Csoma Agota
18 years old
Baia Mare , Romania
When did you start your adventure with voluntary service?
Ago: My voluntary work started about half a year ago when a good friend of mine told me about this team4uth organization in my city. I immediately thought it was a good idea and I decided to make some time for it and I did, now I can’t make time for myself ;)
When did you start to be a mentor? Do you like it?
Ago: The whole idea started about week ago when Vlad (also a volunteer) called me and said “Ago , 4 youngsters are coming from Poland
Have you ever been on voluntary service abroad?
Ago: I’ve never been abroad with EVS or any other voluntary service. But it’s one of my top 5 wishes for the future. Actually, I could do this all my life: traveling and sharing my ideas with the world!
What are you doing in organization?
Ago: Well, in this association we try to organize activities that include young participant and try to teach them how to communicate, socialize and live a community life. I personally help in organizing these activities. I also participate in International Youth Exchanges, which are probably the best way for young people to understand fraternity and for adults to understand that we are future of this world.
Do you want to connect your future work with voluntary service?
Ago: As I said before I could live all my life just doing what I like as long as I know that my work has an importance to the community. For future I would like to go abroad with voluntary service, find a scholarship somewhere in a collage in UE and than continue with voluntary work.
What do you like the most in your work?
Ago: What I love about what I do is the people and the happiness I get back from those I help. For example in the orphanages when you teach the children to do something and you get a smile as reward, you couldn’t feel more fulfilled. I also feel very lucky that I have the possibility to meet people from around the world. The worst part? I don’t thing there is a very bad thing in this. Of course there are mistakes and misunderstandings, but this is just live. Sometimes team work can be difficult, but everyone should know his/ her limits and don’t own responsibilities that can’t be kept. Also, I feel pretty disappointed when in different activities or going out nights I don’t get to speak to somebody and get them to know me and vice–versa. But that’s just a need for a friendly person like me :D
çelen Mehmet
EVS volunteer from Turkey
Place of the project: Baia Mare, Romania
Why voluntary service?
çelen: Because I wanted to do something without money, from my heart. I like this kind of idea.
Why Romania
çelen: It's no problem where I am. It's about what I am doing.
Why did you choose a long-term voluntary service?
çelen: Short-term project doesn't give enough time to lern and to teach.
What is your work about?
çelen: I work with children in orphanages, I spand time with them, do some activities and fineart classes.
What after your stay in Romania
çelen: I'll try to do it again or maybe continue this kind of work in my country.
The best and the worst experience during project in Romania
çelen: I felt from like a few meters high wall and I spent two days in the hospital. That the worst experience. The best is when I went to bazar to buy something and I tried to say 'good evening' but I said 'bon apetite'.
What would you like to change in your project?
çelen: Smile more and try to teach math.
How did you find out about this kind of project?
çelen: I found it in the Internet.
Do you know the different between EVS and AMICUS ?
çelen: No, not yet.
Nicoleta Kerekes
26 years old
Baia Mare , Romania
When did you start your adventure with voluntary service?
Nico: Eleven years ago, in 1999.
What are you doing in organization? What is your work about?
Nico: I’m a member of the organization. I’m responsible whit the social projects: volunteering in orphanages.
What do you like the most in your job? Why?
Nico: I like working with children. Because I’m a teacher and I love children.
Have you ever been on voluntary service abroad? Would you like to go?
Nico: No, but I would love to.
What kind of experience do you have with work in volunters?
Nico: Most of them are very motivated in what they do. They are actively involved and they are thoroughly involved in the activities. However, there are some who gave up volunteering since the find it to difficult and tiring.
Is it easy to teach people from abroad Romanian language? Do they learn in fast?
Nico: It’s a challenge. They seem very eager to learn it and they are very good students. I’ve only had positive experience so far.
Can you find some disadvantages of your work in organization?
Nico: No disadvantages… It’s a very challenging job.
Tabita Boier
26 years old
Baia Mare, Romania
When did you start your adventure with voluntary service?
Tabita: I’ve been a volunteer since the 10th grade. I “worked” in different organization, mostly helping children with their homeworks.
What are you doing in organization? What is your work about?
Tabita: I’m vice-president of Team for Youth Association and I’m in charge of the cultural projects and of the sending part for EVS, but I also help in other areas.
What do you like the most in your job? Why?
Tabita: I like meeting and working with people from different cultural backgrounds because it enlarges my knowledge of the world.
Have you ever been on voluntary abroad? Would you like to go?
Tabita: I haven’t. But I’d like to go.
Do you like to work in a multicultural group? Why yes or why not?
Tabita: Yes, I enjoy working in a multicultural group. As I said before, getting in contact with other cultures helps me better understand things.
Do you think Baia Mare is a friendly town for volunteers from other countries?
Tabita: Yes, I believe it is. People here, especially youngsters, are very open and sociable.
What would you like to change in Baia Mare?
Tabita: I’d like to see the people getting more involved in whatever is going on in this city, and I’d like… more green spaces.
What are you doing in organization? What is your work about?
Tabita: I’m vice-president of Team for Youth Association and I’m in charge of the cultural projects and of the sending part for EVS, but I also help in other areas.
What do you like the most in your job? Why?
Tabita: I like meeting and working with people from different cultural backgrounds because it enlarges my knowledge of the world.
Have you ever been on voluntary abroad? Would you like to go?
Tabita: I haven’t. But I’d like to go.
Do you like to work in a multicultural group? Why yes or why not?
Tabita: Yes, I enjoy working in a multicultural group. As I said before, getting in contact with other cultures helps me better understand things.
Do you think Baia Mare is a friendly town for volunteers from other countries?
Tabita: Yes, I believe it is. People here, especially youngsters, are very open and sociable.
What would you like to change in Baia Mare?
Tabita: I’d like to see the people getting more involved in whatever is going on in this city, and I’d like… more green spaces.
Hope and Homes for Children
Interview with Adrian Oros
If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?
Adrian: I think it would be our motto: “To build a world in which every child is loved in a family and also where every child can reach their potential.”
What is the main purpose of HHC?
Adrian: We have a few main goals:
- provide children with a life in a family, instead of a life in an institution;
- close down old state institutions and place the children in a family-based environment;
- support the youngsters who leave childcare, assisting them into transition towards independent living;
- create professional instrument, guides and manuals to improve the practice of the professionals who work in childcare.
How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?
Adrian: Right now we don’t have volunteers because we are restructuring the organization, but we had volunteers from UK
What was your biggest undertaking?
Adrian: For us each project is important. We are doing our job, but in the same time we are trying to close down old institutions, which is our main goal as I said before.
Plans for future?
Adrian:
- closure of old state institutions for children. There are still 150 such state institutions with 11.000 children in them. All these children must to be placed into family-based environments;
- creating a network of preventive service;
- training and technical assistance;
- increasing capacity of state authorities.
What achievements do you have so far?
Adrian: First we moved children from institutions to caring family environments, many children were reunited with their parents, we ensured families stay together, we helped many children access day care facilities, mother-and-baby units and emergency reception centers. Also, we helped children fulfill their potential and enabled families to become independent. Thanks to us, many individuals are now living independently, having successfully completed our program.
Is HHC well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people to your projects?
Adrian: We are quite well known in Baia Mare and Romania
What is the biggest problem in your organization?
Adrian: We have a lot of things to do at the same time.
How many orphanages are you working with?
Adrian: We helped over 1800 children. We closed down 21 institutions in 5 counties. We placed them with families, foster families and helped them to start independent life.
CARITAS
If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?
Cristina: It is an organization which helps people in a Christian way.
When did you start working in Romania?
Cristina: We started our work before the communist period, then during that time it was forbidden to run that kind of organization. In 1990 we started our work again.
What is the main goal of Caritas?
Cristina: Our main objective is to make sure that people in need are entitled to the same treatment and support, regardless of their ethnic origin, religious beliefs, or political views.
How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?
Cristina: Caritas is an international organization. We have 11 Caritas centers in Romania, all independent. In Baia Mare there are 35 active volunteers. I cannot say how many volunteers are in whole Romania.
Do you have some foreign volunteers?
Cristina: Yes, but not thanks to us. For example we collaborate with YMCA and they sent us volunteers from Italy, Spain and France. They all took long term EVS (6-9 months).
What was your biggest undertaking?
Cristina: It’s hard to say. We have lot of permanent projects. From my point of view it is to provide social service for people of all ages, from kindergarten children to elderly. Also we organize help for children with disabilities and day-centers for them.
Plans for future?
Cristina: We would like to maintain what we have done and develop it.
What activities do you have right now? Is there something special during summer?
Cristina: We are trying to continue our activity and for example during summer we are organizing summer camps for children.
Is Caritas well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people in your projects?
Cristina: Yes and no. In our neighborhood we are well known. We are developing our contacts with schools, medical organization and city hall - we have together many projects.
From where are you taking your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc?
Cristina: We have many sources like governmental, local, EU and self funding.
What is the biggest problem in your organization?
Cristina: I don’t see one big problem. This structure is working very good. Of course we have some small problems, but everybody knows what to do and their responsibility. Maybe the financial aspect could be improved, but it is not 100% up to us.
Do you collaborate with any other organizations?
Cristina: Yes, for example with YMCA and Somaschi.
YMCA
If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?
Alina: YMCA is an organization focused on youth needs, which provides: trainings, civil services, camps, different workshops and classes, international exchanges, and youth center.
When did you start working in Romania?
Alina: In 2001.
What is the main goal of YMCA?
Alina: Our aim is to develop nowadays society through empowerment of youth, consolidating communities and supporting families according to the principles of democracy and human rights.
How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?
Alina: In Baia Mare we have 325 volunteers. Not everybody is working in the same project, for example one is focused on ecology and the other one on social work. In whole Romania we have around 3000 volunteers. Their age is different, depending on location. In Baia Mare most of them are high school pupils and students, however in some other places they are more than 25 years old. It also depends on which kind of project is it.
Do you have some foreign volunteers?
Alina: Yes, we do have volunteers from Italy, Spain and France and we are expecting one from Denmark. We prefer long-term volunteers (more than 6 months).
What was your biggest undertaking?
Alina: I’ll have to see your notes..because I only remember vaguely what she said.. :P
Plans for future?
Alina: We want to continue our international projects and work with EVS volunteers. It is like “give and take” principle. They give us a lot of inspiration and positive energy and they can learn something new and experience Romania.
Alina PopWhat activities do you have right now? Is there something special during summer?
Alina: We have outdoor trainings; however previous summer we gad kids club, art workshops or movie evenings.
Is YMCA well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people in your projects?
Alina: We are well known among youngsters and their families and friends. We are not preparing projects for different age groups. To involve people in our projects we use our volunteers to convince their friends. Also, two times a year we have some kind of recruiting campaign in universities and high schools. One or two times a year we are preparing events for community like concerts, etc.
From where are you taking your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc?
Alina: We have a lot of sponsors like: EU, Norwegian Embassy, US Department of States, partners from US and many others.
What is the biggest problem in your organization?
Alina: We don’t have a proper building. If we would have one, we could organize some activities and have some incomes.
Do you collaborate with any others organizations?
Alina: Yes, we have strong partnerships with many of them. In the NGO “world” it is not about copying one another or competing to see “who is better”, it is about creating a strong voice in the civil society.
Linda from Austria
18 years old
EVS volunteer in Team 4 Uth
Why voluntary service?
Linda: I decided to do voluntary service because I always wanted to help people without taking money for what I do. After finishing high-school it was the perfect moment to do it - I was not sure what I wanted to study and instead of “wasting my time” I applied for EVS.
Why Romania
Linda: I did not exactly choose Romania-it chose me. One day I received a mail from my Sending Organization with a description of team for Youth and their project. After lots of unanswered applications from everywhere in Europe it seemed like fate to go to Romania
Why have You decided on long-term voluntary project (6 months)?
Linda: I wanted to experience a different culture and different life. In my opinion a short-term project is not enough to get to know the people and their way of living and thinking.
What is Your work about?
Linda: Celen – the other EVS volunteer, and me are going to orphanages to play with the children and teenagers. Also, we try to tech them English, sing with them or Celen shows them some tricks how to improve their drawing skills. Moreover, I give weekly English lesson and soon I will start to teach some people German. So its quite varied work.
What after Your stay in Romania
Linda: I do not know what is expecting me after EVS, but I think I want to try working in a different field so that I can get to know other types of jobs.
The best and the worst experience during project in Romania
Linda: Many nice experiences, some not so good moments. There is no best and worse experience for me.
What would You like to change in Your project?
Linda: My project is a new project. Celen and me are their first EVS volunteers, so it is still natural that the project has to develop. However, I think this will happen automatically and the only thing I want to do at the moment is wait and see. Maybe I can tell You more in the end of my stay here in Romania
How did You find out about this kind of project?
Linda: As I said before - it found me ;)
Do You know the different between EVS and AMICUS?
Linda: Vaguely.
If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?
Bianca: It is an NGO for vulnerable persons.
When did you start working in Romania?
Bianca: We started working here in 1997.
What is the main goal of Assoc?
Bianca: We aim at increasing the chances of social inclusion.
Bianca Pricop Salagean
How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?
Bianca: We have around 20 volunteers in Baia Mare.
Do you have some foreign volunteers?
Bianca: At the moment we don't have foreign volunteers, but we had a few in the past and we also plan of having some in the future.
What was your biggest undertaking?
Bianca: I would say providing services for old persons. We have a social center for them, we offer counciling food, medical care.
Plans for future?
Bianca: We plan on developing the protected calls, which are all kinds of services for vulnerable people (disabled persons, people with low income, Roma people). We try to find jobs for people who don't have access on the work market.
What activities do you have right now? Is there something special during summer?
Bianca: No, we have no special summer activities. Right now we have the center for old people, which I've already mention and another daily center for youngsters with disabilities.
Is Assoc well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people in your projects?
Bianca: Yes, very, because we promote our services and make them attractive. We even get donations.
From where are you taking your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc?
Bianca: We have funds from the local authorities and from the EU.
What is the biggest problem in your organization?
Bianca: The problem is that our projects last only as long as we get the fundings.
Do you collaborate with any others organizations?
Bianca: Yes, we do. With Esperando, with the public services of social assistance, the Deaf & Blind Assosiacion, AJOFM.
Interview with Stelian Grigore, Coordinator Info Center "Let's do it, Romania"
What is "Let's do it, Romania" project about?
Steli: "Let's do it, Romania" is about cleaning the whole country in one day, on the 25th of September.
Is it for the first time in Romania? When did it start?
Steli: Yes, it's the first time in Romania, but the project is international. We started prepairing it in March.
Are you member of "Team 4 Youth"? What is your work about?
Steli: No, I'm not. I only volunteer for "Let's do it, Romania". I'm the coordinator of the Info Center.
Is it possible for anyone to join the project?
Steli: Yes, of course. We need as many volunteers as we can get.
Do you know if that kind of projects are also abroad?
Do you cooperate with each other?
Steli: Yes, there are in Portugal and Poland.
No.
What do you think: will your work on this project (and project generally) make any change in people behavior and mentality?
Steli: We hope so.
What do you expect after that project?
Steli: We expect people to take better care of the envinorment. And we expect a lot of people to get involved, from all social backgrounds.
What's your plans after "Let's do it, Romania"? Are you going to organize similar project in the future?
Steli: Yes, we plan to, because we will have the experiance from tis project.
When did you start your adventure with voluntary service?
Andreea: In 2008, September I left from Romania to be an EVS volunteer in Bystrzyca Klodzka, Poland for 9 months. I didn’t know exactly what I was supposed to do there, I was just happy to join such a project after finishing my university studies. I spent 9 months working in EFM office, dealing with different activities for youngsters and children. This is how I started my adventure as a volunteer and this is how I decided that I must start my career as a youth worker.
What was the reason that you decided to go abroad as a volunteer?
Andreea: After finishing my university studies I was too confused regarding what my future career should be. I decided to go abroad for an EVS in order to broaden my horizont about different cultures, different people, different possibilities. It helped me a lot!
Where did you spend your voluntary service and what kind of project it was?
Andreea: I did my European Voluntary Service in Poland, Bystrzyca Klodzka. It is a small town in south-western part of the country. Mountainous region, beautiful landscape. My project was about the EUROWEEK, school of leadership. It is a national training course for youngsters. It takes place one week every month. I was one of the trainers and facilitators of the event. I also worked with English language classes in the local community. What is more, I got involved with some of the projects of the hosting organization and this helped a lot in gaining experience about what youth work is. As a multiplying effect I work now with an NGO in my own country.
Why Poland? Why EVS?
Andreea: I didn’t choose the country, the country chose me. I sent lots of applications for EVS to different organizations that I found interesting on the EVS database. The Polish one called me first and the idea of the project seemed very interesting to me. Also, I wanted to get to know a culture that I didn’t have access to before and Poland was one of the best choices. EVS, because I find it to be a great opportunity for youngsters to live in a different environment, to grow up, to learn to be active, to have access to different ideas, opinions. It is a way of forming a new perspective about the world, about your own life.
What is the difference between Amicus and EVS?
Andreea: This is an easy question for me, as I spent days and nights trying to find the answer when I was helping in the preparation of the project in Poland. What I found out: Amicus is a programme concentrating on promoting and encouraging civic work and voluntarism. It has three main parts: dissemination of information on a national level (this means information campaigns, national events, competitions in the applicant country), research in the partners country (with the help of the AMICUS volunteers and the partners, the coordinating organization must provide a report stating the level of civic work and voluntarism in the participant countries), and voluntary service (this is pretty much similar with what EVS is, that is hosting and sending volunteers abroad in different activities).
What is the main reason that you decided to work in your own organization in Romania?
Andreea: My friends and I always say that once you join youth work you do it for life, it’s addictive. Being an EVS volunteer in Poland was my first step towards this addiction. I couldn’t stop afterwards so I decided to open my organization in Romania. What makes it so addictive: non-formal education is one of the things really missing in the lives of youngsters, especially in central and eastern European countries. When you start a project for non-formal education and you see how youngsters develop so fast under your coordination and how much they enjoy and need that you provide activities for them, the personal satisfaction is so significant that you can’t think about working in another field. The intercultural part is also fascinating and really important.
1. What are You doing in Romania?
Andreea Tundrea
President of Team 4 Youth Association
President of Team 4 Youth Association
When did you start your adventure with voluntary service?
Andreea: In 2008, September I left from Romania to be an EVS volunteer in Bystrzyca Klodzka, Poland for 9 months. I didn’t know exactly what I was supposed to do there, I was just happy to join such a project after finishing my university studies. I spent 9 months working in EFM office, dealing with different activities for youngsters and children. This is how I started my adventure as a volunteer and this is how I decided that I must start my career as a youth worker.
What was the reason that you decided to go abroad as a volunteer?
Andreea: After finishing my university studies I was too confused regarding what my future career should be. I decided to go abroad for an EVS in order to broaden my horizont about different cultures, different people, different possibilities. It helped me a lot!
Where did you spend your voluntary service and what kind of project it was?
Andreea: I did my European Voluntary Service in Poland, Bystrzyca Klodzka. It is a small town in south-western part of the country. Mountainous region, beautiful landscape. My project was about the EUROWEEK, school of leadership. It is a national training course for youngsters. It takes place one week every month. I was one of the trainers and facilitators of the event. I also worked with English language classes in the local community. What is more, I got involved with some of the projects of the hosting organization and this helped a lot in gaining experience about what youth work is. As a multiplying effect I work now with an NGO in my own country.
Why Poland? Why EVS?
Andreea: I didn’t choose the country, the country chose me. I sent lots of applications for EVS to different organizations that I found interesting on the EVS database. The Polish one called me first and the idea of the project seemed very interesting to me. Also, I wanted to get to know a culture that I didn’t have access to before and Poland was one of the best choices. EVS, because I find it to be a great opportunity for youngsters to live in a different environment, to grow up, to learn to be active, to have access to different ideas, opinions. It is a way of forming a new perspective about the world, about your own life.
What is the difference between Amicus and EVS?
Andreea: This is an easy question for me, as I spent days and nights trying to find the answer when I was helping in the preparation of the project in Poland. What I found out: Amicus is a programme concentrating on promoting and encouraging civic work and voluntarism. It has three main parts: dissemination of information on a national level (this means information campaigns, national events, competitions in the applicant country), research in the partners country (with the help of the AMICUS volunteers and the partners, the coordinating organization must provide a report stating the level of civic work and voluntarism in the participant countries), and voluntary service (this is pretty much similar with what EVS is, that is hosting and sending volunteers abroad in different activities).
What is the main reason that you decided to work in your own organization in Romania?
Andreea: My friends and I always say that once you join youth work you do it for life, it’s addictive. Being an EVS volunteer in Poland was my first step towards this addiction. I couldn’t stop afterwards so I decided to open my organization in Romania. What makes it so addictive: non-formal education is one of the things really missing in the lives of youngsters, especially in central and eastern European countries. When you start a project for non-formal education and you see how youngsters develop so fast under your coordination and how much they enjoy and need that you provide activities for them, the personal satisfaction is so significant that you can’t think about working in another field. The intercultural part is also fascinating and really important.
Team 4 Youth's activities
Jenny Ball
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
Arkansas, USA
1. What are You doing in Romania?
Jenny: I am a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working in the Environmental Education and Management sector. I am partenered with a small NGO Asociația Concordia Săsar about 5 kilometers outside of Baia Mare. Primarily I help implement an afterschool program through the village libraries where I do activities promoting environmental awareness and protection and teach English to primary school children in the villages in the Recea commune. I try to use as informal and experiential educational techniques as often as I can in this program because the kids receive something out of the ordinary for them and tend to get the message much easier.
I also support local leaders in the community in their endeavors. I usually partner with the librarian, primary school teachers, and the mayor’s office. For my secondary project, I am a member of the Club for Young Leaders in Baia Mare, which is a leadership training and personal development course for young adults. Here, I also support group leaders by running some meetings or by being an active participant.
I also try to involve myself in the everyday events in the village like cooking for festivals, winemaking, the fall harvest, or planting gardens in the Spring because I will probably never have another opportunity like this in my life, and I want to have real life stories to share with my friends about living in Romania.
2. Why did You decide to come to Romania? Did You have any other options?
Jenny: Peace Corps serves over 70 countries worldwide, so there were quite a few options, but when applying, one can one can only give a preference for a region/continent, not a specific country. So I was quite surprised when I received an invitation to work in Romania, since I made a preference for Central Asia, and I had only 45 days before I had to step on the plane. I said yes because I was interested in learning about the culture and people in this country and because I did not know if I’d receive another invitation from Peace Corps.
3. What is the aim of your organization?
Jenny: Asociația Concordia chooses projects based on the motto, “Un sat vechi cu față nouă” which means, “An old village with a new face.” The goal of the organization is to preserve the culture and environmental integrity of the village while promoting it’s development. Some examples of projects are clean-up campaigns, a village museum, and sponsoring covered bus stops.
4. What is your work about? Do You like it?
Jenny: This is a great question. Though I have projects, I consider these things to be my job in the situation where I find myself:
· I make sure to say thank-you and give feedback.
· I am honest and refuse to do things that detract from my integrity.
· I do my best to encourage and assist my friends and colleagues.
· I do what I say I’ll do.
· I listen.
· I answer email.
Some days are more challenging than others, but I generally like my work.
5. What do You like the most in your project and what would you like to change?
Jenny: I like the environmental education I do with my kids in the villages the most because I feel that they can have a large impact on improving upon the environmental issues in Romania and in their communities and especially when they develop a sense of respect and wonder for the natural world early on in their lives, and it’s often just plain fun. For my next year, I would like more involvement from the parents or other adults because it’s nice to have someone else to exchange ideas with, and sometimes, the kids are a little too out-of-control for me to handle on my own.
6. Do You like living in Romania? What is your impression about this country?
Jenny: I do. At first, I had some difficulties adjusting due to learning a new language and culture, figuring out my job, and not being allowed to do any “work” on Sundays, but after one year in Săsar, it’s hard to imagine that I will eventually leave for the States. I love how the people in my village are very giving, resourceful, and seem to know how to do almost anything. I have also been amazed in my travels throughout Transylvania by hoew people “make it work” in difficult situations and circumstances.
7. The most surprising thing during your stay in Romania so far?
Jenny: I know I could say something more interesting, but the answer is Lady Gaga. Why is she everywhere?
8. Comparing US and Romania - what is the biggest difference in the mentality of the people?
Jenny: When I was in the US, I tended to notice a sense of optimism and individualism among the general population. If something needed to be changed in your community or personal life, it’s up to you to do it, and the path to do so was generally transparent (maybe full of legal jargon but understandable by someone). Most importantly, I felt that you could always find someone to say that “it” is possible. Here, it’s hard to go a day without hearing the expression, “Asta este.” “That’s the way it is.” From my observations, people do not generally feel like they have the power make change, but they also receive little encouragement from peers. Of course, as I say this, I can think of many wonderful exceptions, but the general atmosphere is simply different.
9. Do You think that your work is useful and will make any change?
Jenny: I find that what I do is often useful in ways I did not expect, and I hope that the work I do will have an impact later on. The environmental lessons may not immediately influence behavior change, but the personal attention does. I can’t tell you how irked I get when I see my kids still throwing their ice cream wrappers on the ground after the numerous times we have picked up trash and learned about the negative impact on the environment. However, some of the same kids have adopted a monument in the village and have formed a club to take care of it, showing that they are learning to take responsibility and initiative. Hey, you can’t win everything, can you?
What do You expect after finishing that project?
Jenny: I would like for my Romanian colleagues to continue our work with kids in Săsar and the other villages in the commune, and I know that they will using some of the resources I will leave behind. Personally, I want to be accepted into Veterinary School.
Interview with Bogdan Ilutiu - member of SOMASCHI organization
If You could describe Your organization in one sentence - what would You say?Bogdan: Nice! Try to be close to people in need.
When did you start Your work in Romania?
Bogdan: In 1994 we organized our first summer camp but officially we started our work in 1997.
What is the main goal of SOMASCHI?
Bogdan: Helping children in need (homeless, from broken homes).
How many volunteers do You have in Baia Mare?
Bogdan: In Baia Mare we have around 30 volunteers but we collaborate with the others, who used to live here but they moved to different cities.
Do You have some foreign volunteers?
Bogdan: Yes, we do. Every year we have a few foreign volunteers. For example from Italy.
What was Your the biggest undertaking?
Bogdan: We opened night shelter – the only one in this area - for homeless children and with law
problems.
Plans for future?
Bogdan: We will try to develop our work to prepare youngsters (over 14) to social life and build up their future.
What activities do You have right now?
Bogdan: In one hand we carry day center for children from 12-18 years old, who attend school. From the other hand we try to persuade those who don’t to continue their education. There is also a foster house with 8 children and we help them. The other important thing is that our volunteers are trying to persuade addicted people to quit it and visit our shelter. We have our own pharmacy, where people whom we help can get free medicaments.
Is SOMASCHI well known in Baia Mare? What are You doing to involve people to Your projects?
Bogdan: Yes, we are quite well known. To involve more people we are doing volunteer’s recruitments.
From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc.?
Bogdan: We are taking our funds from: City Hall, donators from Italy, from ourselves, government. We also sell things made by children.
What is the biggest problem in Your organization?
Bogdan: Lack of qualified crew, and of course money.
Do You cooperate with any other organization?Bogdan: Helping children in need (homeless, from broken homes).
How many volunteers do You have in Baia Mare?
Bogdan: In Baia Mare we have around 30 volunteers but we collaborate with the others, who used to live here but they moved to different cities.
Do You have some foreign volunteers?
Bogdan: Yes, we do. Every year we have a few foreign volunteers. For example from Italy.
What was Your the biggest undertaking?
Bogdan: We opened night shelter – the only one in this area - for homeless children and with law
problems.
Plans for future?
Bogdan: We will try to develop our work to prepare youngsters (over 14) to social life and build up their future.
What activities do You have right now?
Bogdan: In one hand we carry day center for children from 12-18 years old, who attend school. From the other hand we try to persuade those who don’t to continue their education. There is also a foster house with 8 children and we help them. The other important thing is that our volunteers are trying to persuade addicted people to quit it and visit our shelter. We have our own pharmacy, where people whom we help can get free medicaments.
Is SOMASCHI well known in Baia Mare? What are You doing to involve people to Your projects?
Bogdan: Yes, we are quite well known. To involve more people we are doing volunteer’s recruitments.
From where are You taking Your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc.?
Bogdan: We are taking our funds from: City Hall, donators from Italy, from ourselves, government. We also sell things made by children.
What is the biggest problem in Your organization?
Bogdan: Lack of qualified crew, and of course money.
Bogdan: Yes, with Caritas, ASSOC, Red Cross, City Hall, Esperanto and Churches.
