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Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Ulyana In our daily life we often meet people, who need our help. We see that something must be done to make life of other people better, sometimes easier, and sometimes just pleasant. And doing this work with our hands, skills and heart, without requirement of any money or other payment is called voluntarism. A volunteer is a person, who is always ready to give you a hand of support, who is always ready to be your friend. He is a person who will smile to you and say "You're Welcome". I think volunteerism today is such king of character that must be present in each person, not depending how old is he or she. Children can help adults, as adults can help children, children can help children, as adults can help adults. Being volunteer means not only to work for free. It means that you work, knowing that you are helpful, knowing that you're necessary. I believe, that volunteers, by doing their work give their support not only for people who need it, they support themselves to. Through volunteerism we develop our knowledge skills by doing volunteer duties; we develop our communication skills by talking to another people, even to those one who are we willing to help. We can learn how to make right decisions in our life and understand problems that are common today. My first volunteer experience started two years ago, when I took part in Ukrainian project against HIV, AIDS, smoking, drinking and doing drugs. I finished special courses to be teenage trainer, and after it I started to work with teenagers of my age. We talked not only about problems of smoking, drinking, doing drugs. We discusses with students what were the reasons of going these things, how to protect it and what influence can bad habits make on us. I wanted to show teenagers that by smoking, doing drugs and drinking they wouldn't escape from problems, they wouldn't look cool. When we talked about HIV, AIDS, I tried to cover all aspects of being affected by this virus. This program we called "Equal to Equal", which means to bring information to those one who are your age. By giving lessons, presentations, and organizing different concerts my friends and I tried to involve as much young people and teenagers as possible. We tried to make it interesting, but at the same time serious and important. After coming to United States I was looking for the Community Volunteer Activity that will bring something new to me and I can bring something new to it. I started working with kids in Christian Day Care. During my day in Day Care I often play different games with children, which include physical and mind activity. We like to draw together, to watch cartoons and movies. Often I just talk to kids. I enjoy the answers they give on my questions, because they think not usual, and often their thoughts have very strong point of view. I consider this very good, as I think person's point of view is one of the main things he or she has to carry through all life. Also, if older children have some homework and need help with it, I'm always pleased to help them. Working in Day Care means for me not just to spend time with kids. That means watching how they're growing. Growing physically and mentally. Every day I can see how Americans grow up their children, how and what they're teaching them. And it is good to know that I can be helpful here, and take something from it. I think everything begins from the time you're a child. By teaching it's younger generation, country can reach a lot of success, and having good, successful country means to have good people, who are always ready to help; it means to have good life in it. In my opinion, volunteering in Day Care will help me to understand deeply what does it mean to be a citizen of my own country, to find how Ukrainian people should raise their children correctly and to find the way of making "successful Ukraine". After analyzing the information that was given to me about Civic Educational Workshop I can make a conclusion about how if can help me in my Community Service. I understood that we have to treat children as citizens of our countries even though they can't vote in their young age. Starting teaching kids from young age about their country, government and civil rights can make big changes in our and their future. I think it is very important to teach younger generation to be active, respectful and responsible. And all this we can bring to them through discussion, activities and volunteering. I'm sure Community Service Program I'm doing in the US is very useful. I take more information and take more knowledge. I believe it will help me go easier in my life, will help to make important decisions and bring some changes of living in my country.
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