General Questions

What kind of volunteer placements does ORM offer?

How do I find out if my skills are needed?

How long does an ORM placement last?

What will I be doing?

Which countries does ORM recruit volunteers from?

Which countries do ORM work in?

Can I volunteer with my partner and/or children?

I am retired. Can I still volunteer with ORM?

What kind of Volunteer Placements does ORM offer?

ORM offers volunteer placements yearly throughout the months May - October in the Republic of Moldova. We have been offering volunteer placements since 2000, specifically to work with children who have been orphaned/abandoned, children with disability and children & young adults with terminal illness. We have developed a very focussed volunteer programme over the years with the feedback of former volunteers and specialists who have travelled to work on our programmes. We have had the pleasure to work with and alongside over 900 professional and non-professional volunteers.

How do I find out if my skills are needed?

People assume that to volunteer  with ORM you need to be a specialist in childcare, disability services, medicine, construction or have other specific skills. This is not the case. While we welcome placements for all professionals and trainee professionals, we are also looking for good all rounders. There is no substitute for common sense. We are also looking for people with a good heart, a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to help others while working as part of a team.

Volunteers in the past have come from diverse fields and have comprised of groups of individuals including students, specialists, builders, IT specialists, housewives, teachers, newly unemployed, persons looking for a career change, people looking to enter the long term volunteer workforce, students of the health sciences on elective placements, people on gap years from study or work, legal and accounting professionals, physiotherapists, hairdressers, vet's; the list is endless.

The application process is open to everyone. ORM has developed a very strong support team over the years and everyone who travels to Moldova on placement will work as part of a team supervised by our wonderful volunteer managers. They are there to guide you on your journey and anticipate all needs.

How long does a volunteer placement last?

A volunteer placement lasts a minimum of 2 weeks. The upper limit of voluntary placement with ORM is entirely dependent on the programmes taking place at that time and on demand.

ORM started the minimum of 2 weeks placement in 2003 for all new volunteers, to allow all first time volunteers the chance to see if they are suited to such a placement. It is our experience that the majority of people want to help others in some way and all have thought about placements abroad, but many do not know how to go about it or how indeed it will fit into their already established lives. Most people think that it would mean giving up their jobs, their mortgages, or families for extended periods; and many worry about if they do take the step; and what would it mean if they don't like it?

ORM is unique in that we offer our volunteers the choice of a short term general placement to experience first hand what it means to work abroad  in the voluntary sector and then decide if it is something they could think of doing on a more long term basis or if indeed at all. 

What will I be doing?

You will be living on the grounds of an orphanage that is situated 3km from the town of Hincesti and 50Km from the capital city Chisinau. The Orphanage sits on the periphery of a very picturesque forest and has fields and agricultural land around it. It is quite isolated from the surrounding villages and town. In 2000 ORM renovated the first floor of one of the residential blocks of building specifically for the volunteers.

The accommodation is dormitory style living and sleeps a max of 26 at any one time. There is also a kitchen, a sitting room, bathrooms and laundry. There is running water and heating. All general placement short term  volunteers will be split into teams of 2-3 and assigned a translator and a volunteer manager. You will work alongside our Moldovan staff at all times. The day is very varied and it will include taking part in child orientated activities that already exist in the orphanage. This will include school, cooking classes, sewing classes, art and dance, sports activities, day out activities, concerts, walking the children confined to wheelchairs, helping to feed the 87 children that can not eat independently. There are over 350 children living in Hincesti orphanage and there is much to be done in any one day. There is also the opportunity to observe the doctors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, dental team and night doctors in action. 

You will also have the opportunity to assist in the social inclusion programmes with the social workers, visit the baby orphanage in the capital and help with the daily activities there and for some it will include the chance to make a dream come true for a child with a life limiting condition.

The specialised volunteer placements are  allocated on an individual basis and are coordinated with the ORM specialists in place, the local administration and the Moldovan Government departments.

Which countries does ORM recruit volunteers from?

ORM recruits volunteers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our Head office is in Dublin and all interviews, information meetings and orientation meetings are held in Dublin. Any person wishing to travel as a volunteer with ORM must be available to attend these meetings in Dublin. 

Which Countries do ORM work in?

ORM works exclusively in the Republic of Moldova. 

Can I volunteer with my partner and/or children?

As the application process is open to everyone, your spouse and children are more than welcome to apply. In the past we have had married couples, mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and sons travel to Moldova to work with our programmes. The majority have travelled together but some have chosen to travel in different groups. 

We make every possible effort to accommodate family members but it is not possible to have your own private room, you will be sharing with other volunteers. During your stay you will be allocated to different teams and different staff to allow you to get to know your other volunteers and allow you to integrate with ease into the team. You will also be allocated different bedrooms. So while you are sharing this new journey together and will be there to support one another at the end of a long day, your daily routine will be varied, giving you the chance to return home with family and new life long friends. 

I am retired. Can I still volunteer with ORM?

Yes, you can. A number of volunteers choose to do placements abroad after retirement and we welcome applications from experienced professionals up to the age of 70. Older volunteers are valued by ORM for their patience, self - assurance and resourcefulness, as well as their professional skills.

All volunteers, whatever their age will need medical clearance form their Doctor before they can travel. We do advise all volunteers that an overall good level of fitness is required to keep up with the pace of the daily routines in the orphanage.

 People meet as strangers and return home having made friends for life.