Bridging the gap between European policy and rural community action.
Explore our four pillars of work.
Sustainability
Advocacy
Volunteering
Education
Rural communities are often told they are “behind” in the green transition. At GEAI, we prove they are leading it. We are working to ensure that the move to zero-carbon brings wealth, warmth, and life back into our villages.
• Community Energy: Through the Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) network, we are retrofitting homes and exploring community-owned renewable power.
• Biodiversity: Our “Save Our Soils” project and Community Garden demonstrate how local land management can fight climate change.
• Just Transition: We advocate for a rural future that protects livelihoods while protecting the planet.
Sustainability
We don’t just protest; we propose solutions. Building on our historic success in securing the 2017 ban on fracking, GEAI acts as a vigilant watchdog and a constructive voice for rural Ireland.
• Campaigning: We actively campaign against new fossil fuel infrastructure, specifically Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals.
• Policy Submissions: We submit expert recommendations to the government on the Climate Action Plan, ensuring rural realities are factored into national law.
• Networking: As members of the Environmental Pillar and Stop Climate Chaos, we amplify local voices on the national stage.
Advocacy
Ballinaglera isn’t just a village; it’s a hub for European youth. As a coordinating organization for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), we bring young people from across Europe to live and work in Leitrim. They bring fresh energy; they leave as climate leaders.
• The ESC Experience: We host volunteers for 6–12 months, fully funded by the EU, to manage our media, garden, and community events.
• Cultural Exchange: We bridge the gap between rural Ireland and the wider world, fostering friendship and solidarity.
• Skills for Life: Volunteers gain hands-on experience in NGO management, digital media, and sustainable horticulture.
Advocacy
Climate change can be overwhelming. We turn anxiety into action through education. From primary schools to community halls, we provide the facts, tools, and spaces needed to understand the crisis and build local solutions.
• School Programs: We run interactive workshops in Leitrim schools, teaching students about energy, biodiversity, and their power to change the future.
• Climate Guides: Our “Deep Dive” resources break down complex topics like the Greenhouse Effect and Climate Justice into clear, accessible language.
• Community Dialogues: We host open forums where locals can learn, debate, and plan their own energy transitions.
& Resources
Stay updated on our campaigns, community projects, and volunteer stories.
Azul! ⴰⵣⵓⵍ! Hello everyone! My name is Driss, I’m 24 years old, and I come from Morocco. My story begins in a small village called Dayet Aoua, near Ifrane, in the heart of the Middle Atlas Mountains. It is a beautiful area surrounded by forests, lakes and mountains, where winters can be very cold and […]
Salam, and hello everyone! My name is Omar El Aazzaoui. I’m 26 years old and I come from Morocco. I was born in Fez, one of the oldest cities in the country. Fez was founded at the end of the 8th century by the Idrisid dynasty and was Morocco’s capital for several periods of its […]
Halloween month is officially over. October brought us many wonderful events and trips, as well as multiple wind and rain storms. The latter made the volunteers understand better how it is to live in Ireland. October tasks: The volunteers continued working on social media and the school sessions. During the month, they posted 10 instagram […]
During September and October, the volunteers and employees of GEAI have held 5 Youth Participation sessions on climate and the environment for the Drumshanbo vocational school students. More about the first session you can read in the first Youth Participation blog and about the second session in the September blog. So what have the […]
GEAI Past Volunteers stories This special edition blogpost focuses on previous volunteers of GEAI. First one to reach out to us was Silvia from Italy, who volunteered at GEAI from September 2020 until August 2021. Her reflection from the year: “It was a tough year because we were still living the covid-related restriction so we […]
What were the current volunteers up to in September? The days were even busier than in August. The Youth Participation project started on the 22nd of September and most of the days now are spent thinking or working on the project. Before that, Chloé was able to finish the brochure of GEAI and have 500 […]
