Page 135 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Rayanna Afaunova

KFC Selyatino
Selyatino

We Are Building the Future

I believe that all people need support from others’, from peo-
ple who have certain experience, who can give a proper direc-
tion saying, “Do not worry! You will manage that!”
Two years ago I did not know that the word “volunteer” would
have impacted my life so much. One day my supervisor Maxim
invited me to visit the orphanages and hold training activities to-
gether with the KFC Corporate Charity Fund “Opening Horizons”.
And I said yes.
My first visit was to the Center for Promoting Family Educa-
tion ”Coast of Hope” located in the town of Solntsevo. When we
arrived, the guys ran to Maxim all at once and started greeting
him demonstrating their delight. As for me, the kids were dem-
onstrating lack of trust and stayed withdrawn, all my attempts to
start a dialog failed. The time went by and my visits to the “The
Coast of Hope” became more frequent. We started to know each
other better. I understood that they had got used to me, when
after being away for a long time, I came to see them and the
guys ran to me shouting, “Rayanna has come!” demonstrating
their delight.
The purpose of our visits was to hold the activities in which
every child could open up own potential, get useful skills and
valuable experience for adult life. 6 months after the start we no-
ticed that the guys became more confident, many of them chose
their future profession, started to better understand themselves
and their own feelings. Earlier no one wanted to answer the ques-
tion “Who would like to tell about oneself first?” And 6 months
later half of the kids immediately rose their hands, because they
knew that they would be listened to, supported and told, “You
will definitely succeed!”
What have I learnt from the kids? I have learnt not to give up.
They have taught me to remain myself in any life situation, not
to nurse a grudge, not to take offense. Just to walk along the
life path and be happy. I have learnt to trust in people despite
anything. I have understood that support is probably the most
precious thing which everyone should have.