Home News Serving people in need Floare de colt Educational Services House on the Rock Romanian Studies Volunteers needed Financial Needs Ecology Club Sighisoara Church of the Nazarene Staff & Volunteer directory Photo Album Targul Mestesugarilor © Veritas Sighisoara, 2002	Romanian Studies Program The Romanian Studies Program has brought over 250 American college students to Romanian since it began in 1992. The program is based in Sighisoara, a historic town established by German immigrants in the 13^th century, and still dominated by a medieval fortress that draws tourists from all over Europe. Located in the Transylvania region of the country, Sighisoara's population is a fascinating mix of Romanians, Hungarians, Germans and Gypsies.
			A cross-cultural experience: Students have the opportunity to experience first hand a culture that has been shaped by currents from both east and west, and is still struggling to free itself from the legacy of 45 years of communism. Students live with a Romanian family, take classes in Romanian language and cultural history, and travel to places of historical and cultural significance within the country. They become part of an interdenominational Romanian-American ministry team and worshiping community.
	A service-learning experience: Students spend an average of fifteen hours a week working in one of the many ministries of Veritas that originally grew out of the Romania Studies Program. For many students this volunteer work meets internship requirements in majors such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Missions, Youth Ministry, Business. Curently service opportunities include:
	Abandoned children: Providing affection, stimulation, infant massage, and educational activities for approximately 35 abandoned infants and toddlers in the local hospital. Street children and disadvantaged children: Kids' Club, a program that serves about 200 of the poorest children of the town, most of them Gypsy, with hot meals, life skills, tutoring, music, games, crafts, sports, theater. Elderly Program: Daily club program where elderly can drop in for a cup of coffee, enjoy a game of chess or Uno, read the newspaper, do a craft, listen to music and enjoy conversation. An afternoon program of home visits to isolated and infirm elderly helps with food, medications, medical care and household chores. Ecology Club: provides education for youth on environmental issues, well equipped laboratory for monitoring water quality , clean-up actions. consciousness raising. Teaching English, Music, Theater, Sports, Computers, etc - passing on your expertise to Romanians eager to learn Church ministries: worship team, Bible studies, discipling
	A hands-on experience of missions: Working alongside short-term and seasoned missionaries, students are part of a young and growing church that has developed through friendship evangelism. For some in this bilingual fellowship, the first contact was through Coffee House, which has provided a meeting place for young Romanians and Americans every Tuesday evening for the last 6 years. The fact that Romanian young people are eager to improve their English skills, and that many of them are already very fluent, makes it easy for us to reach out. Some have been drawn into the circle of the church through Ecology Club, English classes, theater group. Students are challenged to find ways to overcome cultural hurdles in sharing their faith in the context of friendships. Other people have come into the church through Compassionate Ministries, those programs that address material and social problems. Students are able to witness the multifaceted role of the missionary working in a country that has a wide range of material, social and spiritual needs, and become part of a team that God is using to build His Kingdom.
	House on the Rock, located on the main square in Sighisoara's medieval citadel, offers tremendous possibilities for outreach: Film Club, Literature Club, academic tutoring, the Catacombs - a youth cafe where young people can come to use the Internet or just hang out, education on issues like substance abuse & abortion, a volunteer bank serving the community, small business projects. These are areas where American students often have experience and knowledge that they can share, and which can become contexts for sharing faith. An academic experience: Students can enroll in the Romania Studies Program for fall semester, January term, spring semester or part of the summer. Cross-cultural Service Learning I & 2 involves each student in up to fifteen hours per week of volunteer work, as well as reading and reflection on the dynamics of cross-cultural ministry. (4, 6 or 8 credits) Romanian Language and Culture 1 & 2 provides students with conversational skills and an understanding of aspects of Romanian history and culture important for relating to the Romanian people. (4, 6 or 8 credits) Survey of Western Art - uses BBC video course, with lecture and discussion, to introduce students to the major movements and leading figures in the development of the western cultural tradition, from ancient Greece to late 20th century Europe and America. Field trips introduce students to particularly Romanian forms of artistic expression. (3 credits) Introduction to Environmental Science: offered as a laboratory science for those desiring liberal arts credit, and taught by Dr Roberta Bustin, chemistry professor and volunteer missionary. This course offers insight into the serious environmental concerns that plague post-communist central Europe. (4 Credits) Internships, practicum experience, directed studies: Students often arrange with their home institution to tailor their experience in Romania to fit with their particular degree requirements. Practicum and internship requirements have been met by students in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Youth Ministry, Missions, EFL. Program Costs: It is our goal that participating students will pay the same amount or less to participate in the Romania Studies Program as they would to spend the equivalent time on their own campuses. For application materials and updated information on costs and scholarships contact us. Program Director: Dorothy J. Tarrant, MA, MSW. Prof Tarrant has been in Romania as director of the Romania Studies Program since 1994. She can be reached by email at romaniastudies@veritas.ro by phone at 011-40744-300-905, and is always happy to answer questions about the program.