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Summer Camp Volunteer Project in Romania - Miercurea Ciuc

Summer Camp Volunteer Project in Romania - Miercurea Ciuc

Ready to slather on your sunscreen and be a Summer Camp volunteer in Romania? International Volunteer HQ’s Summer Camp project is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to gain experience teaching and working with children while having a whole lot of fun. Volunteers assist with the planning and running of English-themed summer camps for children and young teenagers during Romania’s three-month school holidays. Volunteers can help create activities involving music, art, sport and drama which help engage and motivate those on the camp to learn English and have a great time doing it.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
  • Affordable fees from AU$808 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Run fun, English-themed summer camps for young people

  • Discover Romania’s castles and old-world towns

  • Stay with other volunteers in the pretty city of Miercurea Ciuc

Key information

Improve access to quality education
Based at summer camps
Dormitory-style volunteer apartments
Volunteers aged 16+, or 12+ accompanied
Fully hosted experience from AU$808 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Hungarian and Romanian lessons available
Up to 8 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Energetic, fun-loving volunteers who are interested in finding creative ways to teach English and entertain children over the summer holidays from mid-June to mid-September. You don’t need to have any experience in teaching or working with children to participate on this project, as you’ll be working with the support of a local camp facilitator who will provide direction and guidance.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Summer camps can be unforgettable experiences for young people, providing a whole range of fun activities and social time in a way that cannot be replicated elsewhere. In Romania, summer holidays are three months long and young people, especially those from the villages, have little to keep themselves occupied. These camps are designed to keep children engaged and having fun during their holiday breaks.

As a Summer Camp volunteer you’ll help the camp team to plan and run English-themed summer camps for young people who range in age from 6 to 15 years old. You’re encouraged to use your passion for things like music, art, sport and drama to create exciting and inspiring programs to help to engage and motivate those on the camp to learn English.

This is a hugely rewarding project, and you can expect plenty of laughter, fun, new friendships and the satisfaction of creating truly memorable summers for locals.

This project is open from mid-June to mid-September each year.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

More than half of all children and teens do not meet minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics. Quality education provides an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment and is key to preventing poverty, securing long-term employment and improving quality of life.

Why do Summer Camp volunteering in Miercurea Ciuc with IVHQ?

When you volunteer at Summer Camps in Romania you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Encouraging students to learn English in a fun way
  • Helping students spend their holidays in a constructive way
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining childcare and teaching experience
  • Immersing yourself in Romanian culture
  • Exploring Romania’s historic cities

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English.
  • Fluency in Romanian or Hungarian is not a prerequisite for the IVHQ Romania volunteer program. However we recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our partner staff in Romania. Volunteers find that taking these lessons help immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Volunteers interested in taking Romanian or Hungarian lessons can arrange these directly with the local staff once in Romania.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

AH
Ashley Hunt
11 Aug 2023

I gained so much knowledge and appreciation for the lives of the people I touched. I absolutely loved getting to interact with the kids, learning how to play their games, and talking to them about my home country. This has been one of the greatest highlights of my life and I hope I can return!

...
KH
Kate Highton
14 Sep 2022

Don’t hesitate - just do it! You will come home with a wealth of knowledge and a new mindset!

...
JH
James Highton
14 Sep 2022

It's a great experience that not only brings you together with like minded people but also teaches you a lot about yourself.

...
TT
Tiffany Tawil
04 May 2022

This volunteering experience was amazing! I will never forget the amazing team of local and international volunteers and the kids at the Summer Camp.

...
AP
Alexander Popa
15 Aug 2021

Everyone in Romania was very friendly and welcoming, especially the local staff, other volunteers and children. The highlight of my program was organizing the activities for the kids at the camp and being part of it.

...
AR
Amelie Rigoll
31 Aug 2020

I had an amazing time with this program. The city is great, everyone in the team is extremely friendly. In only 2 weeks I made new friends, experienced a new culture and had so many fun moments. Working with the children in the summer camps was so great as well. I loved every single minute of this trip!

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

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Volunteer Abroad in Romania with IVHQ

Location

IVHQ’s Romanian projects are based in and around Miercurea Ciuc - a town in the Harghita county of Romania. It lies in the Székely Land, an Hungarian-speaking region in eastern Transylvania. It has an interesting history, pretty European architecture spanning centuries, an annual music festival, a Catholic pilgrimage, and winter temperatures that reach -30°C or −22 °F, which makes it the perfect place for cold season sports like ice hockey and speed skating.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Miercurea Ciuc the day before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flight to arrive at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP).

Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee, however, if you arrive outside of Sunday between 9:00AM - 10:00PM, your pick-up will incur an extra cost of US$150.

We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night prior to your start date. If you are travelling in Romania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a pre-arranged location in Miercurea Ciuc the day before your program orientation. There are two options for orientation in Romania, a One-Day Orientation and an Orientation Week.

One-Day Orientation: This is a standard full-day induction on your selected start date that covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Romania. You’ll be provided with an introduction to Romania, meet the program staff and get an overview of procedures. You’ll learn about the history of Romania and Hungary, religion, festivals, customs and traditions, dress/clothing, safety issues, food, transportation and travel opportunities and go through details about your volunteer project and accommodation​.​ The afternoon includes an introduction to the Hungarian language and a city tour of Miercurea Ciuc​ which is​ provided by local volunteers.​ ​The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

Introduction Week: This takes place during the first week of your program. This introduction week has an extra cost of US$540 (approximately AU$866) and is very popular among IVHQ volunteers. It includes everything on the One-Day Orientation as well as Hungarian lessons, trips to a castle, a Franciscan monastery, local villages, salt mines, a giant statue of Jesus Christ, museums, mountains and mineral springs. You’ll have the weekend free to do as you please before your specific placement orientation the following Monday. We recommend all volunteers take advantage of this week as it’s a great way to help settle the culture shock you can face when arriving in Romania.

The Introduction Week begins on your selected start date and your volunteer work will start the following week. If you wish to participate in the One-week Introduction, you’ll need to tell your IVHQ Program Manager in advance. You need to book a place and pay for this week before your volunteer program starts.

Volunteer schedule example

Weekdays

Start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are volunteering on, with some beginning in the morning and some in the afternoon. A typical schedule is as follows:

8:00 AM Volunteers prepare their ​own ​breakfast at the accommodation.
9:00 AM Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project.
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch. Volunteers either eat lunch at a local restaurant or, in some cases, at their placement.
3:00 - 5:00 PM Afternoon placements usually end. Volunteers are free to return to the volunteer accommodation, plan for the following day’s activities or use their free time as they wish.
7:00 PM Volunteers prepare their dinner at the volunteer accommodation and have the remainder of the evening free.

Weekends

Volunteers have the weekends free and there is no shortage of things to do in Harghita or further afield in Romania. Volunteers can fill their free time with local markets, adventure activities or simply exploring parts of Harghita. Romania is a popular tourist destination, offering beautiful nature and scenery, with great trekking, climbing, biking, rafting and kayaking opportunities. Volunteers who wish to take a long weekend to travel can enjoy beautiful limestone mountains and explore Old World Europe.

Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield in Romania and neighboring countries such as Hungary and Bulgaria. Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Miercurea Ciuc, with the advice and guidance of our local staff.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated predominantly in one of two neighboring volunteer apartments or in a volunteer house. The smaller apartment accommodates up to 8 ​volunteers of the same gender in 1 room whereas the larger apartment, with 3 bedrooms, accommodates up to 19 ​volunteers. During the summer you can expect to be sharing with 7-17 people if you are in the female apartment (distributed between 3 connecting rooms) and in the male apartment between 4-8 people. In all other months the number is usually between 3-6 people. The volunteer house is made up of 4 rooms and you can expect to share a room with one other person of the same gender.

Th​e ​accommodation is based centrally and is within 10 - 15 minutes walking distance to the ​local team’s office, and steps away from numerous cafes and restaurants. Bedding is provided and towels are available on request. A washing machine is available for volunteers to keep their clothing and bedding fresh. If you have any specific requests in regards to your accommodation, please let your IVHQ Program Manager know, and our local team will do their best to arrange that for you.

WiFi is available at the volunteer apartments and volunteer house, as well as at many cafes and restaurants in the area. To keep connected, you can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with one cooked meal per day. This meal is provided either at a local restaurant or ​at your placement. Breakfast, dinner and weekend meals are self-​prepared using supplies in the volunteer accommodation. Food is purchased on a regular basis by the accommodation manager, and volunteers can place specific food requests with him if they wish.

If you choose to eat away from the accommodation, you can typically expect the main meal of the day to be lunch with two courses. The first course is always a traditional soup which is followed by the second course of potato or rice dishes, chicken, pork, goulash or stews and pasta dishes. Bread is commonly served with all meals and as it’s often made with potatoes it can be quite heavy. Vegetarians can expect to be offered either cheese or mushroom dishes as a general norm at restaurants.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week AU$807 Equivalent to AU$115/day
2 weeks AU$1389 Equivalent to AU$99/day
3 weeks AU$1817 Equivalent to AU$87/day
4 weeks AU$2244 Equivalent to AU$80/day
5 weeks AU$2666 Equivalent to AU$76/day
6 weeks AU$3087 Equivalent to AU$74/day
8 weeks AU$3930 Equivalent to AU$70/day
10 weeks AU$4773 Equivalent to AU$68/day
12 weeks AU$5593 Equivalent to AU$67/day
16 weeks AU$7234 Equivalent to AU$65/day
20 weeks AU$8846 Equivalent to AU$63/day
24 weeks AU$10449 Equivalent to AU$62/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Romania generally find US$60 to be sufficient for weekly expenses including, transportation, water and miscellaneous spending.

Free-time experiences & tours in Romania

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Romania! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Romania program.

Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From AU$24
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From AU$48
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From AU$24
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From AU$48

Hungarian and Romanian language lessons

We recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable Hungarian and Romanian lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by local language teachers. These language courses are organised during your program orientation and are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Hungarian or Romanian. We believe that taking these lessons can help you immensely with your day to day volunteer work and communicating with local people.

  • Three hour intensive private class = US$30 (recommended for short term volunteers)
  • One hour private class = US$15

These language lessons can be booked directly through IVHQ once you have registered for the Romania program.

Check what's required to visit Romania

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Bucharest
Population 20 Million
Languages Romanian
Currency Romanian Leu (RON)
Time zone UTC+02:00

Weather and climate

Romania has a temperate-continental climate with distinct seasons, cold winters and hot summers. Daytime temperatures in winter range from 0°C to 5°C and in the summers months 25°C to 30°C. The IVHQ Romania program is based in Transylvania where the average temperatures are a little more extreme than the average.

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How to get started

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