Andrei Alekseevich Zaporenko, 14 years old. I am fond of electronics, mechanics, equipment architecture and functionality. I study at the secondary school at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University. I am a 7th grade student.

I have a lot of free time and a like to help others. That is why I have decided to become a volunteer. I have heard that many Hesed clients want to study computer literacy but there is no PC tutor. I offered my services and give computer literacy classes 2 times a week. I wrote a curriculum and started teaching in November, 2016.

I believe that volunteering is all about helping others.

I have initiated the project called ProOldUse for the elder – electronic devices initiation course (PC, smartphone, tablet, reader). I enjoy volunteering very much, and I see that my students are very happy. I see their joy because someone cares about them, because they get knowledge and basic skills which allow them to use modern technologies and feel self-confident. You know what I mean.

I wish our Volunteer Center to have more volunteers. Besides, I have some ideas how to advance my project. I enjoy volunteering, and I am very happy to have gained experience and had some practice.

My name is Veronica. I am 14 years old. I am an 8th grade student at the Jewish school of Bishkek. My hobby is music. I can sing, play the guitar and the piano. Besides, I like reading and learning foreign languages.

All my life, even as a child, I have enjoyed helping others.

Then I started asking myself how I can help not only my family and friends but also other people. I got the answer to my question three years ago, when I first came to Hesed Tikva Jewish Charitable Fund. First, I went to the summer camp as a beneficiary. It was so much fun! I enjoyed every minute of it. We combined games and various fun activities with lectures on Jewish history and traditions. Then I found out that I can become a volunteer, and I decided that that was exactly what I wanted. So, I started volunteering in all kind of projects. My first volunteer experience was on the Victory Day. I took part in the concert organized for World War II veterans – our Jewish Community members. A year later, I was giving music classes at the summer camp. I also run the project called Happy Birthday to You, Dear Friend! In general, I try to take an active part in all the projects.

I would like to resume why I have decided to become a volunteer: I want to make people, at least, a little bit happier. I believe that your attitude and vision is more important that the scale of the project. Sometimes, it is enough to call a person to make his or her day!

To conclude, I want to say that I am very happy to be part of this wonderful team, and I want to do more.

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

I am a member of  “Golden Age” club for a long time and often I visit communal actions and at one of the meetings, I offered my help in the library. So, for three years already, I help the readers here, I look after the books, I have a special attitude towards them. The first thing that you have thought, it is likely, that I have  much  free time because I am on pension. But it is wrong. I have many household duties and they require much time. But I decided that several times a week till  lunchtime I can spend at Hesed because here I communicate with the people and I help to keep the library in an order. And I have one more answer to the question “why”, Hesed helps me, and I want to help with something in reply. I think that volunteering gives the chance to be necessary and significant, gives the chance to distract and apply your knowledge in that area which is closer to you in the spirit.

I am in the communal center since 5 years, I have been brought by my grandmother into the summer camp. It is possible to say that I have grown here. Last summer I was the President of the group of 30 people for three days. For the first time I have created the world in which for everyone there is the place and occupation. Probably, after that I have understood for myself the structure of the state, who is responsible for and as the world is arranged. That there are people as my grandmother, who need special attention. And that I can change something to the best and in this, the real world. Let it is not global, but where I am, it is necessary. And with the volunteering as the concept, I have got acquainted recently, before, I thought that  I do just what I  have to do. I consider that volunteering is actual today because people  have different problems, which they cannot solve at the level of the state and social services. Here we appear!