Romania

Due to the cold winters, the best time to travel to Romania is May – September, though April, October and November are feasible for the cold-hearty as well. 

Sample Schedule:

• 8:15 a.m. – Transport from accommodation in Cluj-Napoca to worksite in Jucu de Sus
• 9 a.m. – Arrival at worksite. Safety briefing, morning prayer & equipping PPE. Icebreaker game
• 9:30 a.m. – Start building
• 11:20 a.m. – Break
• 1 p.m. – Lunch
• 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Continue building
• 4:30 p.m. – Housekeeping (cleaning tools and worksite)
• 5 p.m. – A word of grace & acknowledgment; transport back to Cluj-Napoca
• 5:40 p.m. – Arrival in Cluj-Napoca
• 7 p.m. – Dinner at accommodation or another restaurant

Exact schedules can be discussed and set depending on the team’s preferences and length of stay.

All types of construction operations, other than work those requiring a special permit or skills (electricity work, pouring the foundation, plumbing etc.), or working on the roof, due to safety issues regarding working at heights.

Volunteers might be expected to cut and mount wooden beams for the wall structure; to raise the walls on the existing foundation and set them in place, to install insulation materials (outside or inside the home); install wooden boards on the walls and/or ceiling; work at ground level; on stairs or on scaffolding to plaster or paint some walls inside or outside the home; perform digging operations and carry materials if physically able.

Volunteers will stay at the beautiful Univers T Hotel, which is a modern hotel located on Lake Gheorgheni and near other city sites. 

Breakfast is served at the hotel, lunch will be delivered to the worksite by a local catering company, and dinner will be eaten together as a team at the hotel restaurant or other local restaurants. 

Transportation to and from the airport in Cluj-Napoca as well as between the lodging and worksite each day are provided. The worksites are typically about 30-40 minutes from the host hotel.

A full packing list is provided in the Fuller Center’s Romania Guidebook that you receive upon registration. Bed linens, towels and toiletries are provided by the hotel. Bring a pair of sturdy boots to wear on the worksite. Pack a variety of lighter clothing as temperatures can vary greatly. Some “nicer” clothes are also helpful to have for dinners and evenings out.

Cluj-Napoca has a rich history as the unofficial “capital” of the Transylvania region. The city itself boasts several museums, a botanical garden and an Ethographic Park featuring historic wooden homes from all over Romania. Also within easy driving distance are:

• Salina-Turda Salt Mine amusement park (30 minutes away)
• Banffy Castle in Bontida, a.k.a. “Translyvania’s Versailles” (40 minutes away)
• The Citadel of Alba Iulia with its medieval buildings, monuments and pedestrian roads completely restored (1.5 hours away)

Prices vary based on team size and trip duration, but a typical trip to Romania will last between 7 – 14 days and cost between $1,400 – $2,800 depending on the length of stay and other options. That fee covers your lodging, food, in-country transportation, insurance, and a donation to fund the project. Fees do not include airfare, visa fees, tips, or site-seeing entrance fees (unless otherwise indicated).

If looking to bring a group contact globalbuilders@fullercenter.org for more details or submit your trip proposal here.

Are you unsure of how to prepare for such an experience or just looking for some tips on how to be better prepared? If so, we suggest you take a look at our Trip Preparation page where you will find a lot of helpful information and links – Preparing For Your Trip!