Page 71 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Natalia Timoshina

Volunteer Programs Leader
KFC Corporate Charity Fund “Opening Horizons”, Krasnoyarsk

Work + Friendship

Volunteering started in Krasnoyarsk KFC in summer 2014. And
at that moment there was no idea about any global project, but
there was a natural human desire to do something good.
Thus, we took under our patronage one of Krasnoyarsk or-
phanages, and started to come and see the kids with friendly
visits on a regular basis. We played football, had some tea with
cakes, played games. Every day the kids grew more and more
open to us, demonstrating their other side. Out of modest, with-
drawn and pert kids they transformed into open, sensitive, inter-
esting and talented kids who were drastically missing love and
attention from adults.
One day the kids expressed their wish to come with a guest
visit to one of the KFC restaurants. The volunteering employees
also suggested their assistance in making this visit memorable
for the kids. One could feel an atmosphere of excitement, team-
work and real happiness. This day became special for everyone:
for the kids, who got introduced to the profession of a restaurant
employee and have tried it themselves, learning what the burg-
ers are made from and getting a little more aware of the secret
of making a ‘finger lickin’ good chicken’. And for the employees
as well, because besides working in a large company, they have
experienced their involvement into a great project that we have
been delivering, have shared something from their part and have
become even friendlier and closer to each other.
At the moment we have been friends with as many as four or-
phanages of Krasnoyarsk and its suburbs, and also have started to
hold the career guidance programs for them. 13 restaurants have
been arranging weekend excursions for everyone interested, the
volunteers speaking with excitement about the peculiarities of
working in KFC, sharing their life experience. There are a few ex-
amples when the orphanage graduates have chosen our restau-
rants as their first job becoming part of our big friendly team.