Meet our new 2024-2025 European Solidarity Corps Volunteers!

The European Solidarity Corps programme supports young people aged 18-30 to be full-time volunteers in many foreign countries. This year our volunteers are from Belgium, France, and Italy. At GCC, ESC volunteers complement the team by supporting either the tutors or admin team. In addition, they also get the chance to develop their own circus related project.

What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?

Hi folks, my name is Elisa! I'm 19 and I come from Belgium, but I'm also half Irish. My sending organization is the Centre for European Volunteering in Brussels.

What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?

Before coming here, I was doing some volunteer work in organic farms both in Belgium and in Spain. In Spain, I also took some Spanish classes. I'm also very passionate about theatre and improvisation and have done them both for quite a while.

What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?

At GCC I will work as an assistant tutor. I will help the tutors during classes, so I'll get to meet you guys!

What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?

There are a lot of things I would like to learn, including how to become a better tutor and how to survive the Irish weather. I also want to learn as many circus tricks as possible!

What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?

I'm Giovanni and I'm from Italy near Milano. My sending organization is CSV Milano ETS.

What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?

Before coming to Ireland, I was doing a lot of things. In June I got a degree to become a circus teacher. I finished university in July, and I worked at Decathlon in the cycling area and as a teacher in a circus near where I lived.

What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?

During this year at GCC, I'm going to be an assistant tutor for classes of all ages.

What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?

What I would like to learn while I'm here in Ireland is all about social circus and inclusivity. I want to discover different approaches of teaching and how the circus can be a way to achieve other important life skills, including soft skills such as resilience, perseverance, patience, concentration, and many more.

What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?

I am from Toulouse, a city in France! My sending organization is Concordia Association.

What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?

Before coming to Galway Community Circus, I was also a volunteer in a dance association where I taught a few classes on improvisation and self-expression of the body. That's why I am a multidisciplinary artist; I work with dancing, drawing, and body-consciousness techniques. It's a difficult task to mix all of these disciplines! When I was young, I also did a few circus classes on acrobatics, juggling, and clowning.

What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?

This year, I am an assistant tutor. I will share my skills with the youth and staff members, and I am looking forward to leading a dance workshop!

What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?

I'm looking forward to learning how to work with the youth, and improve my knowledge about inclusion.

What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?

Hi everyone! My name’s Lina and I live in Belgium (not that far from Ypres/Bruges). My sending organization is the Centre for European Volunteering in Brussels.

What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?

Before coming to GCC, I was juggling (no pun intended) several activities. My main focus was obtaining my degree in conference interpreting. Additionally, I was also a board member in two student clubs and would teach Dutch/English during the term breaks in language camps.

What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?

This year, I will work with the GCC team as an admin assistant. You will be able to find me in the reception office mostly.

What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?

I am really looking forward to interacting with new people, getting to know the circus and arts world better, developing new skills, and further honing those that I already have. I am also excited to improve my English proficiency and to indulge myself in Irish culture/history/language.

Learn more about the European Solidarity Corps programme here.

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