Page 120 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Ivan Isaev-Rustaev

An Orphanage Graduate
Moscow

I lived in the orphanage from my early years. I do not regret
such a childhood because I do not know how I would have man-
aged it in my native family. I have been always surrounded by
outstanding people. I stayed in 5 institutions and in one of them
I was asked whether I wanted to have a mentor – a person who
would communicate with me, listen to me and help me.
I thought this over and agreed. Thus, I got introduced to the
very idea of ‘mentorship’ and my first mentor Ilona. We have
been communicating till this day.
In 2019 I was graduating a culinary college. Once I was offered
to take part in the project “I Am a Chef” and I willingly agreed,
since I wanted to improve my knowledge in that profession. Dur-
ing this project not only did I master new skills but I met my new
mentor! a wonderful person! We started communicating sharing
one project, and already then, I experienced how easy, warm and
simple I felt with her. a little later the project coordinators were
defining the “pairs” and it was Masha who became my mentor
in the project. I was happy. During our contacting we have dis-
cussed many topics, telling each other about our lives. I find it
so easy to communicate with her, it seems that we can talk for
many hours without feeling tired of each other! I can trust her
and share my feelings with her! I am very glad that such a friend
and mentor has appeared in my life. And I can proudly say that
this summer was the most wonderful one in my life!