I have searched for a long time for the right place to volunteer abroad, and Romania seemed an exciting destination. A new experience was about to come and an adventure I much needed, as this was something I could not do during my practice or if I had a steady job.
At the end of my project, my choice seemed inspired: the program allowed me to enter a multicultural environment in which I acquired new abilities and perspective, helped the community and made many friends. For me, being a volunteer in Romania has been challenging, fascinating, fun, educational and an experience that I will always treasure.
Maria Tasheva
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Volunteering has changed my life in many ways – it made me understand freedom in a different way; it gave me the opportunity to spend energy and time for the things that are important to me, in which I believe and for which I have always found motivation.
People often ask: "You are Bulgarian! Why did you choose Romania?" My answer is that the country is not important. I wanted to become a volunteer, it was my choice! The country, the work, the fun, the Volunteer Centre, the people, other volunteers, the culture... these things come with my choice. I will always remember them and use what I have learned in the future! Be STRONG, VOLUNTEER!
Katharina Wendlik
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
After graduating in June 2010, my head was full of theoretical stuff such as Algebra, English, Latin or chemical formulas. While I was wondering how I would gain some life experience and a bit more independence while doing something useful at the same time, someone told me about the EVS programme.
"Here is something that would suit me perfectly", I said to myself, and several months later I was already in Romania, at the Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre. Something new was coming my way. Maybe the most important lesson I’ve learnt during the project was related to how one can put an idea into practice, which for me meant organizing, together with other foreign volunteers, the National Volunteer Week. Of course I was also very excited to meet other volunteers and to experience culture, people and landscapes.
Fabio Mascialino
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
I felt very lucky to be given the opportunity to live and volunteer for four months in Cluj-Napoca. I actually had a double experience: I was a volunteer and also an intercultural explorer.
I met new people and a new country. Volunteer work allowed me to overcome some of my limits, to enhance my creativity and to gather experience in different areas.
In Cluj I was able to express myself better than I did at home, and organizing the National Volunteer Week was a unique opportunity to get involved in activities I couldn’t have joined in a different context.
Edita Noreikaite
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
I heard about EVS for the first time in Serbia, where I participated in a training, and I said to myself that I need to experience international volunteer work myself.
Finding a volunteering opportunity in Cluj was perfect for me for many reasons: I already had many friends in Romania which I had met during some youth exchanges and in the US, it was a 4-month project, the right period for me and I wanted to work in an NGO. I was also very interested in learning to organize events.
Last, but not least, I like teamwork and this volunteering stage included an international group made up of eight people from six different countries working and living together. Moreover, the Romanian language seemed beautiful and I had never seen mountains before, all the reasons to choose Romania and have a good project here.
Bo Alkemade
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
"Adventure", "challenge" and "learning" are the keywords for my motivation to become a volunteer in Cluj. The idea of going to a different country, in a place I’ve only seen on the World Atlas, without knowing anyone there seemed like a great adventure.
The challenge was to start life from zero in Cluj, on a limited budget and to make things work in a different country as a volunteer.
Even if we learn all the time, I believe we need energy and time to reflect on what we learn, how we learn and why we learn certain things. I personally have done something good with my time when I decided to make a small change in the life of others, who may live in less favourable conditions. That is why I joined EVS.
Regimantas Puida
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Being a volunteer means, above all, discovering yourself. You might believe you know yourself very well, but being away from home, family, friends, in a completely different environment will show you that you can still surprise yourself.
You have the opportunity to look back and see things from a different perspective: you may discover you don’t like that much the things you were doing or, on the contrary, that they are exactly what you desire to do.
You may discover that you have abilities you never thought you did. But for all these you need courage. Being a part of EVS is like being in a balloon – you are in a new, completely different reality. And when the service is over, the balloon pops and you return to your initial world. And it is not easy. But joining EVS means opening your eyes, and I enjoy every day the fact that I decided to be here.
Johana Steigenberger
Project: DO! DO! DO! It’s time for YOU!
Duration: 01/02/2011 - 31/05/2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
I have been interested in Romania for many years. I wanted to get to know this country – the Romanian language, culture, history and politics.
I tried to learn Romanian in my country – an objective very difficult to achieve, because there are no available Romanian language courses in Austria (for many Austrians, Romania is an unknown country somewhere in the "Far East"). In the summer of 2010 I found out by chance that an organization in Cluj is looking for eight international volunteers for a 4-month project. I applied and – lucky me! – I was accepted.
Our objective was to organize the National Volunteer Week 2011, which took place on May 9 – 15, 2011. The activities allowed me to get to know other organizations and associations in Cluj working in the social, educational, ecologic and cultural fields. I learned to organize events, to work in a team, to deliver presentations in front of large audiences and so much more. This has been a very interesting and positive experience for me. I want to live in a world with a multitude of cultures and languages, where people enjoy freedom of thought, beliefs and culture.
I believe a volunteering service abroad is a great opportunity (not only for youth) to get to know a different country and to learn tolerance, respect and solidarity. On the long run, I believe the EVS programme will contribute to a Europe "United in Diversity". My project allowed me to get to know a small part of Romania. There is still much more to discover – I must return here.
Laura Romer
Project: Our children, ouf future!
Duration: 15.09.2010-15.09.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hey, I am Laura and I am from Koln, Germany. I am 18 and I graduated high-school in June 2010. I decided to enrol in an EVS programme because I wanted to have the time to think about what I want to do in life.
My project is "Our children, our Future" and I am involved in activities of the Familia Regasita Association, where we hold the children’s club from Monday to Friday together with Antonia.
After almost four months in Cluj I feel at home and I am sure it will be very hard to leave in September 2011. I recommend this kind of programme to everybody, it is an unique opportunity.
Antonia Fatkenheuer
Project: Our children, ouf future!
Duration: 15.09.2010-15.09.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi! I am Antonia, I am 19 and I have been living in Cluj since September 2010. I came here after graduating high-school in Köln, Germany.
I have been looking for a volunteer project in Romania working with children before going to university and I was lucky to be able to join "Our children, our Future" project.
I am involved in the activities of Familia Regasita Association in Cluj, where I work as a volunteer together with Laura. The description of the project touched me and, after hearing about Cluj from past volunteers, I decided that I must come. It is now my new home.
I work in the children’s club, where we have about 20 children every day. They come here to do their homework, to play and to join us for special activities. I like working with children and being part of our team. I can imagine doing this in the future too.
The European Voluntary Service is a great opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, see new ways of life, new cultures and – of course – learn new languages. I am looking forward to the next months in this project.
Mojca Slatinek
Project: Our children, ouf future!
Duration: 02.10.2010-15.07.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
My name is Mojca and I come from Slovenia. I am 27 years old and I have been a volunteer in Cluj-Napoca since September 2010. The project I am involved in is called "Our children, our Future". Together with other two volunteers, I teach road safety and multicultural lessons in 14 rural schools in Cluj County.
Projects such as this one give us the opportunity to learn more about other cultures and people’s way of life.
The project theme is very interesting because road safety is very important in general, and so is children’s safety, because they are our future. Considering the high number of traffic incidents, it is very important to educate children starting from a young age, and this project has an excellent approach.
Lucie Baptiste
Project: Our children, ouf future!
Duration: 15.05.2010-15.07.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
My name is Lucie and I am from France. We are three volunteers in the "Our children, our Future" project, in which we teach road safety in schools. EVS has been one of my dreams for a long time. I found this project and it is perfect for me, as I had wanted to go to Romania for at least one year.
It is wonderful to work with volunteers from all over Europe. EVS allows you to meet great people, volunteers but also people in the host organization and host country. My project gives me the opportunity to learn from others, to open up and discover a new way of life.
Daniel Santos Fraga
Project: Our children, ouf future!
Duration: 15.07.2010-15.07.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi, I am Fraga and I come from Lisbon, Portugal. I am 24 and I worked as a jeweller in Portugal. I lived in Cluj-Napoca between July 2010 and July 2011. When I heard about the European Voluntary Service I had to choose between Romania and Denmark.
I chose Romania because it seemed more interesting to discover a different culture, as the Portuguese know little about Romania.
Now I can say I am very happy with my choice because I like my activities, the project, the team and the present I received, that is many new friends.
The project I am involved in is called "Our children, our Future" and our work is to teach road safety in 14 rural schools. I liked very much the fact that at the end of each class kids understood the importance of the things we taught them. I will never forget their smiles.
Annalisa Desi
Project: Our children, ouf future!
Duration: 15.05.2010-01.10.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hello, my name is Annalisa but all my friends call me Lisa. I am from Italy and I am 27. In the summer of 2010 I had the amazing opportunity to participate in an EVS project at the Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre. During this project I worked together with other two volunteers in the “Our children, our Future” project, which involved teaching road safety to children in 14 rural communities in Cluj County.
Moreover, I had the chance to get involved in other activities such as teambuilding together with all volunteers in Hunedoara, organizing of a book collection and other initiatives. From my point of view, one of the most important things in this experience was my personal growth.
I met many fantastic people from which I learned new attitudes, abilities and ways of seeing and discovering other cultures. Besides, I was exposed to a new culture, the Romanian one, and visited a large part of this beautiful country. I thank all those who supported us and especially the CNVC team.
Tom Verchick
Project: Bring out the child in you!
Duration: 15.05.2010-15.03.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi, my name is Tom Verchick, I am 25 and I am from Israel. I became an EVS volunteer with Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre in May 2010. I am very happy to have the opportunity to do volunteer work and work with hospitalized children in Cluj.
I love working with children and sometimes their parents too join in our activities. We are involved in many activities, such as puppet plays, Dr. Clown, origami, painting or drawing.
We created a special suit for Dr. Clown, a coloured shirt that children love. Sometimes we sing together in English or Romanian or I read to them from a book that I always carry with me. Kids enjoy these activities and forget the medical problems they have, so our time together goes by quickly.
I love my work also because I meet interesting people - I live together with other volunteers from Slovenia, France and Germany, which is a new thing for me. Cluj is a beautiful city; I wish I didn't have to leave...
Leyla Ozen
Project: Bring out the child in you!
Duration: 15.05.2010-15.03.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hello, my name is Leyla and I come from a small town in the Southeast of Germany. I graduated high-school in March 2010 and in May I came to Romania to work with Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre.
I congratulate myself every minute for applying for this project – I loved working with children in the “Bring Out the Child in You” project. I learned many things, I travelled more than ever, I went to the theatre, I went out with friends, I cooked, read or tried different sports. You wouldn’t believe it but I milked a cow too, for the experience to be complete.
In the “Bring Out the Child in You” project my colleagues and I spend four days a week in children’s hospitals in Cluj, where we play with the children. We paint together, we tell them stories and we sing. I will never forget the months spent here!
Murat Yildiz
Project: Bring out the child in you!
Duration: 15.06.2010-15.03.2011
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi, I am Murat Yildiz and I come from Turkey. I came to Romania in June 2010 and I am here for ten months. My activity is at the Children's Hospital in Cluj, as part of the “Bring Out the Child in You” project.
I decided to come to Romania and work in this project because in Turkey I worked as a children’s photographer and interacted with kids a lot. This allowed me to see their innocence and inner beauty.
In Cluj I go to the hospital every day and I try to make children smile and forget for a while that they are hospitalised. Together with the other volunteers we organise face painting, origami, puppet plays and painting lessons.
I even try to tell them stories in Romanian or teach them a little English, but in our case the students (the children) became teachers for me.
The EVS stage is a perfect experience for me – I saw an amazing world! Of course, not everything is in pink, but life means other colours too. For sure, one can learn something from everything! I also have my wonderful mentor's support, who made things so much easier. She helped me feel safe, gave me energy and because of her I never felt alone.
Romania is a second home to me. I will never forget this period and for sure I will return many times to visit my friends and Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre.
Marianna Rosa
Project: Bring out the child in you!
Duration: 15.05.2010-17.10.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi, I am Marianna and I come from the South of Italy. I decided to join EVS in Romania very quickly, without plans and too many questions. My project in Cluj-Napoca was a fantastic experience but first I want to tell you about my overall experience in Romania, and then about the project.
The CNVC team is fantastic and so are the other volunteers. We accomplished many things together, we went to the mountains, and I visited a beautiful village with my mentor, Ramona and the other volunteers. I met many people and made many friends, with whom I travelled a lot in my spare time. I also learned to cook a few Romanian specialties together with my mentor and my Romanian language teacher. Often all volunteers and the CNVC team dined together at our home.
The project I am involved in is called “Bring Out the Child in You”; it is developed in four wards of the Children’s Hospital in Cluj-Napoca. Together with the other volunteers, I go over there four times a week and I am involved in recreational activities together with the kids. Four volunteers from four different countries are involved in this project, and even from the start we were the ones to decide what kind of activities we were going to have with the children. The project offered us many possibilities to experiment with new things, and our project coordinator also offered us the opportunity to learn new abilities.
It was lovely to go to the hospital while we didn’t speak Romanian yet because everybody there was curious about us since we were foreigners and we often had the chance to tell them about our countries. My whole Romanian experience was beautiful, full of nature’s wonders, history and very welcoming people.
This was my first experience in a foreign country and I recommend that other volunteers go to Romania as well and join EVS – it is a special opportunity that will allow us to build a better future, while volunteers have the chance to develop. I thank all the CVCN team.
Ligita Zeikate
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-01.09.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
My name is Ligita, I am from Lithuania and I was 19 when I worked as an EVS volunteer in Romania with the Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre. I decided to be a volunteer immediately after school, because I thought it would be an important life experience and also a much-needed break between high-school and university.
Many people gave me strange looks but I don’t regret my choice. My project was called “Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!” and my task was to promote volunteer work locally.
We organised National Volunteer Week 2010, a week during which we held many different events, such as a children’s day, a trip with the elderly, forest cleaning and so on.
We also organised the first "Living Library" in Cluj and we created a blog about us where we told our adventures. I know it sounds strange but volunteer work changed me and I know I will volunteer in the future too, no matter in which area, what place and what people will be involved.
Domitille Crenn
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-17.09.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi, I am Domitille or Domi and I will tell you a few things about my EVS service. Before coming to Romania I graduated university, specialising in Geography. I had no idea about what I wanted to do next and I strongly wanted to go to a foreign country again.
I had been involved for a long time in different organisations in France, so it made sense to become an EVS volunteer. I chose Romania because I had never been to Eastern Europe and this region was very attractive to me. I don't regret the choice I made!
When I came to Romania I was 20 and very motivated (I still am) so I really enjoyed the activities at Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre through which we tried to encourage youth to participate in the development of their own community. We were in permanent contact with other local organisations, which allowed me to feel very integrated.
In the end, in a few words, it was super!
Ervin Jelnikar
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-10.09.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
When Ervin arrived it was the spring of 2010; a little boy from Slovenia – that small country in the centre of Europe – who decided to experiment an unknown world, far away from home.
If you want to ask why, let me finish my story. Some of you already know that when you reach the age of 26 a major decision may come up. Hamlet would say: "To be or not to be"! Well, I decided to be and I did it.
Today, more and more people consider volunteer work, but to many of them this concept is still a mystery – as it was to me at the beginning. Each person has his or her reasons for choosing volunteer work. I personally am in love with geography and history.
That’s why I chose this little paradise that is not accessible to everyone but that can contribute to all the world’s wonders.
The environment motivated me even more to work in this project that consisted in promoting volunteer work. It might seem that I digress, but what is volunteer work truly? To help others and mainly to help yourself! My involvement in the programme gave me amazing experiences on different levels, exceeding my expectations.
On the other side it is very difficult to leave. All the friends I made and things I did will become part of the past. The bad thing is that it doesn’t last forever, but what does? However, this shouldn’t be an impediment for my readers. Go and see for yourselves – I hope you will gain beautiful memories too.
Niina Loiv
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-01.05.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
“Ce faci?” This is the first question I learned in my volunteer work in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. My name is Niina and I am from Estonia – you now probably ask yourselves where this country is. Well, good luck finding it on the map!
Before coming to Romania, I graduated university specializing in "Librarian and Information Studies". After graduation I couldn't find a job and a friend told me about the opportunity to do volunteer work.
It was a new experience for me, I was afraid but nonetheless I wanted to do something different with my life. The project consisted in promoting the European Voluntary Service among Romanian youth aged 18 to 30 who may consider going to a different country, learning a different language and making foreign friends.
If you really want to experience something new and fun, try EVS and you will not regret it! Keep your mind open, be adventurous and discover your hidden part. I challenge you to go!
Matthieu Morrisse
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-15.06.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Once upon a time there was a beautiful country: Romania – the place where dreams meet reality and the heart can express itself. In order to volunteer, one must always keep in mind the saying: "You are in action" while the verb "to be" is in everything that surrounds you.
As a volunteer you must imagine the world without borders and a place where you can embrace new ideas every day.
During my EVS service in Cluj-Napoca I collaborated with an international team, and together with another volunteer I taught road safety and multicultural lessons to children in three schools. We collaborated with open-minded teachers who supported us in our activities.
We the volunteers lived and travelled together as we discovered the country in which we were living. Living in another country gave us the opportunity to discover new cultures, to think and learn a new language and to see the world with different eyes. We shared life experiences among ourselves and learned to live together.
The magic thing was to collaborate with other volunteers and learn how cooperation can be an answer to the difficulties that people face.As a volunteer I became more optimistic and learned to hope for “a new, braver world”, where each person can listen and help. I thank the entire CNVC team and the volunteers for my EVS stage!
Rima Martirosyan
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-25.10.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hi, I am Rima and I come from Armenia. I arrived in Romania in March 2010 and was there until October 2010. When I got there it was more difficult than I imagined because I wasn’t speaking English, but very kind people helped me communicate.
In time, I learned English and managed to communicate easier with the volunteers. Our project was “Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!” and it allowed us, the volunteers to organise the National Volunteer Week 2010 and other activities.
I learned many things and I can say that EVS helped my personal growth a lot. I recommend volunteer work to all youth!
Meline Bagdhasaryan
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-25.10.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hello, I am Meline, I am 22 and I am from Armenia. I have been a volunteer for eight months in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The project I was involved in was called “Invata de la TV(Tineri Voluntari)!”. The hardest part for me was to arrive to Cluj. After many difficulties, I managed to convince the Romanian Embassy to grant me a visa and finally arrived with my friend Rima.
My main responsibilities in this project were to prepare and deliver an interactive, informal presentation of lessons in three schools in Cluj. The subject of the presentations was related to road safety and multicultural education. The classes were useful both for the kids and for us volunteers.
My Romanian experience helped me discover and understand new cultures and new ways of dealing with people. Now, in the end, I can say that EVS helped me enormously and that I am a different person.
Asu Sinem Demiroz
Project: Invata de la TV (Tineri Voluntari)!
Duration: 01.03.2010-15.12.2010
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
It is not easy to describe a volunteering experience in Romania. I was in Cluj for almost 12 months, a period that I loved and in which I experienced things both good and not so good.
In my project I was responsible, among other volunteers, with promoting volunteer work in Cluj-Napoca but also the European Voluntary Service as a unique opportunity for youth. We organised the National Volunteer Week 2010, the first “Living Library” in Cluj-Napoca and also presentations about EVS in the city’s universities.
Not everything was perfect during this experience – there were good times and there were difficult times, but in the end I can say it was worth it.
Hi, I am Ana, I am from Georgia and I am 24. I arrived in Romania in December 2009. I had never volunteered before my EVS stage, but after graduating university I decided to take a year’s break and go to a different country. I found an interesting project and came to Romania to experience the life of a volunteer.
The project I was involved in was mainly focused on promoting volunteer work on a local level, in Cluj-Napoca, but I also participated in and organised other activities (book collection, Living Library, the publishing of a guide with volunteering opportunities etc.). Also, EVS was an opportunity to meet new people from different countries and cultures, with interesting stories.
We worked in an interesting field and did our best to help the local community. Moreover, we took every chance we could to travel and discover Romania.
EVS is an amazing experience – an opportunity to gain new knowledge, to develop one's personality and take positive steps in life. I am very happy about it and I can say I had an amazing EVS stage. I thank all the people that I met during these months!