It’s almost here. In a few months, I hope to emigrate to Romania. In Romania, I will work as a volunteer with a local organization that is committed to the Romani communities. Those who know me well know that I have wanted this for a long time. I can imagine others wondering why I am doing this. Why leave home and hearth to move to another country? Why give up your job to live off donations? Why leave all the security you have here and go to another country where you have fewer guarantees? Through this blog, I will give you an insight into this personal mission.
How it all began
In the summer of 2012, I went with a group of young people from my former church to Moldova/Romania to do volunteer work for a local organization. This organization focused on people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. While working with these people, it quickly became clear that they did not have the same opportunities and privileges as others. Also, there were very few facilities available to them, which greatly restricted their freedom of movement. They were excluded from society, and this deeply affected me because these people also have a lot to offer society. In the Netherlands, we try to give these people as many opportunities as possible to find a place in society and thrive. But in Moldova/Romania, they tried to “hide” these people as much as possible. I found this terribly hard to see. During this trip, a desire grew within me to dedicate myself to people who get fewer opportunities for whatever reason. Because even then, I believed that every person has been given talents and that everyone can be of significance to others. But they must have the chance to do so. To be able to commit to this, I decided to start studying Social Work (SPH).
Having a drink with people with disabilities. Sometimes it was a challenge to navigate with a wheelchair because the infrastructure was not adapted for it. High curbs with holes and gaps made it difficult
First meeting with Perspective Danes
In 2014, I started the SPH program at Viaa University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle. During the second year of my studies, I felt the desire to go back to Romania. I searched online for an organization I could join to go to Romania for a few weeks in the summer. It turned out to be quite difficult. At one point, one of my professors suggested that I go to Romania in the summer to visit a friend of his and gain some extra experience. This friend was a social worker and founder of the organization Perspective Danes. Together with a fellow student, I went there, and we worked on various tasks, such as participating in youth and children’s programs and conducting home visits. While we were there, there was also a discipleship school from Switzerland. Students from this school, together with their teachers, organized children’s and youth programs to support the Perspective Danes foundation. We joined them in part of the program. It was a challenging trip where we saw a lot of poverty and observed the consequences of people being “shunned” by society. It was beautiful to stand next to these people, talk to them, and show them that there are people who do care for them and value their lives.
Children’s program in one of the Romani villages nearby. A story with a message, games, and crafting.
What I like about Perspective Danes
By now, I have volunteered for the organization Perspective Danes eight times. Through this, I have seen the positive impact the organization has on the communities there. There is so much growth, and it is beautiful! The youth see more future prospects. They can go to school, and some can even study. The organization focuses on the talents of the youth and how they can further develop those talents. The young people who receive help from the organization are also encouraged to be of service to others who need help. They are given the opportunity to go to school, and as a “counterpart,” they are expected to help, for example, widows who are part of the widows’ program.
Youth and children’s camp summer 2024 with the theme “Hiking with Jesus.” Everyone was part of a small discussion group. Each discussion group was allowed to come up with a name for their group and create a flag that depicted the values that were important to them as a group
I also appreciate that people are treated with dignity and that the organization does not just look at what people need at the moment, but also what will help them in the long term. So, clothes are not simply given away, but a shop has been set up where people can buy clothes for very little money. In this way, they learn to see the value of clothing and take care of the clothes they buy. They can choose their own clothes, which gives them dignity and responsibility.
Motivation to move to Romania
Twelve years ago, I joked with some people that one day I would move to Romania. Five years ago, I completed my SPH studies. On the front of my graduation profile, I wrote: “Everyone is created by God. Everyone is unique. Everyone is valuable to this world. Let’s look at each other that way. Let’s use and enhance each other’s skills.”
After completing my SPH studies, I moved to Switzerland to study for two years at the discipleship school called Master’s Commission. One of the most important things I learned there is that God is a loving Father. This loving Father has given us all gifts and talents that we are allowed to use to make His love visible to the people around us. So, we can use and grow our gifts and talents to show God’s love. This is beautifully described in the Bible in 1 Peter 4:10: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
I have seen in Romania that people do not get equal opportunities because of their background, a disability, or for other reasons. But I know that God is also their loving Father, and He has given them talents too. He wants to use them to build His Kingdom. I want to contribute to helping these people discover and develop their talents so they can use them for others, and that God’s love will also become visible among these people.
So, it’s quite a big mission. And sometimes it’s difficult to think about what I’m leaving behind. But at the same time, I see it as a great gift to be able to work alongside others to show God’s love and offer hope and perspective to youth who need it so much!