Page 56 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Maria Budarina

KFC Zavodskoy
Saratov

Found the Opportunity to Help Children

I have always been sensitive to the issue of kids who remained
without parents. This feeling got more intense when on week-
ends a local television channel started to broadcast a program
“Mom, Where Are You?”, the main purpose of which is to help
each child to find a foster family. It is such a shame that some
kids are facing such a cruel fate. I wanted to help at least some-
how but it did not work out. After all, one would not come to an
orphanage saying, “Hello! May I help you?”
Once, my peers told me that being the volunteers of the KFC
Corporate Charity Fund “Opening Horizons” they were visiting
an orphanage, and invited me to join them the nearest weekend
travelling to the town of Krasnoarmeysk where they we going to
hold a game for the kids, aimed to help in choosing a profession.
It was joyful for me because finally I had an opportunity to
help the kids somehow. And it was very exciting at the same time
because I had never been to an orphanage before. I was asking
myself, “How will this go?”, “How will the kids perceive me?”,
“And how will I perceive all that?”
It turned out that the kids were really happy when the volun-
teers were coming to see them, devoting them time and atten-
tion. I saw that with my own eyes and got so inspired that I can-
not find the words to describe that. It helped me to manage my
doubts and embarrassment, to get involved and continue visiting
the orphanages, providing aid and sharing my care.
With some kids we have built up relationships full of trust and
continue communicating in social networks. It is very joyful to
see such a message, “Masha, when will you come? And what kind
of game will we have this time? We are waiting for you so much!”
Despite all their difficulties, I want these kids to overcome all
barriers and create their own families in future, build their lives
and live happily! And perhaps if the kids see that there are vol-
unteers – people who are completely strange but not indifferent
and ready to help just like that – this will give them hope.