This was the first volunteer trip I had ever been on so I was a bit hesitant on what the experience would be like but IVHQ made everything so easy and I felt supported throughout the entire experience! There was always staff available to answer questions I had both before and during my trip, it was easy to sign up, I felt like my skills were being used, and I had plenty of free time during my trip to explore the city. I volunteered both in Belgium for the Mobile Library project and in Romania for after-school support. They were very different from each other in terms of culture but being able to volunteer with IVHQ made the transition easy and I didn't have to worry about where I would be staying or my safety. I definitely recommend to anyone wanting to do some travel while still working on awesome, fulfilling projects and I already want to do many more of the programs! My only regret is not doing them for longer than 2 weeks, I was not ready to be done!!

Overall, it was a great experience and I would love to go back. With a tour guide employees by Care 2 Travel, it’s a great way to see the country and all that it has to offer. The town itself is a small town with a lot of culture and life, which is such a great way to experience the culture. The town has a small, but enjoyable social scene and a lot to experience within the city itself. The volunteer opportunities that are set up are amazing and I enjoyed every second of working with the children.

My time in Romania was truly life changing. I traveled with my younger sister and it was such a bonding experience. I could not have asked for better on site support from both Care2travel and the schools that I taught in. IVHQ set up the program in such a way that it was easy to feel comfortable and safe. I think I learned more about myself in three weeks than I could have ever imaged. The staff at Care2Travel were extremely helpful and offered myself and my sister (who I was traveling with) a lot of support throughout our trip! I'm under the firm belief that, counter to popular opinion, one does not leave bits of themselves in the places they travel. Rather the countries that you go to become a part of you. I am so blessed to know that Csikszereda, Romania will always remain in my heart. One piece of advice I would give is to always be adaptable (in your accommodations life and your volunteer placement). If you are open to learning from any experience, I am sure you will find your trip very enriching.

My experience in Romania was a highly rewarding and unforgettable one. Working in the dog shelter, I was given the opportunity to care for puppies which was even more special than I expected it to be. The dogs responded very positively to the attention and I really felt like I made a difference to their overall wellbeing. I also got the opportunity to build a new shelter for the dogs and also to brush the dogs which made it very different and exciting. The support I received from IVHQ throughout my whole trip was phenomenal and I would definitely recommend the programs to a future volunteer.

Clara Wee, Singapore
Afterschool Club Volunteer
IVHQ Romania Program

I recently returned from an incredible 4-week volunteering experience in Miercurea Ciuc (Csikszereda), a city in the Harghita county of Romania, with a predominantly Hungarian population. The Szekely community as a whole was amazingly hospitable, its people friendly and accepting. As an Asian (they don’t get many Asians in this part of the country), I always stood out but this was also a great opportunity to share about myself and my country with the people (locals, volunteers, children and carers at my placement) I met.

(Note to future volunteers – bring along maps and photos from home. This is a great way to break the ice with locals and fellow volunteers. You will have many opportunities to whip out those materials).

The good folks at Care2Travel (local NGO team for the IVHQ Program) are a great team. They are passionate about their work in the community they operate in and have put in a lot of effort to provide a comprehensive orientation program, resources (like teaching guides, materials, props, etc.) and support to volunteers to maximize their effectiveness in their placements. The team is also very happy to provide suggestions on how you can spend your weekends/free time and a great source of help for anything you might need while in-country.

I was placed in two Afterschool clubs in the nearby villages of Szentegyhaza and Kapolnas (about 60-75minutes outside Miercurea Ciuc). The children, aged between 6 to 15, who attend the clubs are from disadvantaged backgrounds; many of them from Roma families. My role included teaching basic English, helping the children with their English homework, preparing fun games and activities to engage the children, and providing general support to the carer of the club. You don’t have to be able to speak Hungarian before you start your volunteer stint but it is good to pick up some basic words and phrases while you are here.

The first couple of sessions with the children were challenging – some children need more time than others to warm up to a stranger. The language barrier didn't help either. Many of the children, especially the younger ones, know little or no English and a few were reluctant to use it even though they could. However, it is extremely rewarding once the children feel comfortable enough with you to want you to play with them (expect to play lots of foci or just kicking a ball around), demand you sit next to them at meal/snack time, or come to you wanting extra time to practice/learn English or simply responding to you when you interact with them. The children would also try to teach me Hungarian while I tried teaching them English. This mutual learning process works well and is a source of much laughter and fun.

It has been an interesting and memorable experience to learn about the history and culture of this beautiful country. Romania has lots of fascinating cities, sights and activities to offer visitors. As it is not as popular a tourist destination (yet) as other Central/Eastern European countries, it is relatively cheap to travel in Romania.

I would also recommend volunteering to everyone, regardless of age or background. If you want to be more than just a tourist, if you want to immerse yourself in the culture of a country and give a little something back to the country you are visiting – volunteer! Go with an open heart and open mind, be willing to learn and adapt to your environment. You won’t regret the experience.

I am glad that I applied to volunteer with IVHQ Program - after school activity program. In this one week program I felt that I gain more than what I gave. My volunteer program was more than what I expected, and I learned a lot from the local people and the members of Care2Travel. While volunteering at the after school club I thought that as a parent, I am aware of methods of dealing with kids, but I realized that how much we know is never too much. The program helped me to have insightful perspective and thoughts about Romania, the culture, and the abroad volunteer programs.

My summer working with the charity Care2Travel through IVHQ was one of the best experiences of my life. The children I worked with were so enthusiastic and grateful as well as being very cute. You felt like you were truly making a difference. But personally, I received many benefits myself including making some of my best friends while working in Romania. We bonded so well that what started off as a joke, resulted in me and two other girls from around the world all getting matching friendship tattoos. This is a memory I treasure and constantly reminds me of my amazing time there and the people who contributed to creating fun summer camps and joining in some crazy weekend activities too.

The program was deliberately structured, every representative of host organization clearly knew about his or her assigned responsibilities. People were helpful, I felt as if I am with my distant family. Everyone including children was so polite and open to learn, indeed everyone was actively receptive. I found the program not only congruent to my volunteering aspirations but also cognate to all fun activities that one would envy do relish. I would certainly look forward to engross in the program next summer.