European Solidarity Corps

(voorheen European Voluntary Service)

Het European Solidarity Corps (ESC) vervangt het vroegere European Volunteer Service (EVS).

Al meer dan 10 jaar ontvangt en stuurt Cirkus in Beweging vrijwilligers over de landsgrenzen. Hierdoor dragen we bij aan de internationale solidariteit tussen landen en  organisaties en geven we jongeren een kans op een levensverrijkende interculturele ervaring.

Elk jaar verblijven er minstens 2 internationale vrijwilligers voor een jaar bij Cirkus in Beweging. Onze kandidaten hebben verschillende profielen, zo zijn er vrijwilligers met interesse voor educatie en circuseducatie, anderen zijn dan weer meer georiënteerd op beeldvorming en moderne media, tot slot zijn er ook vrijwilligers met artistieke ambities.

Heb je zelf zin om vrijwilligerswerk te doen in het buitenland? Dan willen we je daar graag bij helpen. Meer info daarover vind je hier. 

Heb je interesse in de werking van ESC, neem dan contact op met jessika@cirkusinbeweging.be

2021 – Hanna
Hanna Behr komt uit Bremen in Duitsland. Daar ging ze in haar vrije tijd regelmatig op kamp met circus Jokes en groeide haar interesse voor circus. Hanna assisteert bij Cirkus in Beweging bij de lessen multi en éénwieler en volgt zelf ook nog enkele lessen.

2021 – Issam
Issam Abusnaina komt uit Palestina. Bij de Palestijnse circusschool was hij jarenlang student  en later artiest in enkele van de artistieke producties. Issam is een straffe acrobaat, die met zijn  lichaam graag het verhaal van zijn volk vertelt.

2021 – Gaia
Gaia Valetto komt uit Italië waar ze gebeten raakte door circus en sociaal circus. Gaia zat het liefst hoog boven op de trapeze of tussen de kinderen van de groep Atobaf in buurtwerking Fabota. Lees hieronder meer over haar ervaring als ESC vrijwilliger.

Hierbij een getuigenis van Gaia Valetto, een Italiaanse, die de eerste helft van 2021 bij ons verbleef:

“Ciaooo!  I’m Gaia, 23 years, from Italy (Turin to be precise).

I’m here to tell you about my experience as an ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteer in Belgium with Cirkus in Beweging.

All the people that I met during these six months were amazed knowing that I was literally living and working in a circus school as a volunteer. But this is real and possible!

The beginning was not so easy: COVID, a spread ankle, new house, new habits… It took me a while to get into the mood, but after these first obstacles everything went well.
I didn’t arrive with particular expectations, I let myself be carried away and it worked. I entered this mentality were I always said YES to everything and I could try many unexpected things.
I found myself surrounded by wonderful people, kind, helpful, open minded, enthusiastic to know me, teach me and share with me their stories.

I felt welcomed and even if I consider myself as an independent person I have always lived with the tranquillity of having someone watching my back.

Of course in Belgium the people are colder than in Italy, they’re different, but I lived in a super inclusive environment and this facilitated my integration.
I have known a lot of people and with some of them I have a strong bond.
The contexts in which I worked were many and different so I had the possibility to interact with different ages and cultures.
The people that I frequented and the places that I visited left something significant inside of me. They made me grow, reflect and discover new sides of my personality.

Cirkus in Beweging is indeed a safe bubble in which you can express yourself without any kind of judgement.
It was a fantastic experience that helped me to take responsibility and allowed me to live in total freedom.
It was something that I never thought I could do because it’s totally out of my comfort zone. But I’m satisfied and proud of myself. I played a lot an

d I have overcome my fears about “first experience alone abroad”.

People like me are brave, I’ve always admired them and now I’m happy for this experience. Once in Italy my luggage will be full of new friendships, experiences and skills that will make me what I am. Maybe a little changed, maybe still the same, probably the usual kangaroo in a room with too low ceilings… but surely I will be a happy and realised Gaia.

Thanks to all the people who helped me from Italy and Belgium during this fantastic trip. You’ve been precious. Leuven is a little too chique for me, but I will miss this city so much.

Circus has a superpower: it brings people together creating bonds (even between extremely different people, now I know it well), gives you the opportunity to express yourself and be creative, keeps your body strong and agile, constantly challenges you, makes your brain work (sometimes) and probably makes you a better person.

There is a tiny picture in one of the rooms of the circus school that says “of course, circus can save the world” and after this experience, I’m even more convinced!
Good game to everyone :)”

Voor meer informatie over dit project kan je ons contacteren via Jessika@cirkusinbeweging.be