The award ceremony to mark young volunteers was held at the youth and adolescent center in Lod. Valda Storz’ok, a student in grade 11, was one of the outstanding volunteers and was one of the five to whom the committee decided to also award a special plaque in recognition of outstanding volunteer work for the community.
Valda tells of her path to volunteering at Magen David Adom (MDA – emergency medical services). She tells that, “I started volunteering with MDA a year ago as a personal commitment project – I thought that if I really wanted to give to the community, then MDA was the place for me. I started a lengthy course which lasted 60 hours, after which I was certified as a first aid provider. The course prepared me for my volunteering, but it did not truly prepare me for what awaited me. When I started riding the ambulance as an assistant to the skilled and diligent crews, the things I saw and my reactions to the unfolding events surprised me and taught me a lot about myself. I went on to take an intensive care course and I hope in the future to take an instructors course and an MCI (mass casualty incident) course, and maybe even reach the level of paramedic. When I started this job, they told me that MDA is a contagious ailment, from which it is hard to be cured, and this is truly the case. It happened that I spent all my vacations, holidays and free moments at my home away from home. When my supervisor approached me and told me that I received an award for excellence, it was completely unexpected as our station is filled with many volunteers who give heart and soul and I think that each of them deserves such an award.”
We are proud of Valda for her dedication and responsibility which is demonstrated in her professionalism and a lot of love” said school principal Zamira Valad.
