Page 34 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Lyudmila Kislova

Head of the Human Resources Department
Yum! Restaurants Russia, Moscow

I was volunteering for quite a long time, but realized that I was
doing something global only after I started to deal with the de-
velopment of this area in the company and the staff of the KFC
League of Volunteers got bigger.
When a thousand of volunteers around the country do a thou-
sand good deeds, this makes me hold my breath. I help not a sin-
gle person but numerous people, including peers. Volunteering
provides an emotional tie to the brand and colleagues. Good
deeds unite people together and provide a sense of meaning,
joy and motivation. This is a human side of business.
After the establishment of the Fund and the charity program
“Generation Choice” I started to aid orphans more often. I took
part in a few events, together with my peers I held excursions
around the restaurant.
Once we were telling the kids about our brand and profes-
sions, demonstrating the operations, teaching them to make
sandwiches. Suddenly a smiling girl approached me, she was
interested what my job was, and then she asked for my mo-
bile number saying she would give me a call some time. First,
I thought she was kidding, but she explained to me that she was
collecting telephone numbers so that she could apply for help
while establishing her adult life. Of course, I gave her my number.
It is excellent that the girl thinks about the future, and moreover,
she takes action. Now I am looking forward to getting her call.
Little time has passed since then, she might be studying in a col-
lege; and when she calls me, I will be ready to help!
I am so impressed that these kids are contemplating about
their future and planning. It seems so easy to start building up
a network of contacts since childhood. But, firstly, not everybody
is giving that a thought at this age, and secondly, not everyone
finds the courage to ask an adult person for a telephone number
and a permission to address for help in future. This is so uncom-
mon and courageous. I am glad that thanks to our activities the
kids have such an opportunity.