A number of people considering a volunteer placement are asking GVN which communities and projects we believe to be the most in need at a given time. Our responses are often varied due to the needs of our partners or unexpected disasters which can devastate a community. Right now, Romania especially needs your help.RomaniaPopulation: 21.6 millionRomanians living below the poverty line - 22% (2005)Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births - 25.5 (one of the highest in Europe)
Sandie Tanner, one of the Founders of our partner organization in Romania, wrote a heartfelt letter to us recently asking if we could please send more volunteers who could help care for disabled abandoned or orphaned children and young adults.
Sandie said that volunteer numbers have been low recently, which means staff are under resourced and there is no one to lead the recreational activities which bring the residents so much joy.
"We usually run a sports day in May or June but without volunteers this event cannot happen. When we have no volunteers, everything slows down. The most important thing is the volunteers, to keep continuity, to keep the fun happening, "said Sandie.
Bruce and Sandie Tanner started the Tanner Mission after watching a startling documentary about the dire and horrible conditions of state-run orphanages in Romania where it was predicted there was 80,000 to 100,000 orphans in the country. Their plight was made public after the fall of communism in 1989, when it was discovered that children were living in deplorable conditions in the country's 650 orphanages.
The Tanner Mission homes are run like a family unit, where volunteers will act as a mother, father, brother, or sister. There are opportunities to teach, counsel and help with feeding, cooking and cleaning, depending on your skills and experiences. There is a huge focus on the children having FUN, being happy and enjoying the rest of their lives. This is in real contrast to the devastating conditions they have experienced in the state run institutions. There are four group homes, and volunteers will work with residents aged from ten year old children to young adults.
We hope you will consider Romania for your next volunteer placement. The children have suffered so much at a young age, but with your help they will see a brighter future.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, 2007BBC News: Romania: Key facts and figures, 2006
Check out: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/romania/
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