Whilst some were in Thailand, the States, Russia or wherever, I went to Romania with a popular volunteer programme run by the Aurelia Trust. This is an Irish charity which offers anyone willing, and who is a college student, the opportunity to work as a volunteer in various parts of India and Africa as a teacher in a well deserving school where summer classes are taught by Irish volunteers, coinciding with a summer camp for the children involved. For anyone who has experienced this life changing trip or even has thought about doing it themselves knows that it comes highly recommended for all the reasons one can think of.

This year there has been a cocktail of students from varying college and academic backgrounds undertaking the volunteer programme which in one way or another, all of us students here in Trinity College Dublin will come to hear about and perhaps one day experience. Charitable, caring, compassionate and courageous are some of the words that I have heard in response to hearing of a student taking part in a Volunteer programme like this. But these words are only part of the story. One has to acknowledge that although time is given up and money spent, the rewards you reap are endless.

Every person you encounter on your travels in whatever country, charity or even county will change your outlook on life forever. These words will become a distant memory.

August 15th 2008 marked my most recent trip to Romania as a volunteer with the Irish organization "Aurelia Trust". The aim of this charity is to be the voice of the countless children and young adults within the Romanian welfare system and other eastern European countries. My personal experience has been connected with Romania over the past three years. Constanta is the area in which I have been involved with and working with the residents of the Navodari and Techrigol orphanages and the numerous community care centres, including The Pilot centre in Negru Voda. The work is based with the young adults whose basic human needs have failed to be met. They have suffered as a result of a corrupt communist government up until the late 1980's and even early 90's.

As a result of poverty, pure neglect and abandonment, one has come to hear of hundreds of orphanages around Romania which house some of the most courageous people in the world; heard of but never spoken about or even listened to, until charities such as The Aurelia Trust and "Focus on Romania" began their work.

Each year, money raised goes directly towards the welfare of these young adults in making each of their lives happier, healthier, and more fulfilled by whatever means possible. This is achieved in many forms. Orphanages involved with The Aurelia trust over the years have been shut down and replaced with state of the art community care centres and Centres of Excellence which can provide these inspiring young adults the care and attention they deserve. Another way in which the charity funds are used is for a "Tabera" or holiday camp; these have become so much part of the lives of the residents from the various orphanages and care centres I have mentioned above. The "Tabera" is a time for all to look forward to, Residents and Volunteers alike. No longer abandoned children, but inspiring young adults ranging from the ages of 16 to 46, can escape from their surroundings and experience a week of fun and games at the seaside like most of us. These few short days are the only ones out of 365 that the residents experience, for the most part, life outside the four walls of their care centres and institutions.

Mount Sackville Secondary school is where the foundations were laid for my involvement in this wonderful charity. "Focus on Romania" is a branch of "The Aurelia Trust" in which students are encouraged to participate in their fifth year in Mount Sackville secondary. I am extremely grateful for this fantastic opportunity that has continued well into my College life. Three years later I have continued to strengthen my commitment to this very worthwhile cause.

Trinity College students are given the opportunity to make the most of their long summer holidays. However you have chosen to spend those magnificent summer months, I hope it was memorable