What if I can't commit to six months? Although we aim for 6 month placements, VfMH would still like to speak to you if you are able to offer a minimum of two months. In these instances, we regret we are unable to fund travel costs. We are unable to send people on placement for less than two months

Will I need any vaccinations before I go? VfMH recommends that you make an appointment with your GP or travel nurse as soon as you accept a placement in order to discuss this as recommendations change frequently. It is also wise to ensure any routine health checks and vaccinations are completed prior to departure (dentist, eye test etc)

Why do I need to have a medical and HIV test? This is something the hospital have requested of our volunteers. The hospital have explained that they need to know about any medical conditions a volunteer may have in order that they can offer appropriate help should the volunteer become unwell whilst on placement. They also need to be certain that volunteers are not carrying diseases which could be transmitted to vulnerable patients.

How would I communicate with the patients? You will find a way. Most volunteers learn basic Romanian whilst on placement, others rely solely on body language and gestures to get their message across. Some patients have learning disabilities and struggle with verbal communication so with these people, the language barrier is not so much of an issue as you will be using the same skills you use with such patients in Britain. A very small number of patients speak English. Many patients have limited opportunities to interact with others and will gladly take a little extra time to get their message across to you.

How would I manage a patient who is very distressed when I can't speak their language? This will depend on which patient, once you get to know people, you will know what approaches they respond best too, just as you would in the UK. Hospital staff are often on hand to offer support.

What activities will I be doing with the patients? This is really up to the volunteer teams, previous activities have included art, board games, needlework, low key sporting activity dancing and drama. All volunteers bring their own unique skills and experiences which we encourage them to use these to develop the activity program further.

Will the job involve any personal care? Some patients are too unwell to meet their own personal care needs and in these cases volunteers need to help them to get clean and comfortable in order that they can get the most from their time in the club.

What support / supervision would I receive? Before going on placement, volunteers are encouraged to get to know their colleagues in order that they can share mutual support in Tirnaveni. In addition to this, volunteers can expect to receive regular phone calls from the charity at mutually convenient times. You will have the opportunity to speak with a previous volunteer to discuss progress and challenges, both at the hospital and in your personal life. We are currently looking towards having a full time employee at the club who will oversee the work of the volunteers and offer support and supervision.

What training will I receive? Before going on placement, all volunteers need to attend a training weekend. Training is managed by VfMH personnel who are all ex-volunteers and will be able to give you first hand examples of various issues you may encounter. Training covers many of the practicalities of working with patients, and living in Tirnaveni. You will also learn about Romanian culture, working as a team and about VfMH's and the hospital's policies and procedures. We aim to make training as informative and interactive as possible. The training weekend is also your opportunity to start to get to know your colleagues and ask any questions

What is there to do in the evenings and weekends? There is a television in the volunteer house which has English channels Tirnaveni has a museum, library (although most of the books are in Romanian) a selection of bars, restaurants and thriving nightclub "Infinity". In the summertime there is an outdoor swimming pool. There are also numerous opportunities for walking and sightseeing. Some people like to fish in the local river. Many volunteers choose to visit neighboring towns and attractions at weekends, traveling by public transport from Tirnaveni. More information about these can be found in guide books.

How would I contact people in the UK? There is a telephone at the volunteer house which accepts incoming calls. Many telephone companies offer discounted rates to call Romania from the UK if you enter a special code. You will also be supplied with a mobile phone which you can use to call your friends and family. Volunteers are expected to fund the cost of their mobile phone calls themselves. There is an internet café in Tirnaveni where you can email those at home at a reasonable price as well as a post office.

What if I become unwell on placement? Tirnaveni has many well stocked pharmacies which sell everything you would find in the UK and more, often without requiring a prescription. Next to the hospital is a walk in medical centre where you may present yourself should you need to.
On top of this, VfMH insures all volunteers against accident or illness, you will be provided with a number to call in order to get free medical treatment in an emergency, should this be necessary. 

What if I go on placement but find I need to return earlier than expected? This is not something we encourage and we do expect volunteers to consider any commitments at home before undertaking a placement and to work through any difficulties they experience in Tirnaveni with their phone support person. 
However we do appreciate that people's circumstances can change and we would support you to return should this be necessary, for example in cases of bereavement or serious ill health. Although we expect volunteers to commit themselves to the project, we cannot prevent someone from leaving should they decide to do so.

How much does it cost to live in Tirnaveni? The cost of living in Romania is lower than that in the UK and Tirnaveni is cheaper than a lot of larger towns and cities. As a guide, a large beer costs around 60p, a loaf of bread around 50p and a bus ticket to Targu Mures, which is around 1 hour away costs about £1.40. However, prices often change and more exact figures can be obtained by speaking to recently returned volunteers. 

I'm a vegetarian, will I be able to find things to eat? VfMH have sent many vegetarians on placement. Many have commented on the vast array of delicious vegetables available during the summer months. You will also find cheese and pulses widely sold. When it comes to eating out, most restaurants will serve a vegetarian dish and some have several to choose from.

Where would I live? Volunteers are housed together in a house about 10 minutes walk from the hospital.

What facilities are available at the volunteer house? The volunteer house comes fully furnished, complete with TV, fridge, cooker and washing machine. It is centrally heated and can boast secondary glazed glass windows. Full bathroom facilities are available along with running hot water. Bedding, kitchen utensils and crockery are all available to be used by volunteers.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact through the contact us section of the website.