Codlea is an orphanage for both girls and boys from about 3yrs old to 14yrs old. The actual orphanage is a large white, almost school like building, with one main corridor and the dorms running of it.

It was very clean and airy, with lots of light. The dorms were brightly decorated, and again airy with plenty of light. The rooms each had about 4 bunk beds in them, 2 or 3 desks, with pigeon holes for each of the children and in many of the rooms, there were budgies or hamsters which had been bought the year before by MCB, St. Pats. and Ballyclare.

In each dorm there was a dorm leader, and the children were not allowed in the room without their leader being there. However they all seemed to get on really well with their leaders, and in the dorm I was in the leader didnt look to be that much older than us. The other boys were running to show him everything they got, even something as simple as a balloon that hadn't been blown up. Seeing this made me feel a lot happier leaving Codlea because I knew the children were all well looked after and were happy!

One thing I noticed about all the children in Codlea was that they wanted to do things for themselves, they didn't want you to make a balloon animal, they wanted to have a go themselves. They also all tried to speak English to us, and were very polite. I had a lot of respect for these kids because they were making such an effort with us. One of my favourite parts of the whole week was in Codlea.

Codlea had 2 swings outside, and an 8yr old boy called Marios (who I had made friends with) and I went out and sat and played on the swings for about 15minutes, we just swung holding hands and didn't say anything but it meant so much to both of us. Just spending time together, in the peace and quiet was amazing, it really touched me that something so simple could mean so much!

The younger children in Codlea were very affectionate and loved to give you hugs and kisses. Lots of them had their faces painted and they looked so cute. Like the older kids they had lovely rooms, with a few toys and dorm leaders. They wanted to spend time with you alone as well, and wanted you to paint their faces, colour in with them or simply punch a balloon back and forwards. They all loved bubbles and would run around trying to catch them before they hit the ground.

Codlea in general was very clean, and the children were all immaculate, and unlike some of the previous orphanages we had been to they had their own really nice clothes. The toilets were really clean and looked more like something you expected to find in a hotel. While we were there we saw the children getting their food, it looked really good and the place were they were eating was spotless.

Codlea was a really amazing place, the kids were all great fun and more importantly were all really happy and well looked after. I am really, really glad I got the chance to visit it.