First Award Ceremony for Kharkov's Youth Volunteers

On the 9th of March 2004, the Jewish Youth Association held its first ceremony where young volunteers were awarded for their selfless work. Over 100 people gathered at a concert hall of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kharkov, Ukraine to recognize volunteers and to enjoy the show.

Guests watched a video about volunteer activities carried out by members of the Jewish Youth Association, which included assisting in a JDC-sponsored Hesed Food program, holding Volunteers' Day and Hannukah celebrations, helping in the Mazal Tov program, and organizing and participating in the Parliamentary Debates program "Millennium Development Goals" developed by the United Nations.

Emotions were high when the young volunteers received presents and certificates. Helping others and bringing the good out in people is not often appreciated and recognized nowadays.

The culmination of the evening was the ceremony consecrating the volunteers. Volunteering will test their will power, their ability to put effort into what they do and their determination. New volunteers swore an oath to follow the path they have chosen, to respect people, to keep on smiling no matter what and to share their good moods with everyone around, to study and to follow Jewish traditions, to help friends and never to be afraid to speak the truth. The Design Studio made special gifts – decorated ties – a symbol distinguishing the Jewish Youth Association leaders.

Guests from JDC Jerusalem, Kharkov, Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk were present at the ceremony and thanked the young volunteers for their work and effort. Shauli, JDC's Northern and Eastern Ukraine country director, and Vlad, a local businessman and Hesed Board Chairman surprised everyone by donating $1,000 to the Association and its further active development. He was very impressed by the volunteers and always wished that he had been able to express his Judaism in his own youth, the way these young people can today.

After the ceremony the audience had a chance to enjoy the performances of the vocal group Triatron, theater group "Joker", Latina Club, fashion show "Avant-guard" collection and an exhibition of works by The Design Studio. Everyone found something to his or her own taste.

Volunteering for the community allows young people to develop their creative and leadership skills, help communicate with people more effectively and build self- confidence. These volunteers from the Jewish Youth Association can no longer imagine their lives without their community.