Page 16 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

The second side of volunteering is my personal story. And
such stories are numerous among my friends and volunteers.
That is why I would like to share it. In 2017, having accumulated
all my courage, I joined social volunteering and became a mentor
for a 15-year-old guy from an orphanage. It was quite scary; it was
not quite clear whether I could somehow help him and whether
he would need me at all. But I trusted professionals – the fund
“Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters” and the psychologist Natalia
who told me, “Ania, he has been waiting for his own mentor for
so long. He needs you so much!” And I came to get acquainted.
We started communicating. First in the orphanage, then going
for a walk together: visited the Tretyakov Gallery, played board
games, went to coffee houses. I invited him to visit my home, and
he was letting me into his life, into his heart. We were talking to
each other and became closer. And then, you know, I have under-
stood that I am capable of more. I CAN DO more. I can do much
more for this pert, harsh and adult guy. And 9 months sharp after
we got acquainted, I became his foster mother. We have become
a family! Now there are four kids in our family and two of them
have been adopted.
I am not saying that all volunteers should become foster par-
ents. No, my story is not about that. This is a story about how
volunteering can lead you to something greater.
I know the volunteers from orphanages who have become the
charity funds staff members. I know a volunteer from an animal
shelter who has moved to another city and organized a new an-
imal shelter at the new location. I know the foster parents and
mentors and volunteers who take dogs, cats and even foxes from
animal shelters. I have been closely communicating with many
leaders of volunteers’ teams who have tried it once and cannot
stop. I know those who save lives, cure, search, visit, talk, play,
do…., help, because they CAN help! And each of us CAN help in
some way!!!