Laura Williams, an ex Ashton-on-Ribble High School pupil spent a year working with orphans in Romania. Here is her report:-

I decided to take a gap year between college and university because I needed a break from study, and I wanted to take a path that was different to the majority of students of my age. That path took me to Romania, after applying and being accepted to undertake a GAP Activity Project living and working in a Romanian orphanage. I needed to raise about £1,200 for the whole 5 months to cover my GAP fees, insurance, flights etc., and as I planned to travel I saved an extra £500. I set off for my placement with 76 other volunteers I had met only for a day previously and I spent 2 weeks completing an orientation and TEFL course (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). This gave me a chance to get used to the culture shock which I encountered, mainly due to the extreme poverty in Romania.

It was so strange seeing children begging for money and the hordes of stray dogs that roamed the streets, made even scarier by the threat of rabies. The Communist rule, which was overturned in 1989, still left marks on the society, and the fact everyone had the same type of Romanian car (called a Dacia) and lived in high-rise flats are just some of the examples of this. However, I feel that Communism had left even deeper scars in this society, affecting the way people thought and acted.

I was based with one other girl in an orphanage, 7 hours train journey from the capital, in a town called Iasi (pronounced Yash) and we made our own way there after completing the first two weeks. The orphanage wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be with carpets, hot water most days, and the kids had bunks, beds or slept on sofas. The thing that really affected the children was the way they were treated, and not only in the orphanage. There is a lot of stigma attached to orphans and they aren’t fairly treated at school or when they are looking for employment. The fact that they live in an orphanage will haunt them for the rest of their lives and will probably lead them to begging or crime to survive.

We had our own room, but the kids were always in and out because they were free from the so-called carers when they were with us. Even now I can still remember hearing children suffering abuse, or my horror at finding the marks the next day. We were told what it would be like, and we were also told it was the way in Romania and we had to live with it. Even so, I hope our presence did help the kids in some ways. We managed to take each child out during our five months, to the cinema, or MacDonald’s or to a fireworks display, and I hope we gave them at least one happy memory.

The first few months were spent getting to know the children and being someone they could trust. I feel I developed close relationships with most, if not all the children. This made it hard to bear as Christmas approached and I knew they wouldn’t have any presents to open on the day. I thought of some way to combat the problem, and after running up a Master Card bill of almost £1,000 (and still not having everything the kids needed!) I decided to write to the Lancashire Evening Post which ran an article on my stay and asked for donations. I doubted that people would respond, as I thought everyone would be caught up with their own celebrations, yet I received over 60 parcels before and after Christmas. So each child received presents on Christmas Day and also on a second Christmas, as we celebrated later with the parcels which didn’t arrive in time!

I am so grateful for the selflessness of people who sent presents to children they would never know. I was also proud that people in England did realize that other countries need help. Christmas was a strange day, being away from my family and friends, but it was so special to spend it with the orphans.

I left Romania very tearful, but satisfied that I’d helped, in a small way, children who needed so much. It was such an emotional experience, and I have so many treasured memories that I will never forget. I’m still sending the children what I know they need, and I’m planning to go back to Romania. They have become such an important part of my life now and I feel that I have two homes and two families.

To anyone thinking of taking a year out, I’d say, "Go for it". It’s hard work and it can be very draining but it will be the best thing you do. As for the money situation, it’s best done through sponsorship, and even though it might leave you a bit strapped for cash you still have the most important thing – your youth.