My volunteer work in the dog project in Romania

My journey to the project

My journey began at the airport in Berlin. From there I flew to Bucharest. I was really excited and so many thoughts were circling in my head. But ultimately this trip should be unforgettable!

When you arrive in Bucharest, you first have to let the many new impressions sink in. The Romanian or Hungarian language and the fact that you could only pay with Leu and not with Euro made me realize that I really wasn't in Germany anymore. Oh God.

The shock quickly faded when you were greeted by the driver and the other volunteers; you immediately felt like you belonged and were warmly welcomed. They were very friendly and open. Since most of the people spoke English, I forced myself to do the same. That worked quite well, but I was still happy that there was a German among them who understood my language 100% :D.

We drove for about 6 hours by car through many villages and beautiful mountain landscapes to our volunteer house, which was in Miercurea Ciuc. We were welcomed there immediately and informed about what would happen over the next few days. After everyone had found their assigned bed, we went to a restaurant together and devoured a pizza and then recharged our batteries with a well-deserved sleep.

The orientation program

The orientation program was scheduled for the next day. It spanned two days. On the first day, all the newcomers gathered in front of the accommodation. There we were welcomed again and instructed about the shopping list, garbage disposal, contact persons and a few other things. Afterwards we went to Peter's office, which was about a 15 minute walk away. There was a get-to-know-you session, information about the culture and language and much more. We were very well informed about everything. The only surprise was that not all volunteers worked on the same project. Some participated in a summer camp project or helped in the office. This meant you could quickly start talking to others and learn a lot of new things.

Then the language course began. Since Hungarian was predominantly spoken in Romania, Peter tried to introduce us to this language. He did great and it was also very funny. But I was very happy that the language course only lasted one hour. Hungarian was very demanding. At the end of the day there was a city tour. This was carried out by former volunteers. We got closer as a group and saw many beautiful and historic buildings such as the school, the church, bars and more. In the evening you fell into bed dead.

On the second day we visited the dog shelter. My German journeyman, Daniel, was also there. We were so excited and curious about what awaited us? First of all: a lot of barking dogs. We were given a tour and lots of information about the dog shelter, for example that 300-400 dogs were housed there. We were also informed about our tasks.

The areas of responsibility in the project

The main work was cuddling the puppies. Dead easy? Oh no! I thought that too at first.

When Daniel and I were led into a puppy enclosure for the first time, seven cute little rascals jumped out at us. Everyone wanted to play with you, sit on your lap or eat your shoelaces and hats. Long trousers are definitely recommended, as the cute puppies also have claws, which they sometimes accidentally use during play. You quickly discover who is a rebel and reacts quickly to maneuvers and who is more shy and needs a little more communication. The most important thing is to include the shy ones: cuddle lovingly, play, let off steam. Since the first tour of the animal shelter, the days have passed so quickly. Daniel and I exchanged ideas a lot and we agreed: This work fills your soul. People quickly fell in love with the puppies, but also with many other older dogs who came to this animal shelter with a variety of stories. The carers there were so loving with the dogs that you thought they were all family.

The daily puppy tours quickly gave rise to new tasks for Daniel and me, such as:

• Walking older dogs and puppies outdoors
• Help with feeding
• Help with a photo shoot of the dogs (for the animal shelter website)
• Cleaning the dog kennels

A special activity I would like to highlight is the construction of an outdoor enclosure for young and older dogs. This was a project close to my heart. With the help of Luca, who was doing an FSJ at this animal shelter, and Daniel, we cleaned a meadow in front of the animal shelter together. We cleared it of weeds and trash, built a fence and made this area accessible to dogs. Today you can see on the animal shelter site how the dogs can run around freely under supervision. Every time my heart melts at the sight. Once you have gained the trust of the employees, there is always something to do at the Dog Shelter. The help is welcome and I am sure there is something for everyone.

Accommodation in Romania

As already mentioned, I was accommodated in the Volunteer House. At the beginning we were around 15 volunteers in total. I lived in a room with three other girls. One came from England and the other originally from Australia. They were around my age and, despite the language barrier, I was able to learn a lot about their country, their culture and their personal interests and vice versa. The rooms were nice and spacious and clean. From the kitchen to the bathroom and WiFi, everything you needed to survive and feel good was there.

Leisure in Romania

In fact, working at the Dog Shelter was so much fun that you almost had to force yourself to take the opportunity to explore the surroundings. Overall, our group was very adventurous and with this energy we were happy to be carried along. We went to many cafes, restaurants and bars, all within a 5-10 minute walk of the Volunteer House. Of course we didn’t miss the beautiful Sumuleu Ciuc Basilica.

Real highlights were the Dracula Castle in Transylvania, the Peles Castle in Brasov and the hike through Misericordia to a lookout tower. These tours guarantee beautiful views and getting to know the history and sights of Romania.

But I would also highly recommend visiting a club, museum, concert or watching a village festival! You learn so much about the Romanian customs and traditions that are maintained there every day. All of this can also be found in the area surrounding the accommodation.

Special insight

It's worth leaving your own comfort zone. You can't put into words what a trip like this does to you. I learned so much about other cultures and people, but also about myself. After the project I had completely new perspectives and thought processes. I have become much more cosmopolitan and have realized that the language English, for example, can be a springboard to many new acquaintances and experiences. Or that other cultures are so fascinating, but I have dealt with them far too rarely.

If you are still in doubt: take the step, it's worth it!

Why RGV?

A structured, friendly and respectful organization was very important to me. The RGV team had accomplished all of this and more. There was never a lack of information about the country and support before, during and after the trip. Thank you for this unique experience.

Experience report from Julia, volunteer in the dog project in Romania, August to September 2022