Get to know our ESC volunteers - Julia

Where are you from?

I’m from Almería, a coastal city in the Southeast of Spain.

What is your training or background in circus or the arts?

I don’t have any circus background, but I have always been into the arts. When I was little my grandma got me started on drawing and painting, and I haven’t stopped doing it since. I got my high school diploma in plastic arts and then I did Fine Arts in the University of Granada for a year, only to realise that I was more specifically interested in Illustration. I got my Illustration diploma and then went back to uni to get my degree in Art History.

What made you want to volunteer at Galway Community Circus? 

The admin assistant role at GCC seemed like a wonderful opportunity for me to get some professional experience around culture and arts management working in a creative and dynamic environment.

Who is your sending organisation? Tell us about them. 

My sending organisation is Escuela de Solidaridad, a non-profit organisation from Granada, Spain. It helps women with children in emergency situations, at risk youth, homeless immigrants, people with disabilities, older adults in need of support and sick people without a support system. The aim of the organisation is to give a sense of community and family back to people who don’t have access to it.

What do you love about working with Galway Community Circus? 

I love how nice and helpful everyone is, and the learning opportunities that this position is offering me. Through my work in the office, I’m learning administration and management, customer service, useful skills in Excel and Outlook, as well as some communications. I also love the way this community is open to all kinds of people and opportunities.

What project or projects are you working on at the Circus and what results do you hope to achieve?

I’m mainly working with the admin team at the office helping with registrations and keeping up with the email inbox. I help Anet and the office team with any other task they may need. In addition, I update the company’s blog on ESC blogs, and I edit the company’s internal newsletter.

For my personal project I will be working on an illustrated diary of my year as an ESC. Through this project I aim to bring awareness to the importance of volunteering, solidarity and community and showcase all the opportunities that joining the ESC programme can bring. I’m super happy that I get the chance to use the media I’m passionate about to tell the story of my time here!

What do you love about Ireland? 

What I love the most about Ireland is how nice and welcoming Irish people are. It feels easy and natural to meet people and form connections. I also love how artsy and lively Galway is, there is always something going on. I’ve heard before that there is a festival happening almost every week and so far, I can confirm it to be true. And I have to say I also love the weather!

What are a few important things you have learned or are learning while volunteering with Galway Community Circus?

I am learning many different things. Other than the specific professional skills I’ve mentioned before, I am also learning a lot about being part of a team. In a way, I am learning how to learn, which I feel like it’s not something that gets talked about enough. In every new workplace that you go to you first need to learn the ways in which you will be interacting with the work, what is expected of you and the dynamics of the place and the team. I’ve only been here just over two months so far, but everyone has been incredibly helpful and welcoming, making my transition into the role a smooth one.

Week after week I have been learning a different side of this job and I’ve learned more about what each member’s role is like, and how the work that they put in helps the GCC puzzle stay together.

What is one thing you love about circus in general?

I would honestly say that the playfulness is one of my favourite aspects. This is a very professional environment but there is still time to be joyful and playful with each other. Skill development sessions on Wednesdays are amazing even for an admin volunteer like me, as I get to try different circus props and disciplines. Everyone is very excited to share and learn from each other, and to try new things and play around for a bit.

Why do you think a programme like European Solidarity Corps is important? 

I think it’s an important programme because it gives young people the opportunity to move around and open up to new opportunities. It also helps Europe stay connected, dynamic and multi-cultural. Getting the chance to move abroad with people from other nationalities and become part of a community away from home is one the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had.

Programmes like this, be it volunteering, working or studying, just force you to get out of your comfort zone and give you the opportunity to be a new version of yourself. You will discover things you didn’t know about yourself, and it might give you the clarity that you need to decide which path to take next in your adult life.

Would you recommend that other people apply to volunteer at organisations through the European Solidarity Corps programme? Why

I would definitely recommend volunteering through the ESC programme. It’s hard for me to believe that not more people do it, as it seems like quite a valuable opportunity to live abroad, open up to new opportunities, get life experience and give your time to projects that are actively making the world a better place. There are so many different projects and organisations that it would be easy enough to find what would suit you and your interests. It’s the perfect path to discover things about the world and yourself in a safe and exciting way.

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

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