The city of Cluj-Napoca (with a metro population of a little more than 400,000) is considered the unofficial “capital” of the historic region of Transylvania, and while there are no famous vampires haunting the region, it is a relatively short drive to towering, Dracula-esqe castles.

The country remains torn between people living in Soviet-era poverty and affluent communities with a more Western lifestyle, driving housing prices upward and making our work of building simple, decent and affordable homes critical.

The typical family with whom Fuller Center Romania partners usually has a working mother and father earning minimum wage, an obstacle to obtaining decent housing through traditional mortgage opportunities in an expensive market.

Most of these families have 1-5 children and come to us from situations where they live with relatives in crowded situations. Others come to us from small rented spaces without access to basic utilities such as potable water, flushable toilets and adequate heat. Some come from unsound shacks and shelters.

The families partner in the process, helping in the construction work done on their homes and repaying the costs on a no-profit, no-interest basis. Their repayments remain in Romania and are recycled to help the next families get this much needed hand-up, turning the partner families into not just recipients, but givers themselves.

Local Romanian volunteers actively support the efforts, but international volunteers are needed to take the housing program to further heights. If you have a heart for combining service, traveling and experiencing new cultures than this trip is for you! You get to experience the joy of giving a family a light of hope by providing them with a home and helping them take a step towards a better life!

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