“To Do Good for Others”: Yefimiya and Antonina’s Story

Volunteers hold the Jewish world together. And at the JDC-supported KEDEM  Jacobs Jewish Cultural Center (JCC) in Chisinau, Moldova, it’s volunteers like Antonina Pijevskaya who help fuel the community’s many activities and serve those in need. We recently sat down with Pijevskaya and one of her clients — Yefimiya Punga — whom she now considers a close friend. 

As we celebrate Global Volunteer Month, Pijevskaya and Punga reflect on their friendship — and how volunteering brought them together in the first place. 

How did you both get connected to the KEDEM JCC? And what keeps you going back? 

Yefimiya Punga: My husband and I used to go to KEDEM when he was still alive, and I think it played an essential role in my life — I’d never experienced anything like it before. 

When we came here, there was something unique about this place. It was a sense of tranquillity, or maybe just the absence of the hustle and bustle that we’re all accustomed to. Basically, it was a refuge from the chaos of the city, as well as a source of life-saving support. 

KEDEM’s support sustains us and keeps us going in this life, on this earth. 

Antonina Pijevskaya: My gateway to KEDEM was through JDC’s volunteer center. One day, I was on social media when I saw an announcement for a volunteer fair. I was so happy! It felt like it had appeared just for me.

I decided to go, but when I opened the door to the room where the fair was happening, I saw it was full of young people. I took a step back, thinking, “What am I doing here?” But they quickly noticed me, welcomed me in, and invited me to take a look. 

The moment I stepped inside, I forgot about everything else. It felt as if I’d found kindred spirits — as if we were all on the same wavelength, despite the difference in age.

I don’t feel like a retiree here. I now say that in the time I’ve been at the volunteer center, I’ve become 20 years younger.

YP: I love everything at KEDEM. The staff don’t ignore anyone — rather, they address each person’s individual needs. Everyone is important.  

I especially enjoy going to the day center — part of our city’s JDC-supported Hesed social service center — where I can socialize with other seniors. It’s a truly unique place. Everything is organized so well. They all work very hard to ensure that older people like me feel secure and protected. 

Antonina, what inspired you to volunteer? And what kinds of volunteer activities are you involved in?

AP: My motivation is simple: to do good for others, to treat elderly people with care and kindness, and to give them attention, compassion, and empathy. Kindness is one of the most important qualities a person can have — it can lift someone’s spirits and give them hope. 

When I first started volunteering, it was also a way of coping. My mother was gone, my father was gone, and my daughter had grown up — I had no one left to take care of.  I couldn’t imagine sitting at home without work. I knew I needed to help someone. 

And then it happened — my calling, my purpose, volunteer work. 

Right from the first days of joining the program, I attended lectures and seminars on volunteerism. Then, I started reaching out to our clients by phone, inviting them to various events and activities at KEDEM as well as in the city, like movies, plays, and concerts.

That’s actually how I met Yefimiya. 

Describe your relationship with each other. What makes your friendship so strong? And how do you spend your time? 

YP: I don’t remember how many years it’s been since Antonina first called me. But today, there isn’t a single week that goes by without us being in touch. 

Antonina and I explore the world together. She organizes outings around the city — museum visits, concerts, and theater performances. We’re two friends, really. 

AP: Whenever I visit Yefimiya, we arrange a time in advance over the phone. I always bring a cake or some tangerines, oranges, or bananas. We sit down at the table, enjoy the treats, and Yefimiya offers me some tea. She has the most delicious tea. 

We chat a lot. She loves poetry, and I do, too — it’s our common ground. Yefimiya writes poetry in multiple languages, and she does it all the time. I write poetry, too, and I share mine with her. 

Yefimiya is a disciplined writer. In the morning, when she wakes up early and starts her day, poetic lines often come to her. She especially loves writing in the spring. There’s a small garden right outside her window where she grows flowers. This scenery inspires her.

What do you like most about each other? 

YP: Antonina is a calm and steady person — exceptionally calm, really. You couldn’t say the same about me! She’s even-tempered, spreading warmth to the soul. I don’t even know how to describe it — she feels like a sister or a mother to me now. I confide in her when I’m in pain or when I need advice.

AP: Yefimiya is such an energetic person! I’m never bored with her — she recharges me. Every time we meet, though we each have our own problems, we understand each other since we’re close in age and both retirees. Like she said earlier, we’re friends. 

What does the word “volunteer” mean to you? What kind of difference do they make?  

YP: A volunteer is someone who steps in to assist those in need, someone who eagerly offers their help. Volunteers are at the forefront of the community. They do everything and anything — bring us groceries, take us for walks, help us with tasks around the house, and organize exciting programs at KEDEM. We’d all be worse off without them. 

Antonina and I have attended some events, and you wouldn’t believe how wonderful the young people are there. They don’t shy away from our age group — and that’s uplifting. A volunteer is someone whose heart is big enough to encompass people from all walks of life. 

We should really commend them for their efforts. 

AP: Volunteering has been my calling since childhood. I attended a boarding school, and for some reason, I always felt I was responsible for all the younger kids. Throughout my life, I’ve had this belief that I cannot refuse to assist someone, whether it’s a neighbor or anyone in need. This drives me to support myself as well.

Whenever I help someone and they feel joy from it, I can see a sparkle in their eyes, and I receive positive energy in return. I feel happy knowing I was able to help someone, and together, we navigate life with a different outlook. 

Volunteering is the most fulfilling activity — the more good you do for others, the better you feel about yourself. It’s kindness in action. It’s love. And it’s my way of life. 

Antonina Pijevskaya is a JDC volunteer in Chisinau, Moldova.

Yefimiya Punga is a JDC client in Chisinau, Moldova. 

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