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.
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