Continuing a tradition established three years ago, between April 4–10, 2025, the Caritas Catolica Association was once again visited by a group of student volunteers from Melanchthon High School in Blesewic, the Netherlands. The seven girls, aged between 14 and 15, accompanied by teachers Karin Boerefijn and Jan de Jong, engaged in social volunteer work for a week in the Diocese of Oradea, under the guidance of the local program coordinator, Szombati-Gille Tamás from the Caritas Catolica Association.

"The program was once again very good and diverse. The students managed to gain a better understanding of the suffering that exists just 1,400 km away from us, and through this experience, they reassessed their own life situations. Another positive aspect is that they discovered the beauty of nature and the richness of Romanian cultural heritage" – said teacher Jan de Jong.

Sandwiches for the homeless

On the first day of their visit, Friday, April 4, they prepared more than a hundred sandwiches by hand, which they then personally distributed in the evening at the homeless shelter in Oradea.

Before the distribution, there was some time left for sightseeing. The Dutch youths enthusiastically toured the historical center of Oradea, admired the Art Nouveau buildings, walked through the Black Eagle Passage, strolled along the promenade, the banks of the Crisul river and the December 1st Park, took photos at the “Tomorrow’s Poets” statue group, and consistently checked the quality of the ice cream in various corners of the city.

The relaxing afternoon was followed by a more serious task at the homeless shelter on Gutenberg Street. The young people handed out the sandwiches prepared earlier, walked around the facility, communicated with the residents using a mix of interpretation and gestures, and weren’t afraid to enter the musty living containers, visiting the sick and lonely people lying on bunks — too weak to even come out for food. This was a significant emotional challenge for the Dutch girls, who said they had never been confronted with such life situations before. Nevertheless, they handled it bravely and brought light into the lives of the shelter's residents. It was a special joy that they met beneficiaries who spoke a bit of Dutch, having previously worked in the Netherlands, and could therefore chat with the students.

Meeting of cultures

To ease the heavy emotions, they ended the day with an unforgettable experience. From the top of Calvary Hill (Mushroom hill), they watched the sunset, and in its final rays of light, they sang and danced in a circle. The joyful voices and cheerful spirit of the Dutch girls captivated everyone nearby — even passersby joined in the singing and dancing for a few steps or words.

On Saturday, April 5, Dutch volunteers made a trip to the Bear Cave (Peștera Urșilor). This day was dedicated to active relaxation and recharging — something much needed for the young people, as they were facing a busy and challenging week ahead. After the adventurous cave tour, the Dutch youths explored traditional Romanian flavors as well: they tasted authentic village-style pancakes made by locals, bought rose petal and green walnut jams, and at the foot of the mountain, they enjoyed a hot ciorbă (sour soup).

The Sunday visit to the flea market in Oradea opened the eyes of Caritas's young Dutch volunteers to social realities they had never encountered before. The peculiar ecosystem of the market — with shouting vendors, piles of second-hand clothes, curious antique knick-knacks, small animals, pickpockets moving methodically through the crowd, beggars pretending to be disabled — offered a time-travel-like experience, evoking the post-communist transition period they were too young to have known.

Even though the weather turned colder and large snowflakes danced in the air, the young people lingered among the stands, and petted the small animals kept in miserable conditions with broken hearts. Then they warmed themselves up with a hot tea inside one of the market’s tin stalls.

Playtime with orphans at Săcueni

The group spent Sunday afternoon in a completely different, warm and family-like atmosphere, visiting the lovely community of the children’s home in Săcueni.The Dutch schoolgirls, along with some local volunteers, held craft workshops for the children — making bracelets, painting faces, and playing board games. Once the weather improved, the joyful fun moved outside into the home's garden: the youths played football in mixed teams, tossed tennis balls, and took part in various group games in the open air.

Without rules or time limits, everyone could try their hand at everything, and new friendships were born. This made the farewell cheerful, with hopes of staying in touch and seeing one another again.

“I grew very attached to the children who asked me to paint their faces — they were all so sweet. They motivated me to create more complex designs, ones I wouldn’t have even thought I was capable of, but everything turned out really well. A little boy who had been shy and quiet the whole time asked for a tiger face design. While I was working on it, he said: ‘Now I’m transforming into a tiger.’ And that’s exactly what happened – from that moment on, he completely opened up and joyfully took part in all the activities” –  said Milou, aged 15.

Guided by the mayor in Sălacea

On Monday, april 7, Mayor Béla Horváth guided the volunteer team through the impoverished areas of Sălacea commune. In the morning, the young people distributed 60 food aid packages — with the support of the SOEB foundation – primarily to large families, single mothers, and elderly people. The packages included pasta, rice, sugar, oil, chocolate spread, and canned food, (the latter generously provided by Austrian partners from the Maria Anzbach parish and surrounding areas).

The activity went beyond simply handing over donations. In many places, the cheerful group was invited into the homes of the beneficiaries, where they engaged in conversations, giving the Dutch youth a personal glimpse into their lives.

After the distribution, the team visited the Caritas home care center in Sălacea, which was renovated last year with EU funding, as well as the newly inaugurated local kindergarten building. They witnessed the significant progress the commune has made in recent years.

In the afternoon the Dutch youth, led by local nurse Anna Halmi, visited the elderly beneficiaries of the Caritas home care service. While they brought treats and sang songs to the elderly, the greatest gift they offered was the human connection and care they showed. Many of the retirees they visited, if they had family at all, lived far away, so they had no one to rely on in daily life besides the Caritas nurse.

To crown the day’s program, one of the beneficiaries improvised a handmade soup noodle workshop for the Dutch volunteers. Being an all-girl group, the youth eagerly learned the traditional skills passed down from mother to daughter for generations, each trying their hand at rolling shell-shaped pasta (csigatészta).

The eventful day ended with a bit of relaxation. Mayor Béla Horváth showed the young people the Komáromy manor in Otomani village, now functioning as an exhibition house, and the team climbed to the viewpoint on the nearby hill, passing by the local adventure park along the way.

"During the volunteering, I realized how grateful we should be for everything we have, because there are many people who are in need or feel lonely, and sometimes we can bring them immense joy just by visiting them. I felt good knowing that I was able to do something for these people, and from the tears shining in their eyes, I understood how important what we did really was. One of the most touching experiences was when, at the orphanage, a little girl came up to me and said that she saw me as the most beautiful – both on the outside and the inside. I will never forget that moment" – said Madelief Plantenga, aged 15.

Visiting homecare patients

On Tuesday, April 8, our Dutch volunteers visited elderly people cared for by the Caritas home care service in Oradea, under the guidance of nurse Alexandra Kovács. The encounters with the beneficiaries included both touching and emotionally intense moments. The international students showed courage even when visiting more severe cases, bringing some brightness to the elderly with small gifts and songs.

Regardless of whether the beneficiaries were receiving medical or social care from the Caritas nurses, a recurring theme was the lack of contact with the outside world. That is why the visit of the smiling Dutch girls brought extraordinary joy to them. The volunteers, with their youthful warmth, even embraced those patients whose condition allowed it – and after such heartfelt connections, there were no dry eyes left.

"I found it very interesting how the Caritas nurses cared for the patients. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to observe the entire care process, even though at times it was difficult, as we also encountered very serious cases. Everything I experienced here motivates me even more to become a nurse after I finish my studies" – said Wende, aged 14.

Workshops for vulnerable afterschool students

On Tuesday afternoon, the Dutch youngsters spent time at the sister organization of Caritas in Tășnad, where they held playful workshops for local primary school children enrolled in the afterschool program. The volunteer team from Melanchthon de Blesewic has been a returning guest to the Tășnad afternoon education program for years. Last year, thanks to their fundraising efforts, new furniture was purchased for the children's dining room, and this year, they pledged support for the purchase of a refrigerator.

However, what meant even more was the joy of being together again and the smiles of the children, who eagerly took part in face painting, bracelet-making activities, and tried out the dozens of games brought by the Dutch team. One of the female volunteers even made a personal donation: she brought jewelry, toiletries, and accessories she no longer used, and every participating child got to choose something for themselves. The activity took place in a delightful atmosphere.

Gardening and doughnut party at St. Martin's Elderly Home

On the final day of the volunteer week, Wednesday, April 9, the students from Melanchthon de Blesewic School visited the Saint Martin Elderly Home in Oradea in the morning. Under the guidance of Caritas staff, the skilled girls first baked donuts for the residents. Before lunch, they joined the elderly in the usual music-assisted senior workout, led by physiotherapist Judit Orbán, using elastic bands and balls to help loosen stiff limbs.

The healthy exercise worked up everyone's appetite, so tasting the donuts followed – to everyone's delight. While the group of young people and seniors sat in a large circle enjoying the treats together, one of the Dutch volunteers delighted everyone with a beautiful musical performance. Fifteen-year-old Madelief van Meijeren gave a moving interpretation of the song Écoutez-moi by Dutch singer Hannah Mae.

Afterwards, the dedicated volunteers visited each room, offering donuts to bedridden residents. With their youthful presence, they brought light into the lives of the elderly. In some cases, they even helped feed the patients with endless patience and care. The interaction with patients with limited mobility moved everyone deeply.

After being energized by food and heartfelt experiences, the volunteers grabbed pruning shears, rakes, and brushes to beautify the elderly home’s garden. Some painted the tree trunks with lime, others varnished garden furniture or trimmed dry branches, working shoulder to shoulder with Caritas employees. The results of their work will be enjoyed all summer by the residents who spend time in the garden.

Volunteering at DASO Daycare Center for vulnerable children

On Wednesday, April 9, the young Dutch volunteers of Caritas Catolica, joined by the local Africa Braiding hair-braiding team, visited the Day Center operated by DASO in the Velence neighborhood to hold fun activities for vulnerable children from the Gutenberg Street area, under the guidance of social program director Adina Ciucioiu and institution coordinator Miruna Moza.

Even though they didn’t share a common language, the Dutch high school students quickly connected with the children from Velence – through gestures, body language, and minimal translation, the group bonded quickly. Some of the young people went down to play football with the older kids in the center’s impressive gym, and when the sun came out, outdoor sports activities continued in the courtyard. Meanwhile, for the smaller children, face painting and arts and crafts workshops were held in a classroom upstairs. At the same time, the local Africa Braiding volunteers created colorful and beautiful braids for the enthusiastic girls in a separate room. The activity was filled with joy, laughter, and a wonderful atmosphere, making it an unforgettable afternoon for everyone involved.

Caritas Catolica extends its thanks to the DASO team for their openness to collaboration, as well as to the students and teachers of the Dutch high school Melanchthon in Blesewic for an entire week of enthusiastic work. A great deal of prior organization, fundraising, and behind-the-scenes effort was needed, along with a team of courageous, open-minded individuals with deep social sensitivity, to make all the diverse activities of the international volunteer week possible.

"The program was varied and very enjoyable. We visited many different projects of the Caritas organization. Our students found it beautiful, at times emotional, special, and very interesting. They realized how well off they are compared to others, and how much joy even the smallest things can bring. An unforgettable experience. Next year, we will definitely return," said teacher Karin Boerefijn.