"I think that the people we help are helping us too"

When Maxim entered a vocational education institution to study social work, his mother, a teacher at a foster home with 20 years of experience, dissuaded him. She asked him to consider everything carefully because it was hard work and stress, besides he would be surrounded by people with various problems. Maxim remembers his mother coming home tired, talking about various difficulties at work. Yet he didn't change his mind. Now he is a graduate of the Minsk State College of the Service Sector with a degree in social work. He is also a volunteer helping people with disabilities.

Maxim shared his story: why he became a volunteer and what volunteering means to him.

Maxim Turavtsov. 18 years old, volunteer, graduate of the Minsk State College of the Service Sector, social worker

My mother has been a teacher at a boarding school for more than 20 years. She has worked with people with disabilities. I often came to her to help: I played with children, talked to them. It was interesting and I liked it. And when I saw that a new specialization "social work" had opened in the college of the service sector, I decided to study there.
My mother asked me to consider everything carefully because it was hard work and stress, besides there were people with various problems around all the time. I remember her coming home tired and saying: "This job is too hard". But she loved those children and they loved her. She couldn't live without helping them.

I like it when someone needs me. I remember how being a freshman I played Ded Moroz at a New Year's celebration for children with various diseases and special needs. And there was a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome. She looked at me as if I was something incredible, gave me gifts and did not want to leave my side.

When I went to college 3 years ago and told my friends that I would work with the elderly and people with disabilities, many said that it was difficult, or did not understand why I was doing it. They called this work non-prestigious. Now they have changed their minds, support me and are even proud of me. Sometimes they help me. 

Now I work with a young man with disabilities. He is 22 years old, he has spasticity, dystonia, he does not walk, he hardly speaks, he can only communicate with his eyes. When I take this guy outside for a walk, I see his smile and understand how important it is for him. I look into his eyes and see how he says "thank you" to me non-verbally. It's just a couple of hours for me, while for him it's a real adventure every time.

I think that the people we help are helping us in a way too. When I went to 7 or 8th grade I was very shy, modest, afraid to ask something, but now I have become more open and sociable. I learnt to communicate with different people, to find my own approach to everyone. I also learnt how to properly manage time. Volunteering gives me a lot of emotions and cool memories, teaches to appreciate life, not to be bothered with trifles.