Volunteer Forum “Origins of Mercy”
From August 8th to 10th, there was a Volunteer Forum “Origins of Mercy” – Together We Care.
From August 8th to 10th, there was a volunteer forum, Origins of Mercy: Together We Care, that brought together volunteers from three regions of the country: Chisinau, Tiraspol, and Balti. There were 50 participants in total in the forum’s work: 30 from Chisinau, 12 from Balti, and eight from Tiraspol.
The forum became a space where learning collided with practice and bright impressions. Participants dived into topics directly connected with volunteering and supporting the elderly. Sessions included:
- volunteer’s ethics
- dementia: how to understand and support
- emotional intelligence when working with people
- the art of persuasion
- time management for volunteers
- basics of project management
These directions helped volunteers not only get knowledge but also precise tools for future initiatives.
Special attention was paid to art factories. Participants learned new skills that they will be able to teach the elderly at RVC: “Our Hands Can Do Everything,” “ArtDor,” and volunteering at the day center. Besides the educational part, the forum was filled with energetic team activities: musical bingo, a talent show, and a detective quest helped participants to unite and feel the team spirit.
A special place was dedicated to spiritual traditions: participants celebrated the Sabbath together, held the Havdalah ceremony, and celebrated the warm holiday of Tu Be'Av. These moments reminded about the price of common values, respecting traditions, and, obviously, the atmosphere of unity.
It goes without saying that it would’ve been impossible without our lectors who kindly shared their knowledge and experience: Elena Deruga, Irena Pokladova, Lyudmila Semina-Gitsu and Alexandra Kiseeva, Adele Beschetnikova, Valentina Mikhalko, and Lyudmila Pikus. We also want to give special thanks to our partners, Librarius, who gave the participants vouchers for books on such topics as time management, leadership, working with the elderly, and professional volunteering. It allows volunteers to continue development even after the end of the forum.
The “Origins of Mercy” forum became a vivid example of that education, mutual tradition, and warm human communication form basis of the volunteering movement. Together We Care isn’t just a name; it’s a philosophy that brings people together and inspires them to do new good deeds.