Some students volunteer at the Memorial Human Rights Center, one of Russia's oldest human rights organizations, which helps victims of political repression. They practice their English, study Russian and international law, and, as one volunteer explains, clean their karma because Memorial helps people.
Here are three stories from students about what volunteers give to Memorial, and what Memorial gives to volunteers .
I've been volunteering [at Memorial] for about six months and want to continue. I didn't need motivation or figure out why I should volunteer. I just want to help — it's essential, that's it. But the application [at Memorial] required me to explain why I wanted to volunteer. And that turned out to be very therapeutic because it helped me process what is going on and why I needed it.
None of my relatives know that I volunteer at Memorial, although for me it’s, you could say, a source of pride, and I would like to share it. Unfortunately, my family and I were at odds with each other. We had always been very close. I never imagined that we would ever have arguments over some screaming people on TV. Only my closest friends [know], and many of them also participate because I drag them to volunteering.
I study at the Faculty of Philology and primarily take on [Memorial] tasks related to text work: translations, audio transcriptions. But sometimes I do tasks that doesn't require any professional skills.
If I don't have the energy, I might not take on tasks. But volunteering always gives me strength. Sometimes I'm more willing to take on volunteer tasks than I am to do my homework at university. Sometimes I feel thrilled, like in a computer game: you complete a task and earn bonuses, and volunteering gives you a karma bonus — you are doing something small, but it's a part of something bigger.
The hardest part is the psychological one, because when you're working on the task, you begin to understand these difficult stories of people — when their rights are violated, and someone is persecuted for political reasons. You sort of process the information yourself, and it hits harder than reading the same article online.
I love that I have complete freedom when I volunteer. I'm not an employee, I'm not bound by any obligations, and I can do what I love, which will also benefit someone else, and I'll have a sense of social connection. Of course, I'm constrained by my conscience — yes, I'm doing the work for free, but I have to do it well. That's what freedom is, as I understand it — when you're not constrained by anything but your own inner values.
The center's name speaks for itself: “memoria” as for memory. Memorial records human rights violations and supports political prisoners. By the 1st of August, fifteen political prisoners were exchanged, and more than 1,300 continue to serve sentences (hard enough to possibly kill them). These people and their families need support: many of them are seriously ill and require medication, financial assistance, and legal counsel. Thanks to Memorial, these stories are becoming known. Volunteering here provides an opportunity to help people and civil society.
Sometimes I think about what would happen if I were caught with something "discreditable." And it makes me feel better knowing there are organizations that monitor this, help, and if something happens, I won't be alone.
The people who give me the strength to continue volunteering at Memorial are the ones who help me. These are the volunteer coordinators, who are incredibly supportive, and the volunteer community itself with people from all over the world. They always share advice on how to avoid burnout.
Despite the danger, there are many volunteers in Russia, and when people say that Russians are divided, I don’t agree. It’s just the only way to live and be able to resist a dictatorship. And that means that Russia without repression and political prisoners is getting more real.
I try not to talk [about volunteering at Memorial] with anyone, regardless of how much I trust them. That way, both they and I can avoid unnecessary problems.
[At Memorial], my assignments are primarily translation assignments, legal translation from English to Russian and vice versa. When I applied, I also indicated that I could do research on various legal topics, because this is my major. These two types of assignments are my favorites because I practice my legal skills while also practicing my linguistic ones. These assignments allow me to learn something new, although the information is rarely pleasant.
I can't say I spend a huge amount of time on this volunteer work. At the same time, it's always challenging to find balance between my life and volunteering, avoiding taking on too many tasks so as not to end up doing everything at the last minute. Of course, I always want to respond and help, but sometimes I simply don't have the physical or mental strength. Then it's crucial to remember that there are other fellow volunteers who will take on [the task].
I did not and still don’t have fear of volunteering [at Memorial]. I am confident that this organization provides oversight of its volunteers' personal data. Moreover, my desire to help the fight against repression exceeds any fear.
[Volunteering at Memorial is needed] to support the work of one of the largest and oldest human rights organizations in Russia. It is impossible to leave people face to face with the repressive machine, where they would be lost without the help of Memorial staff and volunteers. I feel that my life has at least some meaning, not only for myself and my loved ones, but also for people with whom I might seem to have no connection.
[What keeps me volunteering is] a sense of duty to those who find themselves in a much worse situation than me. A sense of guilt toward people in Russia who can't express their political position, while I, living abroad, just passively watching them suffer. A sense of pride for the organization that doesn't give up even when it gets hard in every possible way.
I have been volunteering [at Memorial] since the summer of 2024. I share Memorial’s values and humanistic position, and I wanted to do something useful to help people.
[At Memorial] I checked transcripts and volunteered at a press conference. It was the press conference in February in Berlin, dedicated to the first monitoring mission of Russian human rights defenders to Ukraine. Volunteering at the conference was probably the most interesting part: I carried a microphone and marked people on a list, and at the same time, I got to listen to the conference itself!
I don't remember if I was scared of volunteering at Memorial, but I doubt I was: volunteering mostly happens online and is organized through a Telegram bot, which I think creates a sense of security. I'm definitely not afraid now. It's probably a matter of habit and personal experience: I go to Russia regularly, my student’s documents protect me, and no one has gotten into any of my volunteer activities yet.
As for me, volunteering doesn't require much energy, as I don't take on assignments very often. I cannot be present where this is needed ( in courts in Russia, for example).
The [Memorial] bot coordinators are, however, attentive and understanding: speaking of transcripts, it was enough for them to point out all the places where there were doubts.
During my time at Memorial, I learned to be careful about other people’s privacy. Again, when checking a transcript, you become familiar with certain details of the case, or personal data that must be kept to oneself.
The quantity of human rights work has increased significantly due to the war. Any help with routine tasks makes the team's work easier and allows us to help more people. I need it because I feel better when I can have an impact on the situation, even if it's indirect and small. Some of my friends also volunteer, others simply support me. I haven't spoken to my relatives [about volunteering at Memorial]. I suspect their opinion would range from “cool” to disapproving.
I consider Memorial's work to be very important, and I'm happy to help. I know there are many people who stand for anti-war sentiments, and they want to help others. I want to be part of that community. I also know that every small action helps. To realize this, it's enough to imagine a world when nothing is to be done, and you will be horrified by it.