I volunteered with IVHQ in Romania 🇷🇴 from Jan 20th to Feb 1st for 2 weeks - overall it was an amazing experience that was somehow a lot more than I expected. The local organization is Care2travel with very supportive and helpful staff, which is a non-profit association that literally places the volunteers in the appropriate positions in terms of local practical needs.

The project I worked on was Agriculture, at that time we were dealing with a solar panel heating with the use of black-painted cans which encourages air exchange when it heats up, which was an idea of energy converting that could be unfolded in many ways.

We were also able to have a chance to communicate with the local volunteers via the platform of English Club, hanging out with wonderful people, thus knowing the rich culture & beauty of Csikszereda this very special place as a whole a lot better.
Plus highly recommend Csiksomlyói the skiing place with ski slopes, somewhere between elementary and intermediate, which was worth going with reasonable price and kind instructors.

I have experienced and gained a lot by volunteering in Romania with amazing scenery and friendly people that is rare to find on many other occasions.
Highly recommend to anyone who wants a fulfilling and meaningful experience.

When first landing, I was scared. This was my first time travelling and I was doing it alone, I had certainly gone all out for my first time. However, when the team picked me up I was soon completely at ease. In fact by the end of the first day I felt like I was home. My stay was amazing here. The accommodation was nice and shopping was done twice a week and volunteers could do up a list to plan meals. The Dog shelter that I was working was well maintained and there was always someone there if you needed help or didn't know what to do next.

The night after returning home, I found myself missing this place. I wanted to go back and stay longer. I highly recommend this place for new and old volunteers as it bow holds some of the best moments in my life.

I served as an NGO support volunteer in Romania for four weeks. This was an immensely positive experience and I gain a deeper sense of appreciation for volunteer work and cultural exposure. IVHQ proved to be a very effective platform for the discovery of such a wonderful opportunity, and I was the recipient of steady support and encouragement from their team. They were quick to answer any questions that I had and I was impressed with their outreach to ensure that I was having an enjoyable experience while on site.

While I was in Romania, I worked with the association Care2Travel, which is a local humanitarian aid group whose intentions are to invigorate the community and inspire them to serve those around them. Care2Travel is staffed with dedicated, hard-working, compassionate people, and it was a privilege to work with all of them. They were all very helpful and kind in helping me feel welcome and useful, and the work that they asked me to complete was meaningful.

Because of this experience, I grew to be more patient and flexible. Even if I was unsure of how to complete a task, I never felt afraid to ask questioins which further developed my confidence and resolve to do my best. I was humbled and inspired by the opportunities to serve in whichever capacity I was needed, which made me feel like a valued member of the team.

I am very grateful for the time that I had in Romania and I will never forget it. I made wonderful new friends, enjoyed beautiful Romanian sites, learned about a new culture, and identified ways in which I could grow to be a better person. A program that allows for all of this to be achieved is truly exceptional.

My IVHQ program in Romania was an amazing experience. While the program was located in a small town in Romania, Hungarians made up most of the population, so this was the primary language of the area. We were able to experience everyday life, and had the chance to meet locals through the weekly English conversation groups.

For my placement I was in the Special Needs program, which was a short walk from the volunteer accommodation. This program serves young adults, and helps them with tasks such as cooking, household chores, and language development. There was also other fun activities like a weekly dance class. All the clients received a weekly physical therapy session, and since I am a licensed physical therapist in the US, I was able to provide PT services, which was my motivation in volunteering. Everyone at this day program, with the exception of a few program leaders, spoke only Hungarian. While this was a little discouraging/difficult at first, it did not prevent me from assisting with daily tasks or providing PT services.

As for the volunteer accommodation, the apartment was very clean, and all the volunteers quickly connected, making it a welcoming environment. The accommodation is located on the main street of the town, and just about everything is walkable, including the train station.

The local staff was always available and joined us in events such as bowling, socializing at restaurants, and weekly group dinners. I highly recommend this program.

Just an incredible experience from the beginning to the end. I was met with a driver that carried a clearly marked sign and a big smile. From the moment he picked me up and the 4 hour drive to the acommendations, he was informative and so friendly. Additionally, he offer me a snack on a short stop on the way. Sunday, as schedule the representitive gave an outline of the following weeks over coffee at a charming street cafe. I volunteered to work on an Agriculture project and later volunteered my help with summer camps of school age kids. It was fun to see the smiles and experience their curiousity. I was the old guy in the group but never felt old. I was amazed of the experience and energy the young volunteers had. I was included in the many activities on or off of the camps including cleaning up gardens, barbecues, mountain hiking, observing bears, making cheese, and meetings at the local meeting places. I highly recommend the experience but spend enough time to get to know the locals. They are so friendly and humble, wow a stay in Transylvania, how exciting.

Using limited energy and vitality to try new things and discover different possible answers is what I am willing to do all the time.

I just can't believe that I did so many amazing things during my 3-week journey in Romania. I just made these all happen: Volunteer abroad, teach English, play with kids, make friends and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, get out of my comfort zone and seize every magic-filled minute in Romania.

Days flew so fast that I am still thinking that I am in Romania, I am with my homies. It is just like a dream, which is too perfect.

3-week time in Romania brings me not only so many adorable friends but also an opportunity to truly get to know the big world. I was so lucky to get a chance to see how the world is. I feel like this wonderful experience made me have courage to straightly face the big world and made me realize I can also change the big big world by making small changes.

"Awesome, innovative, worthwhile." I can assure that it is really rewarding beyond words.

Thanks Care2Travel and IVHQ for letting me be A true ivhqer.

It was a great experience with IVHQ Romania, Miercurea Ciuc. I chose the "after school support" program, and it was right choice for me. I've achieved my ambition to volunteer and teach children and play with them in a nice atmosphere, with the kindness of the locals, and a free time to enjoy the rest of the day in a pub, or dining with my volunteer group. It was really a wonderful and useful experience

My trip to Romania was a great experience! The local team was very supportive, and very focused on helping foreign volunteers make a positive, ethical impact on the community. They also gave us many opportunities to interact with local people which greatly enriched my experience. My project at the dog shelter was wonderful. The shelter was a very human and worthy organization, and the conditions were quite good. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and the work was enjoyable as well as meaningful. Romania is a beautiful country with lots of scenic beauty and friendly people. IVHQ made the experience that much better by being well-organized and readily available to address my questions and concerns. I also felt assured that they had a genuine commitment to ethical volunteering. I felt supported from beginning to end.