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Bryan Eldreth: Student Report from 2014 Alternative Summer Break in Romania

Bryan Eldreth takes in the Romanian countryside.
Bryan Eldreth takes in the Romanian countryside.

For the week of August 10, 2014, four students from the University of Tennessee College of Engineering went to a village in Romania to help with the construction of a High School dormitory. The four students were Robert Minneci, Jonathan Jones, Kelli Grissom, and I. Jon and I are chemical engineering students, Robert is studying material sciences, and Kelli is a civil engineering student. We were led by Judith Mallory, the International Coordinator for the College of Engineering. The trip was coordinated through United Planet.

We arrived in Romania on the August 11 and proceeded to travel two hours outside of Bucharest to a village called Valea Screzii, established by Pro Vita. Pro Vita is run by an NGO and it takes care of and houses orphans, single mothers, elderly, and mentally handicapped adults. While Romania was under communist rule until 1989, some orphans were treated horrifically, resulting in disabilities in adulthood. This organization is comprised of many houses, all donated by outside sources, in which the children live in groups, like families. Each house has a kitchen and an adult to help provide meals and care to the residents.

Our project was to help build a dormitory-style building near the local high school. By staying here instead of Valea Screzii, which is about forty-five minutes away, students can avoid the three hour bus ride every day and get more accustomed to living on their own, while still having adults there to feed and tutor them. We made and poured concrete for wall supports on the second floor.

Bryan Eldreth Works on a Dormitory
Bryan Eldreth, foreground, works on a dormitory for Romanian students with fellow UT engineering student Jon Jones, standing at left.

Kelli, Judith, and I mixed the sand, water, pebbles, and cement to make the concrete while Jon and Robert worked up on the second floor, pouring the mixed concrete into the supports. We managed to get half of the supports done over two days. On another day, we worked in Valea Screzii, mixing and pouring concrete, this time to form a driveway. We were able to finish the work that day as well.

In our free time, we were able to embrace the full cultural experience that Romania has to offer. From scenic chapels on top of hills to downtown Bucharest, Romania has everything one could desire in a country. We got to hike to the top of a mountain, see Dracula’s castle, tour the second largest government building in the world, and meet some of the nicest people ever.

This trip has been one of the most rewarding and educational opportunities I have gotten to experience. The organization of Pro Vita deserves all the help in the world. I wish everyone could see the difference they are making in the amazing country of Romania.

To my fellow students, please look into the alternative break opportunities, I can assure you they are worth it.

Bryan Eldreth visits Bucharest, Romania.
Bryan Eldreth visits Bucharest, Romania.