This month, Mairéad (Grade 12), an Upper School Service Ambassador, speaks with Romania Club leaders Dora and Caterina (Grade 10) about their service in Romania.
Every year, Ms. Gediman leads a group of students on a trip to Romania to work with Romanian Children’s Relief (RCR). Mairéad has experienced the impact of this trip first-hand for two years in a row. However, to gain more insight into the efforts of the Romania Club, she had the pleasure of speaking with this year’s tenth grade Romania Club leaders, Dora and Caterina.
First of all, can you introduce the Romania Club?
Dora: TASIS England’s Romania Club is a student-run organisation that works with the Romanian Children’s Relief Foundation (Fundatia Inocenti), to raise money, aid, and awareness for underprivileged Romanian children. Ultimately, its goal is to foster a relationship between TASIS England students and children from Bistrița, Romania.
You both traveled to Romania last February for the first time on the service trip. What was that like for you?
Caterina: For us both, this trip and its significance was the driving force in pushing us to become so involved in the Romania Club.
Dora: My time in Romania was eye-opening, and was something neither one of us thought we would experience. It made us reflect on our own privilege (not just financially, but family and health-wise as well), priorities, and plans for the future.
Caterina: We spent our days visiting schools, like La Crima, helping with after-school programs, and visiting care homes. Sometimes, just being with the children and performing seemingly everyday activities was met with such a rush of gratefulness that it really changes your perspective.
When I asked you how the Romania trip affected your desire to be involved in RCR and the Romania Club, you both immediately answered "more.". Tell us more.
Dora: Being in Romania completely changed our viewpoints, having been involved in the Romania Club previously. The tangible impacts of their work were seen throughout the trip, but specifically when reencountering the children after having not seen them for days.
Caterina: They were so excited to see us, like we really meant something to them. Personally, I remember feeling the weight of what we were doing as I sat with a young girl, confined to her bed, while she refused to let go of my hand.
Dora: We were both confronted head-on with the impact they were having, given the opportunity to connect with the children we were serving, and we gained a deep, emotional investment in the cause. Suddenly, there were faces that matched the names on the cards we were sending.
What are your favorite memories from your time in Romania?
Both: Taking the boys from the group home to the play area was particularly meaningful, mainly because of the sheer joy it evoked. Jumping on trampolines, careening around on bikes, or quietly building Lego towers – the happiness was infectious.
You have not only put in incredible effort when in Romania, but back home in TASIS England as well. Please share more.
Dora: The Upper School Club Fair saw 67 new sign-ups for the Romania Club this year alone! The Romania Club bake sale, organised by us, provided yet another means of drawing TASIS students to the club, as well as a great deal of fundraising for RCR. The students counted £136.55 from the bake sale. At the school play this year, we plan to sell entertainment treats and raise further awareness and support for RCR.
Finally, I want to leave you with this question: why would you recommend becoming involved in the Romania Club?
Caterina: If you are sure about it, join. If you are unsure, still join. In my opinion, traveling to Romania on the service trip is such a great experience that's hard to describe unless you experience it first-hand.
Dora: Upon returning home, we both felt that everything was different for us.
They are not alone. I took one step into my house after my first time in Romania and proceeded to cry my eyes out. The Romania Club is an incredible example of student service at TASIS England, and the impacts it has don't solely hold significance for the children of Bistrița, but for us as well.
Interviewer: Mairéad, Grade 12 student