Many people's love affair with bears starts with their first teddy, and lasts a life time. As one of the world's favorite creatures, it comes as a great surprise that these mighty creatures are often mistreated, hunted and imprisoned for capital gain. You will be helping me to protect and care for bears that have been victim of this sad abuse in the beautiful setting of the Romanian mountains.

For years bears in Romania have been trophy-hunted, forced to dance in the streets and trapped in cages outside restaurants. Kept in cruelly cramped conditions and regularly abused by their owners, these bears are now being rescued and brought to Romania's largest bear sanctuary, just outside Brasov.

I will be helping out at this bear sanctuary, working to provide the haven for the bears that they so need. Volunteers have been helping at the bear sanctuary ever since its creation in 2006. The sanctuary is now home to 84 bears, with over 20 more bears due to be rescued over the coming months. This is a safe haven for them, with densely forested enclosures with pools and plenty of food.

I want to become part of this ongoing rescue story to bring more bears to safety. My days will be spent around the sanctuary, ensuring the best rehabilitation and care possible for these bears. This ranges from preparing their food to monitoring their wellbeing to simply enjoying watching their capers. Helping out with sanctuary tours is an important part of the role, to share with people the importance of animal welfare and conservation