WHERE CAN WE VOLUNTEER?
The House of Angels (HOA) in Romania accepts volunteers year-round. We can accommodate up to 4 adult volunteers per trip, or one family with children.
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?
Suitable for all adult individual and group volunteers, especially helpful are trained medical, therapist and nursing professionals! Non-medical volunteers are welcome to be a general helping hand too, love of children and knowledge of the care of children is a must. Volunteers work with caregivers and therapists to assist with the care of the orphans daily. Please note if you are a family with children, some of the children’s health conditions at the HOA might be disturbing to young ones. Please make sure that your child is of a maturity level to handle this.
LENGTH OF THE TRIP
There are both long-term and short-term opportunities available. We will need to discuss with you which option would be best for you.
PURPOSE OF THE TRIP
To provide an enriching, fulfilling and rewarding experience to volunteers who want a hands on trip that will forever change lives. You will be interacting with orphaned children, disabled children, children and families at high risk of abandonment, the neediest of the poor, and you will see first hand our children’s center, and will certainly make a difference in a child’s life.
Many of the children have multiple disabilities and the need for individual attention and care is great. Volunteers are much needed to assist the staff and physiotherapists in the daily care for the children. Much work will be in playing with the children, in initiating activities that stimulate them, as well as in care giving. It is this invaluable interaction, love, care and attention that could make a significant difference to the humble lives of these children.
Our volunteers will also have an opportunity to visit the beautiful Wallachian area of Targoviste, Romania and learn about the culture of the people of Romania.
For small volunteer groups of two to four we have rooms in the House of Angels set aside for volunteers. We can also arrange lodging at the local hotel which is within walking distance of the House of Angels. This is a no frills motel like hotel with only 10 rooms. The village is very quaint, safe and people are friendly and know why the Americans come. It is a wonderful place to soak up the lifestyle of the typical small town Romanian.
NEXT TRIP DATES
We plan trips year-round for volunteers, however, we do not plan trips over Romanian holidays. Based on your need we will try to work around those dates, and will confirm with you if your trip dates are possible.
COSTS
Some of the costs are variable and some are fixed. Please plan in advance for having enough money available to you in case of an emergency as well.
- Airfare from your city, costs vary.
- Pickup and Return to Bucharest $80 per car
- Meals (2 meals/day) and Lodging at HOA $25 per person per day
- Lodging at the local hotel: $35 per day per person
- Optional Day Sight Seeing Trip for volunteer groups of more than one person, to a Bran Castle or Peles Castle $100 per person, includes meals on the trip and you will spend one day taking in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains.
- Optional Day Sight Seeing Trip For Single Volunteers, a trip to Targoviste at the Castle Ruins and shopping (about 30 minutes away) $30 for one volunteer.
- We request a small donation to the center that will be prepaid to Little Miracles prior to travel to Romania and a tax receipt can be written to you for this purpose. You can pay by credit card via our website, or send a personal check. Every bit helps us to help the children. Our suggested donation is $100, however we will accept any amount no matter how small or large.
- Money for additional food and shopping
- You may prepay all your costs and the money can be wired ahead of time.
VOLUNTEER ITINERARY
Our itinerary is tight for arriving volunteers. We want them to experience as much as possible in the time they stay. We suggest a trip no less than 7 days for a full volunteer experience.
- Depart from your city and fly to Bucharest, Romania. You will be met at the airport and driven to the HOA or your lodging.
- Meet with Officials and Staff, tour the city and learn your way around for the internet cafe, shops and restaurants. The HOA has a computer as well.
- You will be at the HOA center each morning for breakfast then assist staff with the preparing for the care taking of the children. You will be fed lunch and then again assist staff. The meals at the House of Angels are delicious and plentiful. Finally, if you can find room to put another meal there is supper! You will be able to play and interact, do crafts and work with the children in a hands-on environment. You are free to come and go from the center as you wish. At night there is a guard, and the doors are locked to the center.
- Daily interaction with the children, therapeutic play, teaching, cuddling, and daily infant and child care for the disabled. Your heart will be never be the same realizing that the dreams of these children are so simple and so beautiful.
- Optional site seeing trip
- You will also have time to shop and just relax and to go to the green market and see the sites of the town. There is a nice park that shows movies outdoors in the summer evenings in English. There are several delicious restaurants, and it is safe to walk around during the day alone, night time it is suggested to have a walking buddy. There is internet access in the internet cafe and at the HOA. LMI can assist you with understanding about phone access
- Return to Bucharest and possibly have a few hours to shop and see the sights.
- Fly home, changed forever!
VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES
We will be asking you to assist us with paperwork that will be required by our agency, Little Miracles, and also will be required by the Romanian government for you to work with the children. This paperwork has to be in order before the trip.
- To accurately and completely furnish any personal information requested for approval.
- You will fill out an application and get child abuse, police and medical clearance.
- To have a valid passport.
- To get any vaccinations your doctor recommends. A tetanus shot is recommended.
- To review all information furnished about Romania, its culture and customs.
- To respect the customs of the Romanian people and to be sensitive to them.
- To follow the advice of the House of Angels staff and interpreters and all rules set forth for volunteers.
Contact e-mail
Please e-mail Volunteer Coordinator, Tonya Deputy for more information about the trip!
