Volunteer Projects in Gepiu & Tileagd

  • Romania

Overview

Since the fall of communism in Eastern Europe twenty years ago, life for Romanians has continued to be very difficult. Particularly in northwest Romania, where unemployment & education drop-out rates are very high, access to medical care is limited, families struggling with crisis receive little or no help, & homelessness is reality for far too many families. These prolonged conditions have left many of the Romanian people feeling helpless & hopeless. 

Come help the people of northwest Romania by working with any of 20 projects that meet immediate, urgent needs, while providing long-term solutions. Teams will be provided translators, transportation & an orientation upon arrival, as well as housing, complete with meals & en suite bathrooms.

Itinerary

Day 1: Budapest – Cihei

Your group will arrive at the airport & transfer to the team house in Cihei.  Settle into your rooms & take some time to freshen up before the evening meal.

Day 2: Cihei – Tileagd – Cihei

This morning the group will enjoy a buffet breakfast followed by an orientation to discuss the various projects your team will be participating in.  You can either begin work today, or choose to take a free afternoon to visit Oradea or Baile Felix.

Day 3: Cihei – Tileagd – Cihei

Start the day with breakfast around 8:00 am & then split into two smaller teams.  Depart the team house around 9:00 am to head to the project sites.  Team A will accompany a resident social worker to visit local families in their homes, delivering food & supplies. Team B will distribute food & supplies to the homeless with the assistance of the homeless project manager. Take a quick break to enjoy a packed lunch between visits. Both teams will return to the team house around 4:30 pm to refresh & relax before the evening meal at 6:30pm.  Everyone will meet at 7:30 to debrief from the day & then spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Day 4: Cihei – Gepiu – Cihei

This morning you'll depart for Gepiu after breakfast. Team A will have a fun day working with kids at an after school program.  Team B will participate in a practical activity, such as: gardening, painting or cleaning.  Both teams will have a packed lunch & return to the team house around 4:30pm.  Enjoy an evening meal together, followed by a group meeting to discuss the day's activities.

Day 5: Cihei – Tileagd – Cihei

Enjoy a buffet breakfast before departing Cihei for today's activities.  Team A will assist with community work, such as: gardening, painting or cleaning.  Team B will have a fun day participating in children's activities with the Roma community.  After, the group will have some free time to relax before dinner.  End the day together discussing the day's events.

Day 6: Cihei – Salonta/Oradea – Cihei

Today, your teams will head to two different towns after breakfast.  Team A will travel to Salonta to visit an elderly care facility.  Here they will enjoy activities with the residents, such as: crafts, a walk in the park, or other forms of entertainment.  Team B will enjoy the same activities with residents at an elderly care facility in Oradea.  Everyone will have the option to participate in some practical activities, such as: gardening, painting or cleaning.  Both teams will return to Cihei in the late afternoon to freshen up before dinner.  Meet as a group at 7:30 pm to debrief from the day.

Day 7: Cihei – Tileagd – Cihei

This morning, both teams will depart for Tileagd after breakfast.  Team A will distribute food & supplies to the homeless with the assistance of the homeless project manager.  Team B will accompany a resident social worker to visit local families in their homes, delivering food & supplies. Return to the team house around 4:30 pm to refresh & relax before the evening meal at 6:30pm.  Everyone will meet at 7:30 pm to debrief from the day & discuss the week’s work.  Spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Day 8: Cihei – Budapest

This morning the group will say their farewells & transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

Volunteer Options

For most teams, members will rotate from one project to the next each day. Team members are encouraged to rotate projects in order to broaden their volunteer trip experience. Activities will be weighted towards the particular interest of the team.  Examples of volunteer work include:
  • Education — assist preschool, primary school & middle school children with school activities & homework
  • Elderly Care — spend quality time with residents & assist with group activities
  • Social & Community Work — prepare & deliver special packages of food, clothing & other necessities for impoverished families in need.
  • Sports — assist with special sports programs working with children including soccer, tennis & other sports.
  • Horticulture — learn to grow veggies in polytunnels as you seed, fertilize & water plants.
  • Optometry — test patients’ refraction, acuity, binocular vision & overall eye health
  • Dental — provide preventative & restorative dental care
  • Construction — serve as part of the tear-down crew, paving the way for new houses & facilities.

Optional Pre/Post-Project Tours


										
    
												
  • Budapest - Spend a couple days in one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe.
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  • Wonderful sightseeing in northwest Romania - Sites include: Romanian castles, famous monasteries, Baroque Palace & many Orthodox cathedrals.
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  • The Transylvania Mountains - Chalets & other vacation destinations are very popular among tourists.
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