Meet our new 2025 - 2026 European Solidarity Corps Volunteers!
The first day of September brought some new energy to Galway Community Circus. Four volunteers landed in the city, ready to begin an exciting year as part of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). From now until August 2026, they’ll be sharing their skills, ideas, and enthusiasm with our community. We’re delighted to welcome them into the circus family - keep an eye out as we introduce this inspiring team over the coming weeks!
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 Germany, Spain and the United States. 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 everyone! I'm Anna and I come from the city of Hanover in Germany. My sending organisation is Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste, or IJGD.
What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?
Before coming to Galway, I had my final exams and graduated highschool! I have been doing circus for eight years in a local youth circus, where I was most recently focusing on acrobatics and trapeze as my main disciplines. Additionally, I was part of my school band as a singer and had some solo singing acts in my hometown.
What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?
During the year I will be a tutor assistant and help the teachers during classes.
What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?
While I am here, I would love to learn more about teaching, improving my people and circus skills, and learning more about inclusivity and accessibility in the circus.
What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?
I am from Corvallis Oregon, U.S.A. My sending organisation is SIW International Volunteer Projects.
What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?
Prior to joining the GCC team I was on tour with a circus in the Netherlands performing cyr wheel and unicycle.
What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?
Assistant teaching, organising Scratch Nights, cleaning the circus space and doing anything that needs to be done to help the circus run smoothly. Additionally, we will work on a personal project and mine is still to be decided.
What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?
I am excited for the opportunity to be involved with a circus organisation like GCC and learn about all the work that goes into an organisation like this. Additionally, I want to learn stilt walking and improve my wire walking and handstands.
What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?
I’m from Gijón, a coastal city in the north of Spain. I came here with Caminos, a Spanish organisation that specialises in volunteering with kids.
What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?
Before coming to GCC I was in the ballet professional conservatory. I have been dancing for most of my life (since I was three), but this past year I had to leave due to my studies.
What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?
As a volunteer I will be doing multiple things, the main one is being a tutor assistant. Apart from that I’ll be organising Scratch Nights with my partners, making some visuals for the hall, cleaning the hall, keeping the storage room organised and I’ll be in charge of the lost and found box, so if you have lost something maybe I’ll have it!
What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?
I’m really excited to learn from a teacher's point of view. I have always been a student, so now becoming a teacher is exciting, discovering all the processes that are necessary before having a class, like the trainings, meetings, etc. By the end of this year, I hope, I’ll learn all that I need to be part of a company, the best ways to teach young people, how to organise events, and I’d love learning some circus skills too.
What city/country are you from? Who is your sending organization?
I originally come from the south of Spain. I was born in Almería but I have lived in Granada for the past seven years. My sending organisation is Fundación Escuela de Solidaridad.
What were you doing before you came to Galway to volunteer at Galway Community Circus?
Before coming to Galway, I finished my art history degree and was working as a camp counsellor and as an English teacher. I have also studied in fine arts and illustration. I love to draw, paint, and write for fun. I’m all about the arts!
What will you be doing this year at Galway Community Circus?
At GCC I will be an arts administration assistant, working next to the lovely Circus School Administrator, Anet, and the rest of the admin team in the office. I will also be assisting with communications.
What are you looking forward to learning while volunteering at Galway Community Circus?
I’m looking forward to learning more about being part of a dynamic and creative team, specifically the administrative side of it. I’d love to be able to take that knowledge and channel it into other exciting projects after my time as an ESC is over.
Learn more about the European Solidarity Corps programme here.
Galway Community Circus's European Solidary Corps programme is supported by Erasmus+ and Léargas.
