“Time banking”, a new concept in Romania
Time is one of the most precious resources of modern society. We are living at a time when each minute is important.
Monica Chiorpec, 17.02.2016, 13:58
Time is one of the most precious resources of
modern society. We are living at a time when each minute is important. Most
frequently, we all feel, at the end of a long day, that we have not managed to
accomplish everything we set out to do. On the other hand, doing too much keeps
us away from our families, creating frustration and misunderstanding. As in
every modern society, in Romania, too, people complain they don’t have enough
time. However, a group of creative people have found an interesting solution to
this problem.
The concept of time banking is a
revolutionary idea that allows people to build supportive networks and help
each other. For example, if someone enjoys driving, he or she can help someone
who doesn’t drive go from one place to another.
Diana Habuc
is 28 years old. She works as foreign language trainer for some big companies
in Bucharest, where she teaches French to people of different ages and with
different levels of proficiency in this language. Her job means she has to
travel a lot in Bucharest, which is a very busy city, which takes her a lot of
time.
I could use a personal driver when I have to
move from one place to another over a big distance and in a short period of
time. This would be a big help for me.
Diana believes that time banking is a good
idea. She would be willing to provide translation services in exchange for
transportation in Bucharest:
I am willing to offer my foreign language
skills in exchange for being driven to work. For example, I could give free
lessons in French, English and Romanian to the children of people who can give
me a lift to work. Or I could translate
all sorts of documents and graduation papers. I could do things people are
unable to do themselves or for which they don’t want to pay. Or I can translate
website and blogs.
Alexandru Dan is an ambitious young man from Zalau, in
western Romania who studies history and philosophy. He is the initiator of the
time banking concept in Romania after reading how successful it is in many
countries in Europe and the United States. The idea has not yet taken off, but
Alexandru is a persevering young man who believes time banking may also become
popular in Romania. Alexandru Dan:
The time bank consists of a database with the
names of all those who wish to take part in the project. Each of these persons
contributes something, which can be anything they like. For example, one family
may need someone to clean their house, another may need someone to help their
children with the homework. Let’s say the latter family does the cleaning for
the former family. The time spent there is translated into hours and deposited
in the time bank. In exchange, the second family will then spend the same
amount doing homework with their children.
So money is not the most important factor when
it comes to satisfying people’s needs. Sometimes it’s all about time. So time
banking may provide a solution to this problem in a not too distant future.
