Volunteering doesn’t happen overnight – it grows from early steps, from curious little questions and the first glimpses of the world outside their own. Every visit with little ones is full of joy, but also carries deep meaning.

During our recent visit to Trešnjevka Kindergarten, we talked about some big topics: love, solidarity, and caring for those who need our help the most.

With the help of photos and short videos, we all took a little trip in our minds, all the way to Africa. The children, full of questions and eager to learn, listened to the story of our Ivana, a member of Kolajna ljubavi and the mom of one of the kids in the group. She introduced them to a world a little different from their own: how children in Africa live, what mission work entails, how sponsorship helps many kids attend school, and what games their peers in the St. Anthony orphanage and kindergarten in Tanzania love the most.

Below is a beautiful message shared by the wonderful teachers at Trešnjevka, who described the visit like this:

“Today, we were visited by Noa’s mom, Ivana. Through photos and videos, she showed us life in an orphanage in Tanzania.We saw what their favorite toys are, what they like to eat, how they wash their clothes, where they cook, and how they study at night... She also showed us the Maasai tribe and their homes, and even her close encounter with a cheetah.Thank you for taking the time to bring these stories to our children and helping us reflect on empathy and the importance of helping others.”

When a child realizes that somewhere across the world, kids just like them are growing up in different circumstances, something powerful begins to take shape. That’s the first step toward becoming someone who sees beyond their backyard, who feels deeply, and acts with heart.

Our little friends at Trešnjevka Kindergarten may not know how to read just yet, but they already understand what it means to reach out a hand.Building awareness that you can help someone is where volunteering truly begins.

So thank you, little big hearts of Trešnjevka. The world is in good hands with you.