a Grundtvig Learning a Grundtvig Learning Partnership Partnership

Senior Volunteering in Senior Volunteering in EuropeEurope

3rd Meeting 4 – 7 July 2012Klaipeda, Lithuania

Asociaţia Umanitară "NOROC" Tulcea

Str. M. Kogălniceanu, Bl. 26, F.14, 820002 Tulcea, Romania Tel: +40-723-544364

www.noroc.org.ro E-mail: noroctulcea@gmail.com

“Ajutorul adevarat vine din inima”“Great service comes from the heart” “NOROC” Humanitarian Association Tulcea,

Romania www.noroc.org.ro

E-mail: noroctulcea@gmail.com

Bucharest: The Atheneum

The Village MuseumBrasov

Bran Castle

Histria

Sighetul Marmatiei

In Romania, a region distinguishes itself through its uniqueness: the Danube Delta

. And Tulcea city is the “gateway” to the Delta

Tulcea is very tolerant, a place Tulcea is very tolerant, a place where people belonging to 14 ethnic where people belonging to 14 ethnic groups live peacefully. In our district, groups live peacefully. In our district, two blocks from where we live, there two blocks from where we live, there is a Jewish synagogue, farther down is a Jewish synagogue, farther down the same street is a Muslim Mosque, the same street is a Muslim Mosque,

within the same block there are within the same block there are several Orthodox churches, a Baptist several Orthodox churches, a Baptist church and a Seventh Day Adventist. church and a Seventh Day Adventist.

One of the NGOs which activate in the city One of the NGOs which activate in the city of Tulcea, working exclusively with senior of Tulcea, working exclusively with senior

volunteers, is our Humanitarian volunteers, is our Humanitarian Association “NOROC”, which means Association “NOROC”, which means

““God bless” God bless” oror “good luck “good luck” in Romanian. ” in Romanian. It is also the acronym of “New It is also the acronym of “New

Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children”Children”

““Noroc”Noroc” was organized and started its was organized and started its activities in 1997.activities in 1997.

Our motto is “Great service comes from a Big Heart!”. That is why all our programs have the word heart or hearted in them.

Our motto is “Great service comes from a Big Heart!”. That is why all our programs have the word heart or hearted in them.

Through its senior volunteers, NOROC” Humanitarian Association activates in the orphanages from Tulcea city and county: 14 grannies for the pre-school kids (“Big-hearted Grannies”), 9 primary school teachers and 8 teachers (“Big-hearted Teachers”), 2 psychologists, 2 social workers and 4 counsellors (“Big-hearted Friends”).

The aim of our first program (1997) was to bring The aim of our first program (1997) was to bring retired persons to work with little children. The retired persons to work with little children. The program is called program is called “Big Hearted Grannies”.“Big Hearted Grannies”. Instead of lying in cribs all day long, children 0 to Instead of lying in cribs all day long, children 0 to 6 years of age now receive attention and love. 6 years of age now receive attention and love. The grannies have made remarkable progress The grannies have made remarkable progress with the babies. We have grannies at three small with the babies. We have grannies at three small group homes, and in the county hospital, the group homes, and in the county hospital, the section for abandoned babies.section for abandoned babies.

““Big Hearted Big Hearted Teachers”Teachers” Program Program

works with all the works with all the children in the children’s children in the children’s

homes to help them homes to help them stay up in school. We stay up in school. We provide tutoring for all provide tutoring for all

elementary graders and elementary graders and all 7all 7thth and 8 and 8thth graders. graders. We have specialized We have specialized

teachers helping teachers helping students who will take students who will take

the baccalaureate the baccalaureate exams to complete high exams to complete high

school. In addition to school. In addition to tutoring, we provide tutoring, we provide

financial assistance for financial assistance for textbooks, eyeglasses, textbooks, eyeglasses, medicines and basic medicines and basic

school supplies. school supplies.

We also have an apartment for girls - We also have an apartment for girls - transitional housing - when they need a job, transitional housing - when they need a job, lose a job, are kicked out by landlords. This lose a job, are kicked out by landlords. This apartment also provides us space for girls to apartment also provides us space for girls to

learn independent living skills, such as learn independent living skills, such as sewing, cooking, and traditional Romanian sewing, cooking, and traditional Romanian

crafts. We have a small house called “Casa crafts. We have a small house called “Casa Noastra” (= Our Home) for transitional Noastra” (= Our Home) for transitional housing for boys and a club house for housing for boys and a club house for

worship services and small group meetings. worship services and small group meetings. In the back there is a garden and a place for In the back there is a garden and a place for

a barbeque pit.a barbeque pit.

““Big hearted friends”Big hearted friends” program helps the older program helps the older children adjust into society. We organize monthly children adjust into society. We organize monthly

birthday parties, sports activities under the direction of birthday parties, sports activities under the direction of a physical education teacher, and outings into the town, a physical education teacher, and outings into the town,

for recreation. On holidays, we take the children on for recreation. On holidays, we take the children on longer excursions to nearby places of interest. We also longer excursions to nearby places of interest. We also

organize small groups that meet twice a month, for organize small groups that meet twice a month, for support, service projects, fellowship and Bible study. support, service projects, fellowship and Bible study.

Horse therapy and painting of icons on glass among the latest activities our senior volunteers have developed with these kids.

The program is called The program is called “School Waits for “School Waits for

You”. We bus nine You”. We bus nine children from a local children from a local

village into Tulcea city village into Tulcea city to go to school, to go to school,

because after they because after they had been sent back to had been sent back to this community, they this community, they abandoned school. abandoned school.

We also started working with the children who are sent out of We also started working with the children who are sent out of the orphanages into the community, trying to re-integrate them the orphanages into the community, trying to re-integrate them into their birth families, and sometimes they are sent back into into their birth families, and sometimes they are sent back into

abusive homes. abusive homes.

This year we have 8 students in university This year we have 8 students in university because of our efforts. We are not paying tuition because of our efforts. We are not paying tuition for for allall these students. Many of them have a free these students. Many of them have a free

spot in the university, but our efforts got them spot in the university, but our efforts got them out of the system and into the mainstream. out of the system and into the mainstream.

At Christmas, “NOROC” is among the few organizations that gives children gifts with their individual names on them.

At Christmas, “NOROC” is among the few organizations that gives children gifts with their individual names on them.

This year, for the Christmas holidays our senior volunteers prepared 323 bags and 298 boxes as gifts for the children in the orphanages or those belonging to poor families in the villages, as well as for assisted old people.

Our volunteers began preparing the Christmas gifts in November . They packed them in bags and boxes, specifying the name and the age of the child.

The Home for Elderly People from Tulcea. Our senior volunteers presented a show of poems and carols, together with the kids and teenagers from the state protection system.

Helping young people recover from poor choices is a daily heart rendering task for “NOROC”. To help us in this recovery effort, in 2008 we opened a counselling center and two certified psychologists offered to help in steering these young adults onto a better path. Our excellent social workers also help them with finding jobs and places to live.

One reason we enjoy to work so much for

“NOROC” is seeing these young people choose a different destiny for themselves.

Helping young people recover from poor choices is a daily heart rendering task for “NOROC”. To help us in this recovery effort, in 2008 we opened a counselling center and two certified psychologists offered to help in steering these young adults onto a better path. Our excellent social workers also help them with finding jobs and places to live.

One reason we enjoy to work so much for

“NOROC” is seeing these young people choose a different destiny for themselves.