Institutional Development

Here's a brief description of what type of work I will be doing after my initial training period;

"ID Volunteers initiate efforts to strengthen the organizational and management skills of related NGOs and governmental agencies dealing with institutionalized children, abused children, minority issues, HIV/AIDS prevention, and of agencies focused on youth development and information technology.

ID Volunteers have backgrounds and experience in special education, health-related areas, community services, working with youth-at-risk, NGO development, social work, information technology, and public administration. According to their backgrounds and experience, ID Volunteers are assigned to NGOs and municipalities and are engaged mainly in:

*training direct services providers (such as nurse practitioners, caregivers, social workers, special needs educators and therapists);
*training and coordinating community Volunteers recruited by ID PCVs mainly from local youth; *role-modeling/demonstrating organizational management with their agencies' staff members or Volunteers (in such areas as project writing, proposal writing, board development, program evaluation and public relations)

Besides the skills transfer with their local counterpart agencies, ID Volunteers collaborate with national partners (such as municipal child protection departments, local public administrations) and international partners (such as SERA, Principesa Margareta, Romanian Angel Appeal, People Services International, RITI and USAID [ChildNet]). They provide support in implementing national strategies in child services, introducing IT/new technologies in local administration and helping reform process requirements (document tracking, Internet access, local tax collection, etc).

ID PCVs throughout the country mediate and promote networking and coalition development of special target population agencies including NGOs working in HIV/AIDS, NGOs/child protection departments focused on disabled youth, NGOs for the mentally ill, NGOs involved in anti-trafficking campaigns, and NGOs for preventing and combating violence against women."

Until Next Time...

Despite my vigorous training on the uneven parallel bars and best efforts to pack by process of elimination, I'm still not quite ready to leave physcially. Regardless of what I've already done, there always seems to be more. However, mentally I am more than ready. I've been waiting to flee the country for a year and a half, and frankly I'm pretty damn excited to get this show on the road. Then of course there's the emotional aspect...I have accepted the fact that I will miss important events in the lives of those close to me but that does not make it any easier to know that I will miss births, weddings, deaths and shit, maybe even a bar mitzvah. But really, how does one go about saying goodbye to everything and everyone they know? That's when the realization comes to me, I'm not necessarily dying. Well, not anytime soon. So until that's actually the case, I am simply going with "until next time."

I truly don't think there is anything that can really prepare me for this adventure. Not even a little one on one training with Bela. It is inevitable, who wouldn't be anxious? I mean who wouldn't be concerned about the potential stray dog attacks but at least I know that "Running near dogs, especially when carrying large threatening backpacks, is not a good idea. If you do get bitten, you’ll be required to watch the culprit dog for a few days to ensure it doesn’t have rabies." Really?? I'm not watching S#@*! However, my dad does want to get me a walking stick with mase that shoots out the end to keep those strays away. Do they even actually make those? I passed.

On a more anxious note, I truly am fretting the whole language barrier. I have recieved some good materials and should have been practicing some of the Romanian fundamentals but I'll be the first to admit, I have not. I regret that decision immediately, but I am having a hard time preparing for a new chapter in my life, when I'm trying to finish this one up. Once I get there though, I will be ready to go 110%. I am just acknowledging that there WILL be a lot of awkward moments for a long time but hey...those are my favorite! Nothing like trying to play charades with your new host family and you draw "I clogged your Loo."

Anyhow, just over a week left before departure. I've been done with work for the past two weeks and living with my parents for the past week and its been grand. As hard as it will be to finally go, it has been fun taking in all my favorites one last time. I'm headed up north one more time with my sisters and friends for some quality bonding time to last me two years. It's all very bitter sweet but I'm ready. In fact, I can't wait...move over Nadia!