Volunteering Projects in Romania

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Volunteer Feedback from Romania

When I left for Romania, my heart was full of anticipation. I didn’t know what to expect and probably wouldn’t have been prepared if someone had told me. There are certain experiences in life that speak to your soul in a way no other experience could. For me, being with the children in Romania was one of them.

I had signed up for a six week stay. It was a very different and challenging experience for me because I had never worked with children that were that severely disabled before, and yet, the Lord spoke to my heart in such a clear way through these children.

Each child had his/her own personality. Some were fussier than others, some were domicile and cooperative, some were as sweet as the sun on a Sunday afternoon. The children were no different than any other children I had come in contact with except for the ways in which they responded to me, the other volunteers, and workers. These children, except for Danny, could not formulate words to say “I love you,” “look at me,” “watch what I am doing,” “I am sad today,” etc; however, their eyes, smiles, tears, and laughter told you all you needed to know.

During my time there, I formed a special connection to one of the boys, Alex. I think it was his love of life that drew me to him. He liked being apart of the group. He always wanted to be around the noise and activity of the other children. He would get this huge smile on his face when an upbeat song came on the radio. We would dance with him in his wheelchair and his smile would stretch across his face as if it would never end…and then, when the song and dancing ended he would make a moan because he just wanted to keep dancing.

Alex and the other children became a part of who I was. They taught me about the true joys in life and how simple pleasures are really the only true pleasures in life. In many ways, the experience re-frames the way you view life.

- Alyssa

You’re working with adults with mental and physical disabilities. They have the mind of children but they are adults. It is a tiresome, hard, and emotionally draining job. BUT they are beautiful inside and out and your entire life will be changed after one day with them. Your perspective on life and humanity will be rocked, but it’s all worth it; it’s all for the good. Who you are as a person changes. If you go, it’s unavoidable the impact they have on you. I spent 2 weeks with them- that’s it. Yet I still see their faces through the day in my busy western life. I still hear their voices mid-conversation with friends at coffee. I can never shake the impact they had on me and I don’t want to.

- Lexie

As I was boarding a plane back home to Australia from the USA, (after having a few months of travel once I’d left Romania) I couldn’t help but feel that I should be getting on plane in the opposite direction, back to my home in Nicoresti, Romania.

After spending 2 months there, I can honestly say it feels like that’s where home now really is for me.The amazing people living within the homes have the ability to steal your hearts, making you never want to leave!

The organisation consists of 4 homes spread across the tiny little remote Romanian village. With endless sunflower fields and stunning country side as your surroundings, this place is defiantly a sight for sore eyes! Each home is occupied by 10 or so residents who have various physical and mental disabilities and require constant care and assistance.

A typical day would include helping with cleaning, cooking and gardening; however the main task is to just be a friend and companion to all the residents. Even if it just means sitting and reading a book with them or something as simple as playing a card game, they will be so grateful. And… if you get out some coloured pencils and paper it’s like all their christmas’ have come at once!

Working 9am until 5pm five days a week in your assigned home is just not long enough to spend with the residents and I dreaded each day when the clock would strike 5pm, so it is lucky that each house is in walking distance from the volunteer apartment which means u can visit any the homes when ever u want to (and the food that the house mother’s prepare is delicious, so making a trip there for dinner is always a winner!)

By meeting these people I have been fortunate enough to see what true joy and happiness is all about, which I think is particularly hard to find in the more developed countries.

The residents make you feel so welcomed and valued making you enjoy every second of everyday. 

I can’t wait to go back.

- Sarah

Thank you for the email. So far everything has been great here and working out really well! I have really enjoyed my first 3 weeks and am looking forward to spending more time here! Getting here and sorted all went very smoothly!

I have finally settled into everyday life here which includes an 8 hour work day with the girls of Casa Elizabeta where I work and live. The mornings are usually spent helping the girls with their chores around the house including sweeping, laundry, working in the garden, cleaning, and as of this week, workshop as well at Jacob's workshop making cross stitch patterns to sell in Ireland and the UK. Afternoons we have time to play football or talk on the front yard swings if the sun is still out, or go for long walks throughout Nicoresti and to the other houses, or even pick grapes and walnuts...and of course lots and lots of laughs and joking in between. All of the girls I work with at Casa Elizabeta are amazing and so loving, its hard not to love them.

The weekends have been free for me to do as I like so we, myself and the other volunteers here, have been going into nearby Tecuci for pizza and ice cream, or taking cycling rides to the nearby fruit markets, and in fact, this past weekend we did a one night trip to Constanta on the Black Sea Coast!

I will be sure to email you if any issues or questions come up, but Bruce and Sandie have been very clear with what they expect, what my guidelines are, and have been very very easy to work with and flexible when anything comes up at.

- Ashley