A Zoom across the world: ISC connects to Siberia Y Teens
By Tracy Muckey with Laura Kamperman

Not all YMCA Alumni International Service Corps (ISC) projects need to be in person to be meaningful. YMCA teens from the U.S. have begun meeting with teens from Siberia through Zoom chats coordinated by YMCA IISC volunteers.

During the most recent call, the students were anxious to learn more about each other, no longer needing adult prompting or even using the prepared questions. The four students from Siberia and five from the U.S. were more interested in what each was doing and what it was like to live where they lived.

They all shared how meaningful volunteering is, especially working with younger children. This 90-minute meeting differed from past sessions because the students met in two consecutive breakout groups, allowing for more personal conversations. Students from Siberia shared their dreams of travel, including visiting Notre Dame in Paris, St. Petersburg, Russia, to see a famous painting of Jesus, and the U.S., to “eat a lot of junk food.”

The students chose important historical people they wanted to meet in another group. The Siberian students’ English was excellent, and the American students were articulate and open to conversation. All were comfortable sharing.

Of the 15 participants on the call, four were students from Siberia, four were from high school and the YMCA Leaders Club of Richmond, VA, one was from Maryland, two were adults from Russia, and four were YMCA ISC adult volunteers.