Volunteering

1. Мне хотелось бы стать волонтёром здесь. Как мне записаться?

   Mne kho-TE-los' by stat' vo-lon-TYO-rom zdes'. Kak mne za-pi-SAT'-sya?

   I'd like to volunteer here. How do I sign up?

   Usage

   Use when expressing interest in volunteering and asking how to register

   Grammar Note

   "Мне хотелось бы" means "I would like to". "хотелось" is neuter, so the phrase works for any speaker regardless of gender.

2. Где находится центр координации волонтёров?

   Gde na-KHO-dit-sya tsentr ko-or-di-NA-tsii vo-lon-TYO-rov?

   Where is the volunteer coordination center?

   Usage

   Use to ask for directions to the volunteer coordination center

   Grammar Note

   "волонтёров" is the genitive plural of "волонтёр". Russian uses the genitive case to show possession and relation.

3. У меня есть опыт в преподавании / медицине / строительстве.

   U me-NYA yest' OP-yt v pre-po-da-VA-ni-i / me-di-TSI-ne / stro-I-tel'-stve

   I have experience in teaching / medicine / construction.

   Usage

   Use when describing your professional background during volunteer registration

   Grammar Note

   "У меня есть" means "I have". It uses the preposition "у" with a personal pronoun in the genitive case.

4. Как долго длится волонтёрская работа?

   Kak DOL-go dli-tsya vo-lon-TYO-rska-ya ra-BO-ta?

   How long is the volunteer commitment?

   Usage

   Use to ask how long the volunteer assignment lasts

   Grammar Note

   "Как долго" asks "how long". "длится" is the 3rd person singular of длиться "to last"; it ends in -ться but has no real reflexive meaning.

5. Нужно ли мне специальное оборудование или обучение?

   NUZH-no li mne spe-tsi-AL'-no-ye o-bo-ru-DO-va-ni-ye i-li o-bu-CHE-ni-ye?

   Do I need any special equipment or training?

   Usage

   Use to inquire about required equipment or training for volunteering

   Grammar Note

   "Нужно ли" means "is it necessary". "ли" is a question particle (it also appears in indirect questions); it does not mark politeness.

6. Мне хотелось бы помочь с ликвидацией последствий катастрофы или охраной окружающей среды.

   Mne kho-TE-los' by po-MOCH' s lik-vi-DA-tsi-yey po-SLED-stviy ka-ta-STRO-fy i-li okh-RA-noy o-kru-ZHA-yu-shchey sre-DY

   I'd like to help with disaster relief / environmental work.

   Usage

   Use when expressing interest in disaster relief or environmental volunteering

   Grammar Note

   "помочь с + instrumental" means "to help with something". The instrumental case denotes means or cooperation in Russian.

7. Есть ли вводное занятие для волонтёров?

   Yest' li VVOD-no-ye za-NYA-ti-ye dlya vo-lon-TYO-rov?

   Is there a volunteer orientation session?

   Usage

   Use to ask whether there is an orientation session for new volunteers

   Grammar Note

   "Есть ли" is a slightly bookish way to ask "is there". "ли" is a question particle that turns the sentence into a yes/no question; it does not add politeness.

8. Могу ли я быть волонтёром в составе группы?

   Mo-GU li ya byt' vo-lon-TYO-rom v sos-TA-ve GRUP-py?

   Can I volunteer as part of a group?

   Usage

   Use to ask whether group volunteering is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Могу ли я" is a slightly bookish "can I / may I" question. The particle "ли" only forms the question; it does not add politeness.

9. Предоставляются ли волонтёрам жильё и питание?

   Pre-dos-tav-LYA-yut-sya li vo-lon-TYO-ram zhil'-YO i pi-TA-ni-ye?

   Are accommodation and meals provided for volunteers?

   Usage

   Use to ask whether housing and food are provided for volunteers

   Grammar Note

   "предоставляются" is a reflexive passive form meaning "are provided". The "-ся" suffix forms passives in Russian.

10. На каких языках вам нужна помощь?

    Na ka-KIKH ya-zy-KAKH vam NUZH-na PO-moshch'?

    What languages do you need help with?

    Usage

    Use to ask which languages the organization needs assistance with

    Grammar Note

    "На + prepositional" is the standard way to express "in [language]" in Russian. E.g., "на русском языке" means "in Russian".

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