VOLUNTEERISM Un Cuvânt Curat

Traditions and Future of Pre-University Education

Scoala Andrei SagunaTurda, Romania

15 May 2010

Or, What Voluntary Volunteerism Could Do for

Schools and Society in Romania Today

Connie Goddard, Ph. D.Peace Corps Volunteer

Colegiul Tehnic, Alesd-Bihor

IN MY LIFE – 40th anniversaryHours of volunteer work – especially environmentalIN MY SCHOOL IN ROMANIA – accomplishments and challenges

SIGNIFICANCE OF EARTH DAY

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ROMANIA’S SCHOOLS

EARTH DAY PROJECT• 11th grade and teachers produce video about environment• organize games and contests for entire school

CHALLENGES TO ROMANIA’S SCHOOLS

ON THE SAME DAY . . Teachers in Alesd and around the country protested cuts in funding for education

ROMANIA’S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

• Too many pensioners -- too few jobs• Schools have lost funding since 1989• How can they develop technical and

intellectual skills without equipment?• Need labs and workshops, accessible

libraries• Smaller classes, more experienced

assistants

HOW VOLUNTEERS COULD HELP OUR SCHOOLS HERE

• Could pensioners volunteer to help meet social needs – in schools and social services?

• Tutor and organize special programs?• Help clean up school grounds?• AMERICAN SCHOOLS COULD NOT

FUNCTION WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS

HOW VOLUNTEERS HELPAMERICAN COMMUNIITES

• One example -- INTERRELIGIOUS SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL

• Promoting ecologically sound ways of living

• Bike routes, urban farms, green buildings

• Holding conferences, sponsoring demonstration projects

• Harassing city councils – political and educational

CLEANING CHICAGO’S PARKSNorth Branch Restoration

ProjectWeekends all year long – collecting litter and restoring ecological balance

All volunteer labor – teens to octogenarians; fun – and healthy

IMAGINE . . . IN ROMANIA Friends of Cluj Botanic Garden

• Improving signage• Repairing walkways• Restoring greenhouses

Friends of the Crisul Repede – Cleaning the banks of the lovely but badly littered river south of Alesd

GETTING VOLUNTEERISM BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS

NEW YEAR’S WEEKEND IN ALESD•Heavy storms•Retreating waters left mess •Students and adults Volunteer to clean up the mess• Back home for pizza

YOUTH SERVICE AND EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS

4H –Head, Heart, Hands,

and Health

American 4Her learning to raise sheep

SCOUTING –FOR GIRLS AND BOYS

Boys and girls from 8 to 18, led by parents and other adults, learning skills and providing services for others

A VISION FOR MY COMMUNITY

• Talented, energetic, well-educated students

• Use abundant free time for community service

• Remove litter, repair playgrounds• Clean schoolyards, repair desks• Start public information campaigns• SOME GROUPS ALREADY GETTING

ORGANIZED!

MAKE A BETTER WORLD

• Earth Day observation ended with all the students singing Michael Jackson’s “We Are the Children”

• The ones who will make a better day

• So let’s start giving, it’s a choice we are making

• We’re saving our own lives.