Volunteering is hard work, but it truly makes a difference: Volodymyr Hrunskyi, Donetsk region

Volodymyr is originally from the Donetsk region. He joined the Ukrainian Red Cross following the start of the full-scale invasion. In his everyday life, he repairs cars and motorcycles, while in his free time he volunteers with the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in the Donetsk region.

He says that from the very beginning, he wanted to be where help was needed most. That is why he was determined to join the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team — one of the first teams to arrive at the scene of emergencies.

Over the years, he has taken part in numerous challenging deployments, evacuations, and emergency response operations following attacks. Volodymyr says that the most difficult moments have been search and rescue operations to save people trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. Those situations can be frightening, but the support of his team helps him overcome that fear.

For Volodymyr, teamwork has become one of the greatest lessons of volunteering. It teaches responsibility, discipline, trust, and mutual support. It also shows just how important it is to work together, listen to one another, and always be ready to support your teammates when they need you most.

“Volunteering teaches responsibility and discipline. You learn how to carry out tasks, work as part of a team, support one another, and understand that your work makes a real difference in people’s lives. All of this helps you become a better person,” says Volodymyr.

For him, volunteering is about more than helping others. It is about people coming together for a shared purpose and believing that, even in the most difficult times, everyone can make a meaningful contribution.