• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • e-Catalog
  • Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy (Sicily)
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Aguadilla – Puerto Rico
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Española – New Mexico
      • Rio Grande Valley – Texas
  • Projects
    • Community Work Projects
      • Delivering Essential Services
      • Teaching Conversational English
      • Supporting Community Development
      • Supplementing School-Based Curricula
      • View All Community Work Projects
  • Dates & Fees
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Monthly
      • January
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
      • All Service Program Dates
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Changemakers Club
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • News
  • Request Information
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
News and Updates

The Children of Barlad – A Reason to Care

Immediately following the fall of Romania’s Ceaușescu regime, the failure of the communist dogma that population growth would fuel economic growth was evident in tens of thousands of children abandoned to state care. The world was shocked by the images.

Mihaela Cirjontu, then a schoolgirl, was moved to take personal interest in solutions to provide the basics for children who deserved a decent life. She led Global Volunteers in 1989 to a small rural “failure-to-thrive” hospital ward sheltering about 30 babies and toddlers from the surrounding countryside. At that time, the little refuge was the only place in the county that children abandoned immediately after birth could be assured clean diapers and nutritious meals – unlike the institutional “warehouses” of the time. Global Volunteers completed the equation – by providing volunteers to give the babies the individual attention they craved.

Mihaela Cirjontu, Global Volunteers’ Romania Country Manager

Mihaela became Global Volunteers’ Romania Country Director in 1999. At the time, she had already been working with humanitarians inside Romania and the U.S. to further child welfare in her country. Now a high school principal, Mihaela, with her husband Don (and their daughter Dahlia) leads Global Volunteers’ teams in Barlad to continue this legacy of care in her home country. Everyone can help cuddle, stimulate and care for Romanian children!

Take a moment with our photo album:

.

Care for These Children as a Volunteer

You may never again feel so loved and appreciated after working with these children. No special skills are necessary – hugs mean love in any language! Programs start year-round. Learn more about volunteering in Romania here.

Learn more

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
April 4, 2017/by Michele Gran
Tags: Care for children
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Children-in-Romania.jpg 1122 1500 Michele Gran https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Michele Gran2017-04-04 16:41:482018-05-18 20:20:52The Children of Barlad – A Reason to Care
You might also like
The Babes of Romania Captured My Heart
Family’s Investment in Worldwide Service Provides Life Lesson for Daughters
Mental Wellness Expert Joins Effort to Help Children Reach their Potential
Colorado Nurse Volunteers to Care for Children Around the World
helping kids in St. LuciaHelping Kids With So Much Potential in St. Lucia
give and receiveI Give Love, but Get Back More in Return
The Children Make all the Difference – St. Lucia
Helping Students to Love Learning
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Partner Communities

  • China (62)
  • Cook Islands (44)
  • Cuba (112)
  • Ecuador (89)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (52)
  • Montana (50)
  • Nepal (19)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (110)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (2)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (56)
  • Tanzania (230)
  • Texas (5)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (7)
  • Conversational English (93)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (121)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (146)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (236)
  • Ripple Effect (7)
  • Service-Learning (49)
  • Staff Worldwide (25)
  • Volunteer Voices (683)
  • Why I Give (18)

Tags

American Indian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people development impact Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee gender equality Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects retiree volunteers Spring break student volunteer summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact volunteer time off work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

Get Global Volunteers News Here!

Enter your email address to receive fresh new posts in your inbox.

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Covid-19 Policy
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

Subscribe to receive updates, new blog posts, and inspiring stories from our work around the world.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 36-3352680. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Girl Scouts Volunteer AbroadGirl Scouts Volunteer Abroad - In EcuadorExpectations Vs. RealityVolunteers’ Expectations Vs. Reality in Vietnam
Scroll to top