WHO IS A VOLUNTEER? 

A volunteer is a person who voluntarily gives his or her time and energy to benefit others or society without any material gain. Volunteers can work in various fields:

Social services: helping the poor, organizing shelters for the homeless, assisting the disabled.

Education: helping teachers in schools, tutoring children, eliminating illiteracy.

Health care: caring for patients in hospitals, participating in blood donation campaigns, promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Environmental protection: planting trees, recycling waste, protecting animals.

Culture and art: conducting excursions in museums, helping at theaters and concerts, preserving cultural heritage.

Emergencies: providing assistance to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies, etc.

Today, volunteering is developing in our country.

Many volunteer schools and teams have been established, and volunteers are working tirelessly in the above-mentioned various fields.

For example, the Republican volunteers of the “Golden Wing” and the Republican “Young Reformers’ Movement” teams are doing a lot of work in the field of volunteering.

Here the question arises: “What does volunteering give us?” Let’s look at it together.

The benefits of volunteering for us young people are multifaceted and they are as follows:

Volunteering helps you gain experience in various fields. You can develop skills such as organization, communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem solving.

Volunteering helps you understand your abilities, strengths, and values. By helping others, you feel useful and valuable.

Volunteering is a great way to meet and make friends with people who share your interests. You can make new friends and expand your social circle.

Volunteering reduces stress, improves mood, and increases self-confidence. You will feel happier by helping others.

Volunteering helps you learn more about new cultures, different people, and social issues.

Volunteering brings together different people for a common goal. This creates a sense of solidarity and unity in society.

In short, volunteering is an important activity that benefits everyone. It is a key force for personal growth, community development, and solving global problems. If you are thinking about becoming a volunteer, definitely give it a try! It can change your life.

Shonazarova Parizod, from Uzbekistan.

Born in 2005 in the Khanka district of the Khorezm region. Currently a student at the Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhon Beruni. Since her youth, she has been interested in writing poetry. More than 50 of her poems, as well as journalistic and scientific articles, have been published in reputable newspapers and magazines in more than 10 different countries. Chairman of the Khorezm region of the Republican “Young Reformers Movement”. Coordinator of the Khanka district of the Republican volunteer team “Golden Wing”. Member of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

Comfort Zone 

by Jacques Fleury

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there.”-anonymous

Two men are stuck together 

under the subway in the dark,
One man says to the man next to him 

“Since we’re gonna be stuck here together, 

we might as well have some banter…

so what’s your name” the black man 

asks the white man standing next to him
The white man responds,
“My name is Klearly  White…”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. White,  

My name is Klearly Black”
” So… Do you identify as white?” Mr. Black  asks…

 “No, I’m just a spirit inside a white body . ..
How about you? Do you identify as black?” Mr. White asks,

“No, I too am just a soul inside a black body” says  Mr Black,
“So now what?”  Mr. White asks,
“I have an idea! Why don’t you tell me more about what makes you you? 

Tell me something about your humanity….”  says Mr. Black,

“Hmmm” Mr. White tilts his head in thought then says,
“I love walking in the woods, I love being one with nature…”
” What a coincidence!” Mr. Black says  excitedly,   

“Me too! Perhaps we can go for walks together during comfortable weather…”
“Sounds good…” says Mr. white “Let’s exchange phone numbers…”
” Sounds good…” says Mr. black
Then, suddenly the lights come back on 

with one big swoosh and the train sliding doors part open…
The two men say their goodbyes then walk

     their separate ways… 

        One went North, the other went South…

Attn: Updated Bio:

Jacques Fleury is a Boston Globe featured and internationally published Haitian American poet, theater reviewer, educator, author of numerous books of essays, reviews, fiction, poetry and literary arts student through Harvard University. He was chosen among over 4, 000 competitors from 83 countries as the Recipient of the International Naji Naaman Literary Prize for Creativity (2026) and a Certificate of Participation for his “…esteemed contribution of poetry to the anthology Water: The Source of Life (Volume IV) presented by La Fenetre De Paris. 

It’s Always Sunrise Somewhere and Other Stories among other titles are available at all Massachusetts public libraries, the University of Massachusetts Healey Library, Wyoming University, Askews and Holts Library Services, the leading library supply specialist in the United Kingdom, The MIT Press Bookstore, The Harvard Bookstore and the oldest poetry bookstore in America: The Grolier Poetry Book Shop (est. 1927)  has hosted great American poets E. E. Cummings and Alen Ginsberg and online bookstores worldwide such as Bookshop dot com, amazon etc…

Your Love Will Eventually Come

Poet / Lan Xin (Lan Xin Sa Mei)

The hardships and perplexities encountered in life

Are often hard to embrace in the moment

Later you will suddenly realize

Everything is destined for the best

Heaven never makes you lose give up or wait without cause

It merely leads you toward something finer

I always believe

To miss someone not meant for you

Is a deliberate trial and design from above

Stay true to who you are

A better soulmate will come for you

To miss things not meant to be

Is a thoughtful test and arrangement

It sees if you can grow stronger through setbacks

Keep striving march forward and walk the right path

You will gather strength and reap remarkable achievements

May someone dear

Heal all your wounds

Settle all your grievances

Untie all your tangles

Fill all your emptiness

Make up for all your regrets

May you meet the one your heart longs for and let go of life’s unfairness

May you embrace the sweetest love and leave past sorrows behind

Columbidae Equation

That pigeon is

lovely so it must

be a dove.

The dove who poops

on our porch

is a pigeon.

Ergo,

there is no such thing

as dove shit.

The Aral Sea Crisis: A Warning and a Lesson for Our Future

The Aral Sea was once one of the world’s largest inland lakes. Today, it is considered one of the greatest environmental disasters caused by human activity. This sea, located between the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, has shrunk dramatically in recent decades. The main reason for this is the large-scale diversion of the waters of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for large-scale agricultural projects, in particular for cotton cultivation. As a result, the natural balance was disrupted, and the once vibrant sea gradually began to disappear.

The Aral Sea has played an important role in the lives of the region’s inhabitants for centuries. Fishing was one of the main sources of income, and many cities and villages were located near the sea. People’s lives were closely linked to water, and the economy relied mainly on natural resources. However, as a result of the diversion of river water in other directions, the water entering the sea has sharply decreased, and a gradual process of drying up has begun. This process continued for decades, eventually leading to the destruction of the entire ecosystem. As the water level decreases, the ecological consequences also increase. Fish species have disappeared, the fishing industry has completely collapsed, and thousands of people have lost their jobs. Previously coastal cities have moved away from the water, falling into a difficult economic and social situation. These changes have had a direct impact not only on nature, but also on human life.

One of the most serious problems is the opening of the dried-up seabed. Salt, dust, and various chemicals have accumulated in this area, which strong winds spread over great distances. As a result, dust and salt storms are often observed. These storms not only reduce soil fertility, but also seriously harm the health of the population. Respiratory diseases and other health problems have increased in connection with this ecological situation. Nevertheless, the Aral Sea is not only a story of loss. In recent years, positive changes have been observed, especially in the Northern Aral region. Water levels have been partially restored through dams and water management systems built across Kazakhstan. As a result, fish have begun to reappear in some areas and fisheries are recovering, albeit on a small scale. This shows that natural systems can be partially restored with the right approach and cooperation. However, the overall situation is still complex. Climate change, water scarcity, and competition between countries in the region are making it difficult to fully restore the Aral Sea. Since water resources are transboundary, this problem cannot be solved within the framework of a single country. Regional cooperation and long-term planning are essential.

The Aral Sea crisis is now being studied as a complex system where ecology, economics, and politics intersect. It clearly shows how human activity can have a powerful impact on nature. Most importantly, it reminds us that development and nature conservation are not contradictory, but rather complementary. For young people, the Aral Sea is not just a geographical object, but a great lesson. It reminds us that natural resources are not unlimited, that today’s decisions determine the lives of future generations, and that each person has an environmental responsibility. If we are indifferent to nature, the consequences will be felt for many years to come.

In short, the history of the Aral Sea is both a warning and a source of hope for us. The warning is that mismanagement of nature can lead to great losses. The hope is that through cooperation, science, and responsibility, positive changes can be achieved even in the most difficult environmental problems. Most importantly, we must start protecting nature today, because the future depends on today’s decisions. The Aral Sea no longer exists as it once was—but its silence continues to speak to the world.

Dilnoza Jabborova Jobir qizi

Eyes

When l see your eyes, l see heaven

l forget worldly life 

All the sufferings turn into happiness

Pain becomes a fountain of love

All the dreams bow down at your sight

l fly away where love flies 

I search myself 

My ‘myself’ loses identity

Your eyes try to hide yourself

Your ‘yourself’ sing the song of love

I woke up in your heart

My heart blooms becoming a flower

Your smiles make a river

I float there everymoment

I get the fragnenc of existence

That removes thirstiness of world.

I touch your soul through the blue eyes

It is constant to me.