This March our very own Theresa, the Vice-President of Global Operations at United Planet, went to Romania to check up on our project in Romania. Although she was only able to stay for a few days, she spent some time in the orphanage with the kids, saw how the rebuilding from the fire was going, and even made a trip out to Dracula’s Castle!
Last December a fire hit the orphanage, thankfully no one was hurt, but it took one building completely. This building is where the kitchen and dinning room was so they have been forced to find new ways to cook and serve food. They have built one stove where they cook every meal and instead of everyone coming to the dining room to eat, they prepare the food and deliver it to each house. After observing how they have adapted, Theresa said, “they have a system, and it works, but it’s not ideal.”
Homemade stove!
With only one stove, they are very limited in what they can cook and eat. While Theresa was there, they were fasting for Lent and not eating any dairy or meat so almost every meal was soup.
There is still some debris left over from the fire but they do have plans to rebuild the lost building as well as two new houses that are in progress now. Many of the rooms are very crowded at the moment and having two more houses would give them the space they need. There are two more UP groups going to Romania and hopefully a few volunteers that will be able to help in this effort!
Spending time at the project, Theresa was able to see all that they do for the community and she describes it as “really amazing work”. Even though they have limited space, they don’t turn anyone away. They have a spot for anyone who may need it. They have houses for the elderly, orphans, pregnant teens, teen mothers, battered women and children, ect. Many of the children are orphans and live at the project full time and some that have families still spend the majority of the week there because their family cannot support them.
Some kids in the orphanage!
The weather while Theresa was there was in the 60’s and the kids were running around in shorts. Even though the weather was warm, they were hit with a rough winter and there was still snow on the ground. Thankfully, the snow has started to melt and given the land the water it needs to help with farming.
Although Theresa was only there for a short amount of time, she was able to visit Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania. This is one opportunity that our volunteers in Romania have as well!
Dracula’s Castle!
To learn more about Romania, or United Planet, contact us today!
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
