Page 119 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Maria Kudelina

Charity Program Leader
KFC Corporate Charity Fund “Opening Horizons”, Moscow

Volunteering as a Lifestyle

I have always found it important to bring joy and be useful.
After joining KFC in 2010 I discovered various areas of volunteer-
ing: started to participate in the community cleaning days, visit
orphanages and animal shelters.
I also got my husband and kids engaged into it. We took part
g in various events: races, collecting stuff for those in need, gar-
dening. This has become our family entertainment which helps us
to see the life from various perspectives, broaden our mind, and
become kinder and more tolerant.
With time I transferred from the position of a Logistics Spe-
cialist to the position of a Leader of the League of Volunteers.
The most interesting part of volunteering for me is the men-
torship for teenagers. First, I am always “tuned on” teenagers, we
communicate freely and easily. Second, the visits to orphanages
created the desire to help kids. Third, while working in the Fund
I learnt about mentorship and enrolled into the mentors’ school.
Mentorship is a friendship of two people who regularly meet and
talk: teenagers get support, discussing important issues, solving
problems together, seeing adults as “normal” people. During our
training we were taught how to communicate with teenagers.
I was assigned to my first ward – Kristina. Later on, I was invited
to participate in the contest “I Am a Chef”, and there we built
a real team together with the other participants. 2 of them be-
came my mentorship students then. I have been helping these
guys with everything I can.
I got my family acquainted with the kids: we walk together,
celebrate fests, play board games and discuss plans for future.
The guys have made an exceptionally tasty cake for my birthday.
For the sake of mentorship, I have to deny my other hobbies –
yoga and psychology – because I am usually short of time. But
I am very keen on what I am doing – this gives me the feeling of
an easy floating. There are love, joy and energy which I am ready
to share. And if I can help at least one person and not let him/her
fall, this is worth it.