Volunteer Spotlight: Yulia

This week is National Volunteer Week. This week-long celebration is about placing a spotlight on inspiring figures whose invaluable seeds of kindness through volunteering are bettering the community and our world in general. We here at JFS Delaware would not be able to fulfill our mission to strengthen individuals, families, and the community without the help of our incredible volunteers. One of those amazing volunteers is Yulia. Yulia is a Russian-speaking marriage and family psychotherapist and offers counseling services to Ukrainian refugees. Read on to learn more about Yulia!

Why did you decide to volunteer for JFS?

“When the war started in Ukraine, I wanted to help refugees of the war. One day, Vlad Cerbov, the Community Relations Manager for JFS, contacted me stating that I was the only Russian speaking family therapist in Delaware. He asked if I could help children and families of Ukrainian refugees; those who are willing to speak Russian. I accepted right away and have been involved with the RISE program since then.”

What is the best part of volunteering?

“For me, the best part of volunteering is to be able to use my skills to be able to make a difference for those who truly need it. One of my dear friends, who is a social worker, once told me that he is making a difference one person at a time. This is how I feel, every drop of kindness counts, as it contributes to the ocean of love and care.”

Would you recommend volunteering for JFS? Why?

“Yes, I would, specifically for two reasons: first of all, JFS serves people who are truly in need and benefit from different expertise in order to re-launch their lives. Secondly, JFS represents a group of people who truly care, and it’s amazing to be part of a such collaborative and caring team.”

What is a fun fact about you?

“I consider myself a nomad: I lived, studied, and worked in five different countries (Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, UAE, and USA).”

If you could go anywhere in the world for your next vacation, where would you go? Why?

“I would love to visit Italy. In the past five years I have been fascinated by the Italian culture, language, and gastronomy. I am studying Italian, and hoping to exercise my new language skills during my upcoming trip to Assisi, where I am planning to attend an International Family Therapy Conference.”

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

“I always wanted to become a veterinarian, as I always loved animals and love to be around them.”

What is one food you could eat every day?

“I love dairy products, and probably would be very sad if I did not have a yogurt or a piece of cheese at least once a day.”

What is the last show you binged?

“I have to say that I don’t watch TV too much, maybe once a week for a movie. Being fascinated by English monarchy, specifically by the personality of Elizabeth II, I did like The Crown, and watched all of it.”

What is the best book you ever read?

“Books are my true passion. In fact, I am about to open my own bookstore in Bellefonte, Delaware. The name of the store is Finist and the Owl. The bookstore has four rooms organized developmentally from a small child to an adult and has three languages (English, French, and Russian). One of my favorite books is War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy being one of my favorite authors.”

What are you most thankful for you in your life right now?

“I am thankful for an opportunity to be in a country where your dreams can come true, sometimes, you have to work very hard for that to happen, but I truly believe that the USA is the land of possibilities.”

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Our work is made possible by dedicated volunteers like YOU! Volunteers supplement the professional, clinical care provided by JFS by fostering a sense of community, building relationships, and extending your skills and kindness to older adults, refugees, and other clients of JFS. Click here to apply to be a volunteer for JFS.