Volunteers' support

We continue to tell you about our volunteers - people who come everyday to care about our children. People whose work is possible thanks to you. Here's a story of Liza who came to Shag Navstrechu long ago and now is a head of the department. 

"I came to the organization so long ago that the volunteering leaflets were hanging on the noticebord. It was one of the days in February when I saw that an orphanage was seeking volunteers.

When I arrived at the orphanage for the first time, I sensed a slightly foul smell (by the way, now it’s almost gone). I was taken to see the groups: 15 children in each, there was no school at all (now there are 5 children in each group, and most of them attend to school or kindergarten part-time). But back then, when kids were sitting there…I wanted to leave and take a shower as soon as possible just to wash that foul smell off.

At that time there were a lot of children living in the building, who could speak, and I will never forget Madina’s eyes, when she looked at me and asked if I would come again. At home I was in the shower for 40 minutes thinking what I could give those children. I finished with a clear understanding that I was ready to and wanted to go back.

The second shocking thing was that I was “assigned” to a group of boys (although I wanted and asked for girls). 15 boys who got sick all together at once and were blowing their noses while sneezing at me. It was crazy. Sometimes I thought I wasn’t made for it. But then there came the ordinary day, when I realized that everything inside me turned upside down: it was raining outside; Lyosha and I were playing in the group. Lyosha didn’t really like talking to people and wasn’t attached to anyone. But that time he was sitting on a windowsill, looking at raindrops, and suddenly said “I love Liza”. I asked him to repeat, and he did. I couldn’t hold my tears as I realized that it all was worth it".

Liza Z.

We asked one of our volunteers to tell us more about  her work in the orphanage. And here's a lillte interview we've got:)

"This isn't your first volunteer year – you're sort of a 'veteran' of this project. What makes you come back again and again?"

“Of course, it's love. Love for my children, love for my team. Every morning, when I step onto the territory of the orphanage, I hear merry children shouts who, by seeing me, race towards me to hug me first. This is the happiness and the best morning for me. At this moment I get overflown with all kinds of emotions realizing that they miss me so much, that they need. When you communicate with such children, like ours, you understand that the life is something very simple and light. There seem to be so many problems, but you start looking differently when you communicate with people with disabilities at least for one day. Something triggers, you quit complaining and realize you have to appreciate what you have”.

"How much have been changed since you appeared both in the organization and the orphanage itself?”

When I returned for my second volunteer year, it was very noticeable that the staff realized the necessity and importance of volunteers for children, for themselves. Personally, I feel appreciated when someone comes to me and asks if they can help me in lots of different situations. And in those groups, which, sadly, have no volunteers, wait for new helpers. In “Shag Navstrechu” all the changes are only for the best. These people are my second family/ They are helping me to make my dream of working with children come true”.

“After working here for so many years you have a huge amount of experience. What advice would you give now to you, who has just come to the orphanage to work?”

“I'll never forget my first day in the orphanage. Most of the people come into “Shag” by learning about it from the internet, but I've got here because of the working in the orphanage neighbor. She has seen my love for children and realized that they need me here a lot. I've come, looked and stayed under the great impression, withdrew in myself for several days. I've got myself on the
thought that I can't stop thinking about children. I've been seeing them even in my dreams. My husband has noticed that and said:”Perhaps that's not for you”. Then I thought:”Why not for me? I'm strong, I can handle that.”So nowadays I'd say to myself to not be afraid, to throw aside fear and doubts and go ahead bravely.”

“Your family and friends know what you're doing. What's the most frequent question about your work you hear from them?”

“They frequently ask me:”Aren't you afraid of going there? Those children aren't usual after all”. Or “Aren't you afraid of this king of communication? You never know what to expect”. I try to explain that our children live in their own world, our world is unknown and strange for them. We try to tell and show some children how we live. We try to explain that you have to pay for food when you go into a store, after all, they are used to having already prepared food. Also, I tell that everyone has their individual approach, and with love and support everything will be fine. But the most important for me is the support of my family. My husband has instantly approved my decision, and recently in one conversation said that he is very glad for me, for me doing that I love. He feels that, because for all these years he doesn't remember a single day when I would've waken up and said:”This work again. I don't want to go”. Yet he said it'd be nice if everyone could find such work to which they would go, feeling only positive emotions.”