Studies: International Relations

Experience in the field of volunteering: translation of articles from French into English for the website of BICE (NGO working for the protection of children’s rights);

Volunteering at the Charity Centre for Refugees NGO: providing assistance in organisation of the Summer School for refugee women and children activities, helping with the second-hand room in the Temporary Accommodation Centre for asylum seekers, technical documentation support..

This is my first volunteering experience where I am directly in touch with people and it has been very interesting to meet different refugees coming from various countries – Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan etc. Even though there is the barrier of the language – I don’t speak Romanian nor Arabic and I just started Russian classes – I had good moments with mothers and children. We created bracelets, postcards and even a handbag made of newspapers and we had lots of “chay” and coffee while trying to know each other.

This experience has given me the opportunity to see with my proper eyes what I have studied at University and what I have read in newspapers. Even though Moldova is a small country and isn’t the biggest recipient of refugees, I have understood the integration process in Moldovan society.

I am glad I had the chance to work with such a nice and friendly team and to work with another volunteer as well. I really felt at home. This volunteering experience also enabled me to discover such a beautiful and interesting country that is Moldova and made me fall in love with its traditional cuisine, especially with “placinte”.