Every day, before the town wakes up, Irena walks several kilometres along well-trodden local paths. The kilometres beneath her feet do not feel like an effort. The air fills her lungs, and her mind remains clearer all day due to her walk. When she returns home, she never rests. That's when she begins to carry out her mission.
Every day, her neighbour Marica, whose health hasn't been the best for some time now, knocks on the door. She moves around the flat with the help of a walker. Without help, she struggles to do her daily chores. The world outside her block is becoming increasingly difficult for her to access, but thanks to Irena, everything is significantly easier. It is indeed Irena who offers her help, time, attention, quiet understanding, and good cheer.
Marica is an outspoken woman and enjoys a good chat. Before handing over the shopping list to Irena, she confides the latest news and little stories of the day during a brief chat. Irena takes care of everything necessary for her: she goes to the pharmacy, takes out the rubbish, collects the post from the letterbox, and, of course, arranges the daily purchase of bread, milk, and other groceries. Marica selects some other items from catalogues, so it happens that Irena visits several shops: Spar, Lidl, Eurospin, a newsagent, Famo, or some other store. Even when she has to walk to the more distant Famo, Irena doesn't complain about it. Distance is never an obstacle for her.
Sometimes her sister from the next street calls her and asks her to pick up goodies for Marica. Irena never says no. As if she carried within her a wisdom that whispers to her that helping the elderly is a duty, not a burden. She often says: »Good is repaid with good.« When she says it, it's as if the world agrees with her for a moment.
Mrs. Marica doesn't just want to be the recipient of good deeds. She expresses her gratitude to her benefactress in a special way. She gives her kind neighbour a voucher for a haircut. Irena resists slightly, but in the end, she accepts the offer, knowing that this is Marica's way of showing her appreciation.
As Irena sits on the hairdresser's chair and looks in the mirror, a faint smile appears on her face. New streaks of hair, a tidy hairstyle, and above all, the pleasant feeling of doing a good job warm her heart. At that moment, she thinks that Mutual aid is not just an act, but a value that connects people. In these small everyday moments lies mutual aid, which enriches both the giver and the receiver. When you offer someone a hand, you don't just brighten their day, you also fill your own soul. The true meaning of mutual aid is a bridge that connects human hearts.
We don't need to change the world with grand gestures. It's enough to bring someone bread from the shop and offer them a small smile.
Bernarda Jenko
English (UK) 
Slovenščina 
Italiano 
Magyar