This page provides updates, news and information about St Paul’s International Project to Romania which takes place between 2 – 9 February 2013.

23 students from St Paul’s are visiting hospitals, clinics and orphanages in Romania and bring much needed aid and help to orphans and sick children in this country. The students are accompanied by Miss Grace O’Neill, Mr Neil McArdle and Mr Kevin Moan.

 Pictured above are the students going on the International Project to Romania, along with Miss Grace O’Neill, Mr Neil McArdle and Mr Kevin Moan, who are also going. 

DAY 7:  9 February, 10.30AM EET:

Thats us folks! We have just had breakfast are we are now just about to head to Bucharest for the rest of the day. Our flight home tonight is at 9.30PM EET (7.30PM GMT). We should be arriving at Dublin Airport at around 11.00PM GMT tonight.

Thanks everyone for following our blog! It has been a great week and everyone has had a brilliant time.

#teamromania

DAY 6:   8 February, 23.45PM EET:

Today was our last day of the Romanian international project, and what a great ending to great week.

This morning we visited an orphanage in Dacia that was for boys only.  On arrival the children were waiting for us coming, and started throwing snowballs at us as soon as we got off the bus. Straight away we had got ourselves into a ‘war’ with them and this continued until we left.

When we eventually got them inside for a wile, we gave out gifts and clothes to the children and watched them take these from us with huge delight.

Today it was Timmy’s turn to get picked on, and when we were leaving the orphanage we covered him in snow. In fact, it was again the children that started it as they decided to start throwing snowballs at  Timmy when he was leaving the orphanage. Timmy was left lying on the ground whilst several of the children covered him in snow.

The final visit of the Romanian international project was to Rupea, which was an an orphanage for girls only. At this orphanage we again gave the children gifts and clothes and also spent time dancing with them.

Tonight we have had an awards ceremony, just giving out surprise awards to the students from both schools. We also watched the St Paul’s superb victory against local rivals Abbey CBS! Everyone is now looking forward to the semi final.. and seeing their families when we arrive home tomorrow night.

See below for photos from today:

DAY 5:   7 February, 23.30PM EET:

Today was one of the better days of the week as we visited five different places, these being these four orphanages and a homeless shelter for elderly people.

This morning we visited two orphanages and a homeless shelter for elderly people.

The first two places we went to this morning were ‘Tarlungeni Lizuca’ orphanage and ‘Patrocle’ orphanage. When we arrived all the children were having their breakfast, and once they finished we took them outside to play. One of the orphanages had a trampoline, and most of the students went outside to ‘bounce’ with them, even some older people joined in, as well as playing football with them in their yard. They even had Miss O’Neill in the middle, as they kept the ball away from her!

Afterwards we went to the homeless shelter but unfortunately only a few of the people staying here was there as most of them were out trying to find work.

We did catch up with a few people who were staying at the shelter, and students spent time with them to find out information about them etc. Everyone was also able to walk around the shelter and see the comfortable conditions that the people were living in.

In the afternoon we visited two orphanages, these being ‘Sacele Cip and Dale’ Orphanage and ‘Noi orizonturi’ Orphanage.

At the first orphanage, we had to visit them in two different groups, as the children didn’t feel comfortable with so many people around them. When the students went into the orphanage, some of the students even showed them their phones and the children staying at the orphanage could even play ‘templerun’,

And yes…. THEY EVEN GOT A HIGHER SCORE THAN MR MCARDLE..!

At the final orphanage, it was similar to the other orphanages. We played games with the children and gave them toys. It was the things like this that brought a smile to their faces, and this was obvious as the children were climbing over the fences to wave ‘goodbye’ to us for another year.

Tonight we were treated to a fabulous traditional Romanian meal and music. All students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the food and craic! Some pupils even got up for a dance!

Hello Sonia, please see pictures below of your daughter: #stopcomplaining

See below for more pictures from today:

DAY 4:   6 February, 21:55PM EET:

Today we visited two places, these being an orphanage and an elderly shelter,  and what an emotional day it was!

We visited two different orphanages this morning and brought many of them out for their lunch in McDonalds. Both ‘orphanages’ are located in Timis and have adults with severe intellectual disabilities. It is sad to think of these people with no visitors or freedom.

In Romania, only the well-off would dine here and it’s considered quite expensive.

In many of the rooms we went into the people were tied to their chairs and had bruises and cuts on their faces and bodies. Most shocking of all was how thin they were. One person living here had legs so thin that he was unable to stand for long periods of time without falling.

On the way to Mc Donald’s they joined in with songs on the bus. What really got the students was seeing how fast the people were eating the food, as this shows how badly they must have been treated.

The second and final place we visited today was Christiana Elderly Shelter at Sacele.

This place was completely different to ‘Timis Orphanage’ as the elderly people had their own freedom had proper carers’. When we arrived we were offered food and drinks and the students spent time with each elderly person to find out information about them etc. Our students also performed in front of them as they sang and played musical instruments.

See below for photos from today:

DAY 3:   5 February, 23:30PM EET:

Today was again busy as we visited three places, these included Bredat, which was a school for disabled children, Prejmer Day Centre and the Gipsy Village.

At Bredat we spent time with the disabled students at the school and this involved us spending time with them to take part in different activities such as drawing and face-painting. The staff members at the school had also prepared buns for each one of us and everyone at the school.

Our second visit today was at Prejmer Day Centre. At this school, we spent time with the children and they danced to impress us. Staff and students spent time with the students and this involved helping them with their colouring in. Our own students also performed to them. See below:

We also went to the Gipsy Village, and some students found this uncomfortable as they couldn’t believe how they were able to cope in the conditions that they were living in.

See below for photos from today:

DAY 2:   4 February, 22.15PM EET

Hello Friends!   –   Dia Daoibh a chairde!

Today we had a very busy day, as we visited four different places, these being a school and three orphanages.

Our first visit was to Lunca Calnicului School. This school was different to back home as it had kindergarden children and primary school children in two separate locations.

At the kindergarden school we handed out toys to all the children and school supplies to the teachers. The children at the school performed romanian nursery rhymes to us all, and Sharmaine played her ukelele as the the rest of the students sang along.

We also visited the primary school and handed out school supplies. As the students went into the classrooms the children’s faces lit up with joy as it meant that they no longer had to stay in class. However, the children who had a history lesson were faced with a quick quiz by Mr Mc Ardle. Other students were greeted with an acoustic performance by the primary 3 pupils and also got a performance from our students. The children in the school were then giving the chance of interacting with our students through a serious snowball fight and football. It was hard to believe that our students were beaten by primary school children.

The next two places we visited was St Patrick’s orphanage and the Irlandas’ orphanage for disabled people. Some of the students sang songs that they requested and even taught them how to play the ukelele. In the Irlanda orphanage a ballerina and an irish dancer was eager to show off their moves and even invited students to join in on the dancing. Hannah Feenan was one of the dancers that got up and we still haven’t a clue what she was trying to do. Check out the short video below to see for yourself.

The final place we visited was the Peter pan Orphanage, where the students gave out food and utensils. After a brief tour of the orphanage, the boys who attended the school were excited to play outside in the snow with the students.

Photos from today:

DAY 2:   4 February, 08.20AM EET

Good Morning from Romania!

Today we have an earlier start with all students up for breakfast at 8 o’clock.

Schedule:

AM – Lunca Calnicului School and Peter Pan Orphanage and kindergarden.

PM – Harman Donald’s and Casa Irlanda, St Patrick Orphanage.

Check back later tonight for more news and pictures from our day.

DAY 1:   3 February, 20.40PM EET (Eastern European Time)

Good evening from Romania!

After the early start this morning, we left the hotel at 09.45AM to meet our guide Dany and his daughter. First stop was Albina Codlea, which is one of the orphanages we visit throughout our stay. In this orphanage there are different floors here; the bottom ones contains babies, toddlers and younger children with severe disabilities, but unfortunately we were unable to see them.

The second floor was girls from the age of eleven to seventeen years old. Whilst viewing the girls floor, they showed us around their rooms and we handed out gifts such as hats and make-up.

The third floor was of toddlers and younger children. On this floor a few of the students got emotionally attached to the children, and didn’t want to leave them, especially Peter Hughes. Peter, had found an admirer and this went on to her giving him her Facebook and contact number, and vice versa.

The picture to the right shows Peter writing down his Facebook profile for the girl. 

After lunch in Brasov we went on our visit Vulcan Psychiatric Hospital. For this visit we purchased fresh fruit & biscuits to be distributed by the students to the adults here, as well as gave them jackets that were donated by Fiveways.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Johanna Heaney for supplying these jackets for the people at Vulcan.

This was a very different experience for the students. While they were upset this morning out of sadness; they were upset this afternoon out of a mixture of sadness and fear. The adults here were very poorly dressed and there were around ten to most rooms. This place left most of the students feeling emotional, as they had told them stories of their families and their past.

One thing we learned from today is that Jericho is terrible at ‘piggy in the middle’. Why? See below…

Another thing we learned from Vulcan, is that the elderly women could dance..

Our final visit today was the Elderly Shelter at Sf. Treime Church. This place was heartwarming, as the students seen elderly people who had different experiences. One woman shared her story with us, and told us that her son had put her in the Elderly Shelter after stealing everything she had.

See below for pictures from Albina and Magura in Codlea:

See below for pictures from Vulcan Hospital:

See below for pictures from Elderly Shelter at Sf. Treime Church:

DAY 1:   3 February, 08.50AM EET (Eastern European Time)

Good Morning from Romania!

After a good nights sleep, everybody is up for breakfast and ready to start our work. This morning, we are meeting our guide Dany, who is taking us from place to place throughout the week.

Schedule for today:

AM – Albina and Magura in Codlea

PM – Vulcan Hospital & Elderly Shelter at Sf. Treime Church

Come back later for more updates and photos from our day.

DAY 1:   3 February, 00.30AM EET (Eastern European Time) – JUST ARRIVED! 

Hello from Romania!

After a long day of travelling, we have arrived safely and are just about to eat a very late meal. There is a lot of snow on the ground and it is very cold.

Tomorrow morning we are set to have breakfast at 8.30am and then head on to begin our work.

Please leave us a comment below or post us a message.  We look forward to hearing from you all.

More information tomorrow from Romania.  Good night!