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NGO Support Volunteer Project in Romania - Miercurea Ciuc

NGO Support Volunteer Project in Romania - Miercurea Ciuc

Interested in being an NGO Support volunteer in Romania? International Volunteer HQ’s NGO Support project empowers volunteers to assist a local NGO which focuses on education in the community. Volunteers will gain real life experience of working with an NGO, use their existing skills, learn new ones and support an initiative aiming to build stronger local communities and helping people in need.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
  • Affordable fees from £416 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Widen the reach of a local NGO focused on providing education in the community

  • Discover Romania’s historic castles and towns

  • Stay with other volunteers in charming Miercurea Ciuc

Key information

Support the community through NGO initiatives
Based with an NGO
Dormitory-style volunteer apartments
Volunteers aged 16+, or 12+ accompanied
Fully hosted experience from £416 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Hungarian and Romanian lessons available
Up to 6 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who want to make a meaningful contribution to local communities in Romania. Those with experience or qualifications in marketing, communication and fundraising may be able to put their skills to good use.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

There is a great deal of behind-the-scenes work involved in accomplishing the goals of local NGOs in Romania. On the NGO Support project you will be part of a vibrant and innovative team working towards the goal of building stronger local communities and helping people in need.

As an NGO Support volunteer you will work with an NGO with a focus on education in the community. Duties are assigned based on the priority of the tasks at the time of your program and in accordance with your skills, interests, experience and volunteer duration. You’ll likely be helping to widen the NGO’s reach through:

  • Marketing
  • Social media management and content creation
  • Photography
  • Basic office administration
  • Systems development
  • Fundraising
  • Record keeping
  • Attending presentations
  • Helping arrange, run and market events

Volunteers are able to use their existing skills and experience, learn new skills, and gain a greater understanding about the operational life of a grassroots NGO.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequalities

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequalities

Covid-19 has deepened existing inequalities, hitting disadvantaged and minority communities the hardest. To reduce inequalities, we must provide better services and support to refugees, migrants, indigenous peoples and people with disabilities.

Why do NGO Support volunteering in Miercurea Ciuc with IVHQ?

When you volunteer with an NGO in Romania you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Supporting the efforts of a local NGO in the community
  • Using your existing skills and knowledge to help
  • Learning about the NGO environment
  • Gaining NGO 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

KS
Kate Sureck
28 Nov 2023

The local team was exceptional in every way. My only regret is that I wish I had stayed longer!

...
JV
Jeanne Trisha Valena
09 Feb 2023

If you want an unforgettable experience and to grow as a person, just do it.

...
TM
Tony Mangia
14 Jul 2022

I had done 11 volunteer programs around the world (9 with IVHQ) and Romania was one of the last places I was interested in. But I'm glad I went. It's a beautiful country and IVHQ offers a wide variety of programs suitable to almost anyone's interests or talents.

...
CM
Corinne Mitchell
11 Feb 2021

I spent 7 weeks as an NGO Support volunteer with IVHQ Romania. Volunteering abroad can come with a lot of questions. It is natural to be both excited, and nervous, about what you will be experiencing. I would, without a doubt, highly recommend volunteering with IVHQ Romania. In deciding which location and program was best for me, the IVHQ staff helped guide me towards useful information and questions to ask myself. Once I signed-up with IVHQ, the materials provided helped me understand what I needed to do to be prepared for my time abroad. Most importantly, the local IVHQ Romania team does an amazing job of supporting its volunteers. Shortly after signing-up they provided information regarding the accommodation, tourist opportunities, and introductory language materials. Before I left, I received more detailed information regarding my placement and the local area and customs. During this preparation period I still had questions, and they were great about answering each of them in a timely manner. By the time I was leaving for Romania, I felt very knowledgeable about what I would be doing and experiencing and was ready to go!

Working as an NGO Support volunteer, I viewed first hand the time and commitment that the local team puts into the volunteer experience. Whether it was organizing transportation for volunteers, adapting to changes at a placement, or making sure volunteers had everything they needed at the accommodation, the local team made sure all needs were met. They check in with volunteers about their placement, may assist at the placement as needed, and will sometimes join the volunteers in after work activities. The group also provides opportunities to mix with locals, through a tour with local volunteers as well as extracurricular activities attended by (and sometimes planned by) locals. In all these ways, you come to feel you are part of the team's community - and the local community as well. All the preparation in the world can't prepare you for how wonderful a feeling that is!

...
MB
Marc Bosch Martínez
16 Sep 2020

Don't let COVID-19 stop you. It's been an incredible and safe experience. IVHQ offers so many projects in so many countries that it's difficult not to find one that suits the requirements of this challenging time. And also, with challenging times, comes more need for help. So if you ever want to make a real impact in a time of need, this is your time. My favourite experiences include helping the organization with a marketing plan for a donations campaign, travelling to Brasov and generally hanging out with my fellow volunteers and locals!

...

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 £446) 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 £416 Equivalent to £60/day
2 weeks £716 Equivalent to £51/day
3 weeks £937 Equivalent to £45/day
4 weeks £1157 Equivalent to £41/day
5 weeks £1375 Equivalent to £39/day
6 weeks £1592 Equivalent to £38/day
8 weeks £2027 Equivalent to £36/day
10 weeks £2461 Equivalent to £35/day
12 weeks £2884 Equivalent to £34/day
16 weeks £3730 Equivalent to £33/day
20 weeks £4562 Equivalent to £33/day
24 weeks £5388 Equivalent to £32/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 £272) 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 GBP.
  • 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 £12
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 £24
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 £12
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 £24

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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