Get to know our ESC volunteers - Gio

Where are you from?
Hi, my name is Gio and I’m from the north of Italy.

What is your training or background in circus or the arts?
In the past 6 years, I've been part of amateur circus. At first, I joined circus as a student and after a couple of years I started to collaborate in leading workshops and events. I've also been doing a social circus course for the past 3 years and last year, I participated in a national course to become a professional circus teacher.

What made you want to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?
I chose Galway Community Circus because of their views on certain social aspects and the fact that they support people with social integration, which are to me the things I cared about the most. When it comes to inclusivity, I believe GCC is one of the most groundbreaking circus schools in Europe.

Who is your sending organisation? Tell us about them. 
My sending organisation is Il Centro di Servizio per il Voluntariato (CSV) Milano [the Volunteering Service Centre in Milan]. They are a very active agency in supporting people with different needs. Their vision is to promote an inclusive, supportive, and sustainable community in which every citizen is encouraged to volunteer and participate in civic engagement.

What do you love about working with Galway Community Circus? 
At GCC, everyone is very friendly and supportive. Everyone can share their ideas and be an active participant of the organization. The sense of community here is truly palpable.

What project or projects are you working on at the Circus and what results do you hope to achieve?
My main activity here is being a tutor in classes for children and young people from 5 to 17 years old. Other than that, I also have other responsibilities, such as fixing props, keeping the storage room tidy and – a larger one - organising Scratch Night.

Scratch Night is an event where anyone can perform anything (not just circus). The aim is for people to experience and get acquainted with the sensation of bringing an act in front of the public. I think it’s important to promote such activities as Circus started out as a performance art form and it’s fundamental to share the beauty that comes from lots of hard work and training. Shows also bring a lot of joy; on the one hand for the performer who puts their whole heart into the showcase and on the other hand for the audience who witnesses the beauty of what humans can do.

Another personal project I’m working on is related to professional circus schools and how to enter one. I think that working in circus is amazing and there are many ways to get started, but it is often hard to find more information about the opportunities out there. My goal is to share some of these opportunities, especially with teenagers, so they can consider these if they want to develop a future in the arts.

What do you love about Ireland? 
I love Ireland and all the green and nature that we see in the Irish landscapes. Also, the culture of the pubs - places where people meet up and have fun whilst often listening to live music – is great craic.

What are a few important things you have learned or are learning while volunteering with Galway Community Circus?
In these past few months, I’ve learnt a lot of different skills such as how to sew or to fix juggling props. I’ve learnt many things about different cultures, including - of course - Irish culture, but also Belgian, Brazilian, and French, mainly. I find the melting pot of culture I’ve encountered at GCC amusing.

Another amazing thing that I’ve learnt here is to listen to my body and understand what it needs. I’ve had lots of time to train and to practice circus skills. I’ve improved a lot, especially in juggling, acrobatics, and unicycle.

What is one thing you love about circus in general?
The supportive and non-competitive environment that we try to create in every class is one of my favourite aspects of circus. I believe the world would be a better place if there was less competition and more support between people. Nowadays, society often tends to denigrate people for their skill shortages instead of focusing on the strengths of individuals.

Why do you think a programme like European Solidarity Corps is important? 
The European Solidarity Corps is an exceptional project that gives you the possibility to develop yourself, to travel, and to meet new people from other countries and cultures which allows you to fight discrimination. It also helps you develop an open mind that allows you to more consciously deal with social problems in order to build a better world.

Would you recommend that other people apply to volunteer at organisations through the European Solidarity Corps programme? Why? 
I would definitely recommend taking part in the European Solidarity Corps. As previously said, the programme allows you to meet amazing people from all over Europe and just participating in such a project can truly be an enriching experience.

Learn more about the European Solidarity Corps or discover more about the ESC programme at GCC.

Galway Community Circus's European Solidary Corps programme is supported by Erasmus+ and Léargas.