The Discussion Club welcomed Myroslava Barchuk, a representative of the «Volunteering Hundred of Maidan», Olena Masorina, a representative of the «Volunteering Hundred «Ukraine - World» Foundation and Natalia Trenina and Oleksandra Chumachenko, members of the «Vostok - SOS» Initiative. Volunteers told the audience how they joined the volunteering movement, about activities of their organisations, about the best and the worst moments in the work of a volunteer, and also they answered numerous questions from the audience.
Myroslava Barchuk, a representative of the «Volunteering Hundred of Maidan», noted that volunteering movement is one of the best social and cultural phenomena that emerged as a result of recent events in Ukraine. She emphasized that very often practical volunteering movement’s activities result in substitution of functions and responsibilities of the government. «But the major movement’s outcome is that the volunteering movement undermines a rotten state system and does not give it a chance to stay» - Myroslava emphasized.
When asked what is the hardest and the best in volunteering work, Myroslava said that «Volunteerism starts with your personal wish not to stay away from the social problems. In our work the participatory feeling is the best. The hardest feeling is a constant suspicion that you benefit from it. The major challenge of volunteering is a responsibility for human life. The volunteering work is an addiction. When you succeeded to save life of another human, you find the meaning of your life. Until the moment you meet a face of another pain, for you it would remain just a statistical unit».
Olena Masorina, a representative of the «Volunteering Hundred «Ukraine - World» Foundation told us how she became an active member of volunteering movement. «I came to it through my personal turmoil. I felt a need to help anyone who is worse off than me».
She agreed with her colleague and noted that emotions in volunteering activity are too high «particularly when you realize that with your actions you saved life of someone». Also Olena highlighted that in volunteering activities it’s very important to keep a reputation and transparent reporting. «This is very important when you deal with people’s money» - Olena emphasized.
Natalia Trenina, a representative of «Vostok - SOS» organization also noted that volunteering is a great moral responsibility and she added that «an advantage of the volunteering activity is in its dynamics and in promptness of taking decisions, what cannot be ensured by the state anymore».
Oleksandra Chumachenko, a representative of «Vostock - SOS», held an interesting parallel that «a volunteer is not a patch but rather salt for a wound. As long as a volunteer keeps on asking the state the uncomfortable questions, the state will keep on changing for the better».
During questions and answers session a controversial issue was raised whether the volunteering movement helps the government or hinders the state changes.
Natalya Trenina, a representative of «Vostok - SOS» believes that «strategically the volunteering slow down the changes in a country, but tactically we are saving lives». At the same time Myroslava Barchuk, a representative of the «Volunteering Hundred of Maidan» believes that volunteering movement gives to the state an example and a pattern how to act. «We give a kick to the state. Development in a country is decided not by the number of endorsed laws, but the quality of people» - she noted.
FOR INFORMATION:
«Volunteering Hundred of Maidan» is a civic platform, that provided help for the wounded from Maidan, and now helps the wounded in ATO zone, their children, and displaced people.
«Volunteering Hundred «Ukraine - World» is the support foundation for the army, displaced persons and the wounded.
The «Vostok - SOS» Initiative is a civic initiative that provide help for displaced people from the Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
The Open World Discussion Club is an educational project by Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation for socially active young people. Its objective is an education of a new generation of responsible leaders. Every month the Foundation initiates lectures with renowned experts, political and civic activists for discussing ways to solve efficiently social problems in Ukraine and in the world.
