement in Ukraine
This event, the third of its kind, brought together over 550 active participants, including people with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), Hillel activists, AJT representatives, as well as professionals from Jewish communities in more than 25 cities across Ukraine. The conference lasted four days.
"Over the past 10 years, the volunteer movement in Jewish communities in Ukraine has gone through an intense and transformative journey, overcoming challenges and responding to emerging needs. Today, it has become a strong and united volunteer community! That is why community development is one of the key focuses of this conference, as volunteers are the cornerstone of modern Jewish community life," said Alex Schmidt, Director of Programs at JDC Ukraine.
According to Dasha Yefimenko, Head of Volunteer Community Ukraine, the conference motto — “Be active, creative, Jewish, and local — be part of the volunteer community!” — fully reflects its objectives. The organizers aimed to create an interactive platform where participants could discuss volunteering, share success stories, seek new solutions to social challenges, and exchange knowledge and ideas among volunteers, JDC specialists, and leaders of JDC-supported organizations.
“The conference does not have a single goal — its objectives are multifaceted! We strive to create an open and comfortable space that promotes personal and professional growth for volunteers, experience sharing, idea development, burnout prevention, partnership building, and improved communication at all levels — both within and between Jewish communities. All of this is aimed at the sustainable development and cohesion of Jewish communities through volunteer programs.”
During four intensive days, participants attended useful masterclasses, creative workshops, and informative lectures from 110 speakers, including professional psychologists, directors of Cheseds and community centers, JDC staff, specially invited guests from Israel, as well as volunteers themselves, who shared their knowledge and experience in developing the volunteer movement.
A unique feature of this conference was dividing participants into nine subgroups based on interests, allowing them to deepen their professional skills in various areas of volunteer activity. Participants attended parallel sessions focused on the main topics of their subgroups, as well as other selected events. They had the opportunity to gain new knowledge — from creating and managing community projects to providing first aid — exchange experiences with like-minded peers, and be inspired by new ideas during group sessions and the volunteer project fair. The conference program covered methodology and idea generation, risk and project management, community development, as well as specialized workshops for working with the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. Other activities included Jewish and Shabbat dances, yoga and relaxation sessions, art and culinary workshops, as well as Shabbat and Havdalah celebrations.
Emotional highlights of the conference included the “Volunteer Talent Evening” and the “Volunteer Project Fair.” During these events, volunteer centers from different cities across Ukraine showcased their creative skills and innovative ideas, offered handmade products, and raised funds for various charitable foundations. The Shabbat celebration included Kabbalat Shabbat, singing piyutim, communal prayers, and lighting Shabbat candles, followed by a festive meal and Oneg Shabbat. All these activities fostered a strong sense of community and belonging.
This year’s volunteer conference maximized collaboration between leaders of JDC-supported organizations and JDC specialists involved in the event. Volunteers and participants shared a common vision for the development of Jewish communities in Ukraine and explored potential solutions to pressing social challenges exacerbated by the ongoing crisis in the country.
Given the significant psychological impact of the ongoing crisis and associated life threats, staff from the Or Shalom psychological support centers actively participated in the conference. They conducted a series of group psychological sessions, including various therapies such as neurographics, body-oriented therapy, transformational games, art therapy, and psychoeducation. Individual consultations were also provided, offering participants techniques for coping with emotional instability and stress reduction. This allowed volunteers to familiarize themselves with a wide range of approaches and highlighted the importance of supporting mental and psychological health in the community.
Overall, the volunteer movement is an integral part of everyday life in Jewish communities across Ukraine. It promotes resilience and cohesion within communities, fosters a sense of mutual responsibility and belonging among community members, and supports hope for a better future.
“The volunteer movement in general, and the All-Ukrainian Volunteer Conference in particular, have significant potential to strengthen and develop communities,” noted Anna Hryholaya, Head of Community Development, JDC Ukraine.
The conference received extremely positive feedback from participants, including:
- “The conference was incredibly useful and intense. It was a true marathon of ideas, inspiration, and practical skills!”
- “The most important thing is not only the knowledge we gained but also the genuine friendships that each of us takes home. The conference proved that our strength lies in support and collaboration!”
- “We listened to inspiring expert talks, discussed the future of volunteering, sustainable projects, and the importance of small steps that lead to big changes. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event for the energy and ideas. We are confident that 2025 will be a year of new volunteer achievements!”
- “This is my second volunteer conference, and I was especially impressed by the new faces, particularly the large number of young people. It is inspiring to see more and more young people joining the volunteer movement and staying involved,” said Larysa Heorhiieva (Schneider), 73, a second-generation community volunteer from Odesa.
- “We came to the conference to gain new ideas, reconnect with friends, and present our volunteer project workshop ‘Singing from the Heart,’ which promotes Jewish songs,” shared Anya Vekselman, 70, a volunteer from Kryvyi Rih.