"If You Work Hard and Find It,

Believe It"

 A Personal Letter by Jasmine, a Volunteer

You've seen those letters that try to convince you that the opportunity you're reading about is the best in the world, the thing you've been searching for all of your life? Well this is one of those!

It was a little miraculous how I finally heard about "Friends." A different charity called my friend, who passed them onto my aunt, who passed them onto my brother in law, who passed them on to an aunt of a cousin of saba and then to someone else and the issue eventually ended up at "Haverim-Friends for Health"!!!!

After numerous phone calls, questions and doubts I quickly found myself standing at the door of the child I was about to mentor. And about that we say "I have worked hard and I have been successful,  believe him" !!! .

Personal mentoring with "Friends" means meeting each other at least once a week. I spent about an hour with him but everyone's different. Sometimes it's just sitting with them, being with them and listening. Other times it's playing games, doing a jigsaw puzzle, etc. In short, being there to help them feel good.

If you've ever felt that awesome feeling of "this is what life's all about" when you're helping someone else, you'll understand how addictive it is for me … it's not just another hour to pass the time. 

Apart from our weekly sessions, there are also special joint activities for all "Friends" volunteers and their mentoring students. These are great bonding times and we have a lot of fun.
 
If you've ever dieted and lost a few pounds, or looked physically different than you do today, you may be able to understand my feelings towards "Haverim-Friends for Health."
 
Let me explain. When you're the new you, it becomes part of you and it's hard to remember what it was like before. That's what my involvement with "Friends" has done for me. The feeling of belonging to something I was destined to be part of…

Connecting to others.

I think it's a national obligation actually. To connect to other Jews. With no regard for physical appearances, religious observance or political affiliation.

Try connecting to those who don't remind us of ourselves; those who are simply our brothers and sisters. I know it sounds kitschy but that's who we are – the Jewish people. We are all "Friends".
And by connecting to others, we connect to ourselves.

It's hard to express a kid's smile or enthusiasm to see you in words, but that's what volunteering with "Haverim-Friends for Health" has done for me.

Go for it!