Monthly Program Spotlight

Every month we highlight can’t miss opportunities to Have Fun & Help People at one of our locations worldwide.
This might involve building a school in Ghana, a home in Romania, special work at a Lao orphanage, and much much more.
Though we work hand in hand with local communities to ensure that all of our programs are meaningful, you’ll find here particularly life changing programs of extraordinary benefit to our local partners, host communities, and you!

This Month's Volunteer Vaction Spotlight - Romania!

Romania Mania: Castles, Communism, and Dracula

In a darkly beautiful land thick with wooded areas, cobblestone streets, and castles the mystery and magic of Romania remains. This is a land of ancient castles, and medieval churches. One can spend their days hiking around the watch towers of the Black church and then take in a riveting organ performance that will rattle your core. One can also travel to Bram’s Castle, but if you say Dracula’s the directions will be the same. If that castle is a little too dark for your taste, the Royal summer residence of Peles Castle in Sanaia is a welcome reprieve with its light hearted mountain village setting and resort amenities. There are also beautiful Romanian Balls to behold, as well as rejuvenating thermal waters in which to relax. Maybe this is how Dracula lured his dinner!

Romania has experienced a tumultuous past. Communist occupation by the USSR began in 1947 and continued late into the 1950s. At which time Romania’s natural resources were continually drained for exploratory efforts. The communist era of Romania was an especially dark time for its citizens. All food stuffs were exported in an effort to eliminate the mounting foreign debt, and “enemies of the state” were tortured and killed regularly. One particularly inventive form of torture inflicted upon thousands of Romanians was to expose them to low levels of radiation to induce rare forms of cancer. The fall of communist Russia in 1989 may have made larger headlines, but the same outcome in Romania was by far more brutal. Romania’s then leader Nicolae Ceausescu was killed in the fall of the communist regime, as well as an estimated 2 million other Romanians. The rebuilding of Romania as a democratic nation has been a very slow process. Romania was only entered in the European Union in 2007. Distrust has scared the people and change has been slow to come, but the pulsating people of Romanians are once again displaying their traditional customs while also embracing modern democracy. Cities such as Brasov (pronounced brash-of) have become quite metropolitan: complete with internet cafes, great shopping and delicious food amid a charming medieval town center. Brasov is an example of how Romanians are incorporating democracy and commerce into their old world surroundings, which have made it a unique and picturesque destination.

The silver lining of Romania’s checked past is the food, which is the result of several occupations. The sheer number of cultures found in the land now called Romania is astounding (and delicious). Turks, Hungarians, Austrians, Poles, Russians, as well as the Romans and other Latin influences have all shaped the gastronomic adventure of Romania. McDonalds made its way in after the fall of the wall, but do not waste your time eating the familiar, traditional dishes are a must!

The Romanian flag is characterized by three colors, meant to represent “Liberty, Justice, and Fraternity” Interesting, that a country that represents its self as a tri-fecta of good feelings would be the home of an entire culture of second class citizens. Originally, Roma peoples were brought from India in the 13th century as slave laborers, and have been settling in Romania since the early 15th century. There are currently over 40 clans of Roma, each with their own traditional clothing, customs, and superstitions. While the Roma have long been established in Romania, they have yet to be recognized by the government as legitimate citizens, and are refused land ownership, birth certificates, identification papers, or legal identity papers of any kind. This of course presents a plethora of problems for the Roma. It makes it difficult to enter the job market, as well as hard to receive unemployment benefits. 80% of Roma in Romania live in abject poverty, earning less than $2.15 a day. The national discrimination of the Roma has made even attending school too hazardous and emotionally disturbing as the taunts and abuse are widespread. Globe Aware works to improve the conditions of the Roma people by reducing poverty and discrimination through educational opportunities as well building homes for the Roma families.

The food was outstanding...definitely exceeded my expectations. Meal times were definitely a wonderful part of the experience.- Tara Dubois

We were on the ground floor of starting a new project and that was exciting. Each day ended with surveying our accomplishments and in my job I don't often have the pleasure of seeing daily progress. I loved working with my co-volunteers. Our coordinator Simona could not have been more lovely and accommodating. We learned a great deal about Romania, its history; and its dreams for the future. I just can't say enough about what a great experience I had....THANK YOU- Kathe Monroe