That’s how Yaroslava Martyniuk describes the biggest challenge in her work as a volunteer with us. So far, she has joined seven missions with other EWB volunteers to her home country, Ukraine.
“I am an interpreter at EWB. That involves interpretation during missions, communication with local partners, and facilitating meetings,” she explains. Even though the war has left deep scars on the country where she grew up, she is happy to return: “It always feels good when I’m in Ukraine. It means a lot to me to have this opportunity to be useful, to be able to help.”
Yaroslava is driven by the people she works with and the shared purpose behind their efforts: “I am motivated by being part of a great team that helps my country. The big picture of our effort is usually made up of small pieces, and each one has great value, helping to move forward and make the difference.”
When asked what strengths and perspectives she brings to her role as an interpreter, she points to her background and personal qualities: “My cultural background, personality, upbringing, and education have made me organized, result-oriented, an active listener, kind, and empathetic, among other things.”
Our mission manager Lasse Oszadlik has no doubt about the value Yaroslava brings to the team: “We may be engineers, but first and foremost we are human beings. The magic happens when people meet. That’s why it’s fantastic to have someone on the team who understands how to build bridges between both the technical side and the people involved.”
We are grateful to have Yaroslava on our team 
Yaroslava on one of her many missions in Ukraine with a team of volunteers.
