The Children's Homes

When I first came to Romania the state ‘orphanages’ (as they were called then) were horrendous by western standards, just like the TV reports I had been seeing, but one thing I noticed here in Deva was that the children were happy and the staff loved them which is what counted to them. They didn’t care about the toilets not having seats, doors or even partitions between them, they were just happy to be loved.

Here we all are together and these smiles were always there, not just for the photograph.
 

Now, I am pleased to say that the standard of living has improved greatly. All of our children now live in a ‘family’, ten children share an apartment with one nanny. The children are of varying ages (just like in a real family), but all of the same gender. (There are 160 children)

Each morning, the children go to school and each afternoon return ‘home’, and do their homework or attend our English school. During school holidays, we plan a programme for them which is educational, but fun and they love it. When we arrive they are all there waiting and waving, in anticipation for the surprises ahead.

We try to have a theme for the week, always starting the year at the Eater break and moving on with the olympics, pirates, gardening, swimming, painting, pottery, recycling and any others that we think up along the way.

In future weeks, we will show you how we worked last year, so that you can start thinking of what you might bring to the project when you visit us. Don’t forget to sign up now for the Easter special, 2-4-1 http://www.volunteerromania.eu/Special-Weeks.php

Sometimes we take them on trips, sometimes we all go to the garden and help with the vegetables, always we have fun!



Our new arrival

Volunteer Romania is pleased to announce the arrival of Alison Richardson-Douglas to their team.

Alison is very experienced in volunteering, starting her tour in Romania many years ago and having been Country Director for the international volunteering organisation GVI. She is fully qualified in Programme and Project Management, Health and Safety also a First Aid Trainer, as well as being fluent in English and Romanian! So we will be in good hands.

Arriving in Romania in 2000, she has lots of stories to tell about her time here, and has been featured in the local and National press a few times too, so keep an eye out in future blogs for the occasional snippet.

Alison will be our Programme Director.

International Womens Day

Every year Romanians celebrate 8 Martie, Ziua Femei. A beautiful tradition, that doesn’t depend upon whether you are a mother or not, all you have to be is female.

On this day wherever you go, you will be presented with a flower, in the bank, in the hardware store, or just in the street flowers will be given to you from men or children. Female friends will give each other flowers, teachers will arrive home with arms full of bouquets.

So whilst the celebrations of spring were only 7 days ago, it really has arrived by today, a day worth going shopping and wandering around town.

All you men out there, don’t worry, of course with the entry into Western Europe, you get your day too. No lady knows when this is, but you can be sure that when it arrives, the men will remind you!

So a very happy Ladies Day to the ladies (and to the men – just in case)