95%Overall
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Program Description
Projects Abroad - Volunteer Programs in Romania
Description
Romania, in Eastern Europe, is a unique and wonderful place to complete a volunteer project or internship. The outstanding scenery, biodiversity and paradoxes of a country that is in the process of economic and cultural change will mould the experiences on any trip to Romania. This country, which is slightly smaller than the UK, occupies the heart of Eastern Europe but has a unique Latin culture.
Your Romanian hosts will make sure that you eat heartily and try out their local wines. You may find yourself sitting down to Sunday lunch at 1pm and not getting up until 4.30pm! They will feed you Mamaliga, a corn bread which seems to come with every meal or Ciorba, a spicy soup. There is also sure to be lots of good conversation throughout the meal.
Our projects in Romania are available for anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world, including those on a college summer break, gap year, career break or volunteer vacation.
Ratings and Reviews
100%Overall
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100%Overall
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After being in Romania for 13 weeks my entire life has changed forever.
I had tried to get into veterinary assistant-school for three years, and I kept getting letters back, saying: "Thank You for Your application, but We cannot employ You at the moment". I was dissappointed and I felt like my life was falling apart. I started looking at other subjects to study, but none of them interested me as much as the work with animals.
I decided to do something extra-ordinary, hoping the clinics in Denmark would see my passion for working with animals, and three months later I was on my way to Romania.
It was the journey of my life, and I'll remember it forever! I found lifetime-friends, I fell in love with Romania and I found myself! When i returned to Denmark my friends got a whole new Signe back, and they like her, just as much as I do ;)
The most important thing about my trip to Romania was my job, where I worked at a shelter and a clinic. It is because of this, I finally got accepted into veterinary assistant-school, and cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunaty! Thank you Projects Abroad - without You I would never be able to do what I love for the rest of my life! A special thanks to Projects Abroad in Romania for their support, advices and for being their whenever we needed them! All of you have a place in my heart, and I'll never forget anyone of you!
100%Overall
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I contacted Projects Abroad as a study abroad student looking to integrate my passion for working with disadvantaged children with my undergraduate university requirements. After speaking with the New York Headquarters both in person and via e-mail, I came to the conclusion that Romania would be the right country for me. Known around the world for its elevated orphan population following the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989, Romania seemed like the perfect fit. I therefore pieced together a research project that would enable me to study the modern day causes of child abandonment in Romania by conducting field research in three different orphanages outside of Brasov. After getting the approval from my University, I proceeded forward with my Projects Abroad placement.
That said, my time spent volunteering and studying in Romania was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was the organization well run and highly attentive to my needs as both a "volunteer" and a "student," it also created a very "family-centered" environment for me from the moment I arrived.
After landing in Bucharest International Airport (OTP), I was greeted by a man waving a "Projects Abroad" sign. He assisted me with my luggage and then drove me up to Brasov, where I was welcomed by the staff and given a "grand tour" of the city by my care supervisor, Daniela. I was treated to lunch, given all the resources I needed for my academic project, and then invited to attend the weekly Friday evening social event-- a night out at Dean's.
It was here that I met the other ten volunteers from around the world who had come to Romania for different reasons, but each with the same intention to "give back" using their varied passions and interests. Sitting around that table, listening to music, and enjoying my first real night in the country, it occurred to me how fortunate I was to be having such an experience.
During the next five weeks, I spent my time volunteering with orphaned children, learning the Romanian language, taking Romanian cooking classes, sightseeing around Transylvania, going out with friends, and immersing myself in the culture of the city. In every situation, the staff was wonderful. When I got sick with a virus during my third week, Alexandra took me to the doctor and got me the necessary medicine to get better. When my computer screen broke, Allex contacted his "IT-savvy" friends to have it fixed. When I wanted to add a new placement to my schedule, Daniela made it happen.... And Razvan was always there as well- available to answer any questions I had throughout my time in the country.
Romania, for these reasons and more, was one of the best experiences I have had in my life. Projects Abroad not only provided me with the foundation I needed for my academic project, but it also afforded me a volunteer experience that I will never forget.
Needless to say, as I look back on the experiences of my Fall 2011 semester, there is one thing I can say for certain-- I will definitely be back.
100%Overall
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I spent two months in Romania doing a physical therapy placement and loved every single minute of it. Before this experience, the only time I had spent abroad was a week of an alternative spring break trip with 14 of my classmates, so I was a little nervous about going so far from home on my own. Those worries disappeared the minute I arrived to see the Projects Abroad sign in the airport. The staff was incredible at making me feel at home and trying to morph my experience into what I was looking for. For example, when I wanted a different experience from my placement, they had one set up for me within the week.
My placement was at Hospice Casa Sperantei where I worked with children with lifelong disabilities and terminal illnesses. The physiotherapist I shadowed was amazing and really invested in teaching me. I was allowed to touch the patients, interact with them, feel their stiffness and crooked spines: experiences I hadn't had shadowing physical therapists in the US. I left this experience with no doubt that this was what I wanted to do as a career. I was so excited about it, I actually filled out almost all of my physical therapy school application while I was abroad!
Being abroad over the summer was awesome. Since you can come and go when you want with Projects Abroad, I crossed path with 40some volunteers from all over the world. Every night we would meet up for dessert or karaoke or coffee, and on the weekends there was always someone to explore the country with. We became so close that I will always call them my Projects Abroad "family".
I learned so much in Romania about myself and what I wanted in life. I met some incredible people and learned not only a ton about Romania, but the places where my fellow volunteers were from too. All of this with the beautiful Romanian backdrop, the summer I spent there was the best of my life.
100%Overall
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I took part on Projects Abroad's Archaeology program in Romania for three months over the summer of 2003. Although I am sure the program specifics have changed over the years and new aspects developed, my time in Romania with Projects Abroad was an absolutely life changing experience and I'm sure it will be for current and future volunteers. It was my first experience living in a developing country or abroad for that matter and with Projects Abroad I got the support and guidance I needed to feel comfortable in a new pace and the leeway to mature and grow as an individual. Plus I learned a whole lot about archaeology and Romania in the process. I not only was able to do research on Saxon fortified Churches and excavate on a Bronze age archaeological site but explore the country on my weekends with trips to Sibiu, Sigishoara and Bucharest, and develop lifelong friends from around the globe. Even though I never became a full time archaeologist the skills and international outlook I developed in Romania help me in my everyday life and a lot of credit has to go to the staff of Projects Abroad. Living in a new place halfway across the world from your home is certainly challenging and I had my high and low points. But it is also exhilarating and my experience in Romania ignited a desire to travel even more. While I volunteered 8 years ago the memories and my connection to Romania are still fresh, so fresh that I am hoping to make a return trip next month! I had an amazing experience and would recommend Romania and Projects Abroad to any interested volunteers!
100%Overall
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A small city in the Eastern European country of Romania is not where many people would go. However, for me, it was the most amazing 1-month experience I could have asked for and my choice to volunteer with Projects Abroad was the best decision ever. This summer I spent 1-month in a medical internship in Brasov, Romania through Projects Abroad. Preparing for my trip, I had no idea what to expect but the PA staff were with me from the time I considered a project. With frequent check-ups before my arrival in Romania, my friend and I felt ready to go to a new place. After travelling across time zones we arrived in Romania and it was unlike any place I had been before. The structure of the Projects Abroad program is what made it such a special experience for me. I lived with a host family and had a placement at a local care center for children with Down Syndrome. When I wanted more medical experience, the PA staff immediately gave me an opportunity to work in the local hospital as well with doctors and other Romanian college students. The freedom and flexibility of this program appealed to me the most. After being taught transportation and directions to work and the city center, we were responsible for attending every day. We could plan our own trips with other volunteers and if we ever had any questions, the PA office was just a 10 minute walk and the staff was more than happy to help plan. Romania was a place I had never before thought about going to, but ever since I returned to America, I can't stop talking about it. The friendships I made through my 1 month in Romania are more than I could have asked for. Projects Abroad was fantastic in every aspect of this trip and made my experience the way it was. Projects Abroad is a wonderful organization and I hope to participate in another program with them. I feel that everyone should participate in such eye-opening and life-changing experience.
80%Overall
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I got to teach theatre to 11-19 year olds in schools in Brasov, Romania. It was beautiful, the people were great, the kids were excited, I couldn't have asked for a more rewarding experience.
90%Overall
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When considering where to travel for my international volunteer experience Romania was an interesting choice because it seemed like the perfect mix of old and new. What I did not realize about this experience is how profoundly it would change my life. The memories that I have made while working with the children and staff at projects abroad will forever stay with me. For anyone considering volunteering abroad, either for themselves or school, I would strongly recommend projects abroad Romania. The experience and the staff were incredible and became like family while I was there, but like any experience remember to be open to those things that are different, retain a sense of humor when things go wrong and finally be adaptive and willing to change when things don't go exactly as planned.
90%Overall
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Projects Abroad Romania is a life-changing experience, and it can't help but be with all the different kinds of people you meet, places you visit, and exploring there is to be done. The staff is incredible-they are always available if you need them and have lots of ideas and enthusiasm to help you with your area of volunteering. When I went I did the journalism internship and was able to accompany the writer & photographer of "Satul" a Romanian national magazine to many villages I otherwise wouldn't have been able to get to. The host families they pair you up with are great, usually a little more hands off. (Which can be nice). The program does a great job of tailoring the experience to what you, personally, are looking for. If you want your time fully structured they are equipped to do so, if you want time to explore some on your own-many P.A. volunteers travel together on weekends. Moreover, Brasov is a lovely medieval city surrounded by mountains and, according to Romanians, the best place to live.





My time as a volunteer with Projects Abroad in Romania was truly the best of my life. I stayed with a host family in the lovely city of Brasov for two months, working as a journalism intern. That placement allowed me to go places that I never would have seen and talk to people from all walks of life that I never would have met had I spent my summer anywhere else. After work I went home to eat my host mom's fantastic food and chat with my roommates before meeting the rest of the volunteers and going out on the town. On weekends I traveled around the country or helped out with a community service project. Just seeing the faces of the children watching the shows directed by the drama volunteers was enough to see that the volunteers were giving back in a meaningful way to the community that had welcomed us. It's been almost a year since my time in Romania, and I still talk to the friends I met there.