Ashley, a student from Davidson College, went on a volunteer Quest to Romania with United Planet. She wrote this reflection when flying to her next destination: Prague, where she took two classes on social entrepreneurship at Charles University for four weeks.
“My time in Romania has come to an end and although the trip presented many different challenges, I will forever be grateful for the experience I had there. I volunteered at a nonprofit organization designed to help the often overlooked and marginalized communities in Romania. From special-needs adults to single mothers, to orphaned children, this organization seeks to provide a safe haven. I stayed at their smaller location, Valea de Munte where I was surrounded by 15-20 kids each day. I visited their mainstay: Valea Screzzi each week. 450 people lived here, 350 of them being children. In both places, it was incredible to see how efficient everything was and how there was a clear system in place to help everything run smoothly.
Each day consisted of different tasks. I would help out wherever needed. I helped in the kitchen, taught English, played soccer, colored and even assisted in painting a mural! I loved that I got to do a little bit of everything and I’m grateful that I was welcomed with open arms. I think one thing I wish I did better is being more proactive.
Halfway into my stay, the kids started summer break which meant I had more time to talk to them and get to know them. I heard all about their hopes and dreams and it was inspiring to hear all about what they had overcome. These conversations were mostly done using Google Translate. However, I was lucky to have another volunteer with me during my month who had been at for a year and was able to understand Romanian and English so she helped translate whenever she could. It was clear that very few kids had a grasp on English, even though everyone had to take English in school. Although the language barrier was challenging at first, I realized that speaking wasn’t the only way we could bond. I was able to bond with the kids through music, soccer and face emotions. We played lots of games and were very creative with our time. I am in awe of how the kids were able to find fun in the little things. I also really appreciated how technology wasn’t overtaking their lives. These kids weren’t rushing to connect to WiFi or Fortnite. They also didn’t have laptops and phones were only allowed to be used an hour a day. This meant more face-to-face time with the kids and I appreciated all the genuine conversations we had.
Through the various talks I had with the kids, it was clear that my host organization had made a profound impact on them as many spoke about wanting to give back to this organization when they were older. I also noticed that because there were so many kids living in one place, they lacked one-on-one attention. I wonder how the absence of an intimate family will affect these kids as they grow older. I also noticed that once these kids graduated from high school and went into university, they didn’t have much to fall back on. University is already hard in it itself so not having a support system must be very challenging. I am coming back home with a greater sense of appreciation for all that I have. I am fortunate to have a family that cares deeply about me, a roof over my head and easily accessible hot water.
I’m also realizing how much I learned about myself on this trip. There were many nights where I felt alone, especially because the language barrier got exhausting at times. It was my first time having a room to myself for an extended period of time and I realized how I didn’t particularly enjoy that. All my life, I had someone to talk to at night and it was weird not having that. My room was also located the furthest away from everything so if I went to take a nap, I wouldn’t really know what would be going on with the kids because I was so far.
The biggest lesson from my first summer of service is that service should never be a one-and-done action. Before I left, I made a promise to myself that I would make sure to come back at some point. The bonds I’ve created are very special to me and I know that they’ve gone out of their way to welcome me with open arms so the least I could do is come back and rekindle the bond we created. I remember vividly driving into the orphanage the first night and being so confused and lost and when I left 5 and a half weeks later, it felt like I was leaving a piece of my heart behind. It was all I had known for 5 and a half weeks and that place will always feel like a second home to me.
Overall, this trip was a great learning experience and it is an experience I will hold dear to my heart. I got to know a different country, bond with kids from a completely different culture and create memories for a lifetime. I am forever grateful for United Planet for having me as their International Bonner Scholar, for Pro Vita and their generosity and for the Davidson Civic Engagement Center for connecting me with such a wonderful program.”
If Ashley’s volunteer trip has inspired you, then visit our volunteer programs in Romania for further inspiration!
United Planet offers 6 months and one year gap year volunteering experiences for people of different ages as well as a short-term and mid-term volunteer abroad and intern abroad experiences from 1-16 weeks in over 30 countries.
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.
