Projects Abroad Volunteer Programs in Romania

I'm a little different to most of the other volunteers as I wasn't interested in a vocational type placement. I wanted to volunteer for a cause that I've been supporting for a number of years - I wanted to help at the Bear Sanctuary.
When I go to Romania I was told that volunteering opportunities at the bear sanctuary had ceased 6 months ago so I would have to work at the dog shelter. If the numerous consultants I had spoken to while making inquiries and bookings had told me this (and I mentioned it in every email) then I would have made different arrangements.
The staff in Romania pulled some strings and I did manage to volunteer for a week with the bears but the volunteering was for only an hour each day. Deeply unsatisfactory. Working at the dog shelter was much better as I felt I was useful. I like animals, I like dogs. But what I wanted (and paid for) was the bear sanctuary.
There was no-one from Projects Abroad really interested in what I was doing or making sure that there was something for me to do. It was very strange
Secondly, I'm in Romania and excited to be in a land of such vibrant musical traditions. i was really disappointed that the Projects Abroad team hadn't organised ANY cultural events at all. No organised excursions or tours outside or inside the city. No cultural events. Nothing. Their idea of an event was basically getting together to drink at a pub and maybe go and eat something. I had to make my own arrangements for anything touristic or cultural (the cultural part was actually surprisingly hard to find).
The homestay was great and I was fortunate to be sharing with some really wonderful girls from all around the globe. That was definitely a highlight. But the Projects Abroad organisation leaves a lot to be desired.
If you're someone wanting to get experience in a field then come along and do this (though it's an exceedingly expensive way to get experience). If you want to actually volunteer for a cause that you believe in then there are better places to go and hopefully where you money goes directly to the charity rather than a third party organisation.
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I brought up all of the above plus a great deal more points with the Projects Abroad people both while I was there and as feedback. Their comments that they would arrange something cultural were never followed through (and as far as I'm concerned an evening cooking Mexican food and talks about teaching strategy and allergies are not cultural) and so far I've received nothing from them regarding my comments (even after I followed up and asked them about it). I'm still waiting.
The staff are all very nice but there is really some serious and targeted structure that is lacking in this organisation. It's like they have only been in business for 12 months rather than several years. Do not waste your money with them. It's not cheap.

In order to gain some experience in TESOL, I decided to volunteer in Romania for 3 months. Making that decision was possible the best decision that I made in my entire life. Everything there was better than I ever dreamed it could be!
First, there was the site location for my project. I worked about 20 hours each week as an assistant to the Romanian English teacher. The grades I worked with were 2nd. through 8th.. My actual classroom tasks differed depending on the age level of the students. From singing with the 2nd. grade to answering questions about life in America from the eighth graders, I did a variety of things, but my main purpose in being there was for the students to have a native English speaker they could speak with and model their conversation on. I soon grew to like the students and the teacher and was sorry to leave them at the end of my time in Romania.
Brasov itself is full of interesting things to see, from old ruins to museums and the mountains surrounding the city. Nor was I ever lonely. There was at any one time a different group of fellow volunteers whom one could do any number of things with, whether it was going out for a meal together, a drink, or a day trip to another city or town. Life was never boring.
Lastly, there were the Romanians themselves. My hosts were wonderful people. From time to time, I still miss the food they served. Between them and the staff of Projects Abroad, I soon knew myself to be in good hands. The staff were helpful if I had any questions about my placement, traveling, or life in general in Romania they were always there to help. My time there would not have been the same without these people.
In summary, I would recommend Romania as a place to go to volunteer. You won't be disappointed, believe me!

The summer after my senior year of high school I had no plans besides sitting around and waiting to ship to Boston for school, across the country from my Texas home. I decided this was my year to do something meaningful – to go out and explore, a luxury I knew I wouldn’t have once I entered the ‘real’ world of college classes and working my way through school. I found Project's Abroad by exploring my options online, and chose Romania through a series of eliminations and reconsiderations. It was the best decision I ever made.
The first summer I volunteered with Project's Abroad I participated in a Care Project. 3 days into my trip I started my Care project in Budila, a tiny town that took me two bus transfers to get to every morning. I worked in a sibling foster home with 10 children who no longer had parents, but still had their brothers and sisters. The communication with these children, kids who were kept from me by a massive language barrier, became almost barbaric but we came together and formed a fun bond. Each day we would do an activity I brought, anything from floor puzzles to painting pots to making bracelets, and we would play outside on their massive lawn. I taught them how to play new games, they used me as a pawn in theirs, and we taught each other how to count to 10 – something I practice daily just to remember how sweet and eager they were.
My second summer in Romania was spent on a veterinary volunteer trip. I traveled by bus to a small animal clinic in the city and was able to assist with surgeries, play with animals and work with grooming. I volunteered with my good friend from the summer before and had a blast!
I also felt that I was well supported by the volunteer coordinators in my country. They really went above and beyond in making me feel welcome and safe. I traveled internationally by train on the weekends on both of my trips and I was assisted with buying tickets, planning my trip and kept in contact with staff while I was away. All in all, both of my trips were life changing experienced that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I made some great friends, saw some amazing places, and ultimately fell in love with a corner of the world I probably would have never visited normally.

My time as a volunteer with Projects Abroad in Romania was truly the best of my life. I stayed with a host family in the lovely city of Brasov for two months, working as a journalism intern. That placement allowed me to go places that I never would have seen and talk to people from all walks of life that I never would have met had I spent my summer anywhere else. After work I went home to eat my host mom's fantastic food and chat with my roommates before meeting the rest of the volunteers and going out on the town. On weekends I traveled around the country or helped out with a community service project. Just seeing the faces of the children watching the shows directed by the drama volunteers was enough to see that the volunteers were giving back in a meaningful way to the community that had welcomed us. It's been almost a year since my time in Romania, and I still talk to the friends I met there.

After being in Romania for 13 weeks my entire life has changed forever.
I had tried to get into veterinary assistant-school for three years, and I kept getting letters back, saying: "Thank You for Your application, but We cannot employ You at the moment". I was dissappointed and I felt like my life was falling apart. I started looking at other subjects to study, but none of them interested me as much as the work with animals.
I decided to do something extra-ordinary, hoping the clinics in Denmark would see my passion for working with animals, and three months later I was on my way to Romania.
It was the journey of my life, and I'll remember it forever! I found lifetime-friends, I fell in love with Romania and I found myself! When i returned to Denmark my friends got a whole new Signe back, and they like her, just as much as I do ;)
The most important thing about my trip to Romania was my job, where I worked at a shelter and a clinic. It is because of this, I finally got accepted into veterinary assistant-school, and cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunaty! Thank you Projects Abroad - without You I would never be able to do what I love for the rest of my life! A special thanks to Projects Abroad in Romania for their support, advices and for being their whenever we needed them! All of you have a place in my heart, and I'll never forget anyone of you!

I contacted Projects Abroad as a study abroad student looking to integrate my passion for working with disadvantaged children with my undergraduate university requirements. After speaking with the New York Headquarters both in person and via e-mail, I came to the conclusion that Romania would be the right country for me. Known around the world for its elevated orphan population following the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989, Romania seemed like the perfect fit. I therefore pieced together a research project that would enable me to study the modern day causes of child abandonment in Romania by conducting field research in three different orphanages outside of Brasov. After getting the approval from my University, I proceeded forward with my Projects Abroad placement.

That said, my time spent volunteering and studying in Romania was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was the organization well run and highly attentive to my needs as both a "volunteer" and a "student," it also created a very "family-centered" environment for me from the moment I arrived.

After landing in Bucharest International Airport (OTP), I was greeted by a man waving a "Projects Abroad" sign. He assisted me with my luggage and then drove me up to Brasov, where I was welcomed by the staff and given a "grand tour" of the city by my care supervisor, Daniela. I was treated to lunch, given all the resources I needed for my academic project, and then invited to attend the weekly Friday evening social event-- a night out at Dean's.

It was here that I met the other ten volunteers from around the world who had come to Romania for different reasons, but each with the same intention to "give back" using their varied passions and interests. Sitting around that table, listening to music, and enjoying my first real night in the country, it occurred to me how fortunate I was to be having such an experience.

During the next five weeks, I spent my time volunteering with orphaned children, learning the Romanian language, taking Romanian cooking classes, sightseeing around Transylvania, going out with friends, and immersing myself in the culture of the city. In every situation, the staff was wonderful. When I got sick with a virus during my third week, Alexandra took me to the doctor and got me the necessary medicine to get better. When my computer screen broke, Allex contacted his "IT-savvy" friends to have it fixed. When I wanted to add a new placement to my schedule, Daniela made it happen.... And Razvan was always there as well- available to answer any questions I had throughout my time in the country.

Romania, for these reasons and more, was one of the best experiences I have had in my life. Projects Abroad not only provided me with the foundation I needed for my academic project, but it also afforded me a volunteer experience that I will never forget.

Needless to say, as I look back on the experiences of my Fall 2011 semester, there is one thing I can say for certain-- I will definitely be back.

I spent two months in Romania doing a physical therapy placement and loved every single minute of it. Before this experience, the only time I had spent abroad was a week of an alternative spring break trip with 14 of my classmates, so I was a little nervous about going so far from home on my own. Those worries disappeared the minute I arrived to see the Projects Abroad sign in the airport. The staff was incredible at making me feel at home and trying to morph my experience into what I was looking for. For example, when I wanted a different experience from my placement, they had one set up for me within the week.

My placement was at Hospice Casa Sperantei where I worked with children with lifelong disabilities and terminal illnesses. The physiotherapist I shadowed was amazing and really invested in teaching me. I was allowed to touch the patients, interact with them, feel their stiffness and crooked spines: experiences I hadn't had shadowing physical therapists in the US. I left this experience with no doubt that this was what I wanted to do as a career. I was so excited about it, I actually filled out almost all of my physical therapy school application while I was abroad!

Being abroad over the summer was awesome. Since you can come and go when you want with Projects Abroad, I crossed path with 40some volunteers from all over the world. Every night we would meet up for dessert or karaoke or coffee, and on the weekends there was always someone to explore the country with. We became so close that I will always call them my Projects Abroad "family".

I learned so much in Romania about myself and what I wanted in life. I met some incredible people and learned not only a ton about Romania, but the places where my fellow volunteers were from too. All of this with the beautiful Romanian backdrop, the summer I spent there was the best of my life.

I took part on Projects Abroad's Archaeology program in Romania for three months over the summer of 2003. Although I am sure the program specifics have changed over the years and new aspects developed, my time in Romania with Projects Abroad was an absolutely life changing experience and I'm sure it will be for current and future volunteers. It was my first experience living in a developing country or abroad for that matter and with Projects Abroad I got the support and guidance I needed to feel comfortable in a new pace and the leeway to mature and grow as an individual. Plus I learned a whole lot about archaeology and Romania in the process. I not only was able to do research on Saxon fortified Churches and excavate on a Bronze age archaeological site but explore the country on my weekends with trips to Sibiu, Sigishoara and Bucharest, and develop lifelong friends from around the globe. Even though I never became a full time archaeologist the skills and international outlook I developed in Romania help me in my everyday life and a lot of credit has to go to the staff of Projects Abroad. Living in a new place halfway across the world from your home is certainly challenging and I had my high and low points. But it is also exhilarating and my experience in Romania ignited a desire to travel even more. While I volunteered 8 years ago the memories and my connection to Romania are still fresh, so fresh that I am hoping to make a return trip next month! I had an amazing experience and would recommend Romania and Projects Abroad to any interested volunteers!