Today Romanians are undergoing exciting democratic and economic reforms, while still living with the lingering effects of disastrous health-care and economic policies initiated by earlier regimes. While progress is apparent, they cannot make it alone. The college is located in Barlad, a city of 80,000. Tutova hospital, a village near Barlad, and Codaesti Hospital, near Iasi, care for underweight babies who arrive shortly after birth. Just playing with these children will make a huge difference in their lives.
Physicians can also be helpful, but flexibility is key as equipment and medicine are scarce.
Because the hospitals are self-supporting and produces most of their food from their own gardens and livestock, volunteers may be asked to perform light maintenance during warm months. In Barlad, volunteers teach conversational English, the sciences and computer skills to high school students. No formal teaching experience is required. This is an intensely rewarding experience for the volunteers and the children. Volunteers provide babies with the stimulation, love and nurturing that a parent normally would provide.