Page 60 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Alexey Frolov

Human Resources Business Partner
D-Style LLC, Moscow

I have been working in KFC for about 9 years. My first volun-
teering happened 7 years ago when I was a Director of a restau-
rant. I remember that Nina Byrko was organizing the first volun-
teer projects, so to say ‘projects’ – the aid we could provide to
the Center in which the kids with Down syndrome were training.
For me it was the first experience of closely contacting such kids.
I came to the center and saw these wonderful kids, so simple
and sincere, and I saw adults around them. So much warmth,
tenderness and love were in their eyes! The kids’ parents told
that the guys just needed communication, it was the most valu-
able matter. Of course, there are a lot of things that are to be
bought or repaired – the funds are more than welcome. But, in
general, these issues are not that bad, the main stuff they need
is social adaptation and COMMUNICATION! After that meeting
I understood that in order to do something good, one does not
always need a lot of time, effort, resources, funds, the only thing
one needs is a desire.
And the desire comes on its own when you first encounter the
gratitude of a person whom you have helped somehow, when
you see the smile and sometimes even certain embarrassment
because the person had not expected that from you, although
needed your help. a dog, which cannot even ask for help, but
is wagging its tail from gratitude and joy! Your visit to the or-
phanage, seeing the kids’ delight! The tears in the eyes of elderly
people because you have brought them some products and the
required medicines from the shop! The veterans meeting with
each other thanks to the volunteers who had arranged a dinner
for them inside a KFC restaurant! Walking in a clean park after
a community cleaning day.
here are plenty of such moments. With time I managed to
inspire many of my employees with the desire to aid. I helped
to define a leader of volunteering in each restaurant, started to
engage our office staff, was informing everyone around me and
just shared my joy after every kind deed.