Our European Volunteers

Victor

Bonjourain! I’m Victor and I’m from France. My family is French, but I was born in the United States and we moved back to France when I was little. I’ve spent most of my life in Colmar, near the German border. It’s a pretty town, famous for its Christmas market and the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s film “Howl’s Moving Castle”. For my studies, I went to Albi, in the south of France, and I loved it. Its cathedral is magnificent and the people are very friendly. I’m an engineer, specializing… specialising (I forgot, there’s no “z” in Ireland) in renewable energies. I like pizzas… pissas, card/board/video games, playing table tennis and swimming, watching football and rugby, and walking while listening to music.  

Sustainable development is an important subject for me, so I learned a lot about it and also joined my school’s association working on sustainable projects. We organized events, proposed ideas to our school and kept abreast of climate change. I also really wanted to go back to Ireland, as I had already been there a few years ago with my family for a vacation, and had loved it. When I found out about ESC and the GEAI offer, I didn’t hesitate and immediately applied. I want to experience life abroad, meet people from different cultures, and work for an organisation that is trying to plan actions in the energy field. I’m really looking forward to this experience! 

Chiara

Salve/Piacere di conoscerti! I’m Chiara and I come from a town situated in Northern Italy, not too far from Milan. Its name is Varese, and it is a ‘border town’ as it stands between Italy and Switzerland. Even though my town is small compared to Milan, there are many interesting locations that can be visited in its surroundings. In addition to the many archaeological findings that testify the region’s ancient Celtic past, the Sacro Monte (Sacred Mount) is the most notable one. As it is a pilgrimage destination that goes back to the Middle Ages, comprising 14 baroque chapels and a sanctuary of artistic and architectural interest, the Mount figures among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2003. However, the Sacred Mount is also a site of naturalistic interest since it is located inside a natural protected area called Parco Regionale del Campo dei Fiori, which in recent times has been experiencing the consequences of climate change such as biodiversity poverty, droughts, pollution and fires.

Growing up so close to nature, I’ve always had a special interest in the environment, and as soon as I noticed the opportunity of volunteering at GEAI, I decided not to miss it! Another thing that brought me here is my passion for languages and for Irish culture, which I had the chance to further develop during my undergraduate degree in foreign languages, my ERASMUS year in Scotland and my master’s degree in Medieval Studies at Trinity College.

I hope that through my experience at GEAI I will learn more about environmental preservation and be able to apply my newly acquired knowledge in my daily life.  My goal here is to help spreading GEAI’s mission by reaching broader groups of people, to create a real impact on a local, national and global level.

Ferruccio

Hola! I’m a mix of Mexican and Italian nationalities, born in a big city Monterrey famous for the steel industry and the famous Mexican bbq’s with tacos near Texas but now living in a little town near Venice in the North-East of Italy with my father’s family. I graduated in Industrial Design specifically in 3D product two years ago and after finishing my studies I moved to Europe in general.

 Traveling around the world I saw the differences between how every country living in underdeveloped countries as well as in others that are growing carries out sustainable energy in each place, more advanced than others and how political decisions can affect each of them; several examples such as narcotraffic, war or even the community itself. My doubts arise daily about how to face and advance on the subject of sustainability in an adaptable way, be it from a child to a senior citizen and why the need to do so and that this is available to everyone in anywhere. One of my dreams that I would like to see come true would be for low-income countries to adapt the techniques that other places use to conserve the environment to the possibility of all classes.

 I’m sure that the experience that I’ll carry out in the beautiful island of Ireland and the culture that I still need to know. I’ll exploit my skills with my teammates from GEAI and we will make a big change in our surroundings.

Héctor

Hi, I’m Héctor. I am from Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a city close to Barcelona. The area where my town is now located has a long and ancient history, with records of Neolithic settlements dated at least 3500 BC. It was also home to Iberians and Romans.

Unfortunately, in our most recent history we have also had various enviromental problems, where my family and the community had the opportunity to play an important role. An example of this is my family’s collaboration in the defense and reforestation of a city park ground so that it would not be converted into building land by the local council. Also the local river, the Besós, was used for years as a dump for chemical companies in the area and only after many campaigns and efforts by the community, it is now a protected and became a place for all citizens, where spaces have been set up to walk, ride a bike or just enjoy nature.

Due to all of this, I have always had a great interest in sustainable development and international cooperation. That led me to study a degree in politics and a master’s degree in International Relations and Development. Ever since I visited Ireland on vacation in 2016, I fell in love with this Country, its stories, authors and literature. I have always wanted to return and the opportunity presented to me by GEAI was perfect and at the right time. Here, I can use and develop my knowledge, as well as evolve personally and professionally.

Mariangela

Hi! I’m Mariangela from a town in the province of Bari, in southern Italy. Bari is the main city in the Apulia region. It was a crossroad and a municipality during the Roman Empire. Today, it is formed by an ancient center (the old Bari), a primitive city center with the main monuments, and the new districts along the coast.

My interest in people and in all their facets led me to undertake studies in Psychology – getting a specialisation in Human Resources.

Since my childhood, I had the opportunity to see the regenerating effect of nature: being in contact with it creates the birth of positive emotions and a state of mental and physical well-being. I like spending my free time taking long walks and exploring unknown places.

During my ESC year in Ireland, I hope to gain more knowledge and skills related to solutions to the climate crisis, renewable energy and improve my language skills to achieve my mission of spreading a sustainable, ethical and responsible lifestyle that respects our home and all the creatures that inhabit it.

Daniela Estefania

Hello! My name is Daniela Estefania Gil Gambo and I’m from Bogotá, Colombia, but when I was 2 years old, with my family, I moved to Catalonia (Spain), and since then I have lived in a city called Amposta (21.000 inhabitants approximately). Amposta is in the Terres de l’Ebre (the lands around the Ebro River, in the south of Catalonia). Amposta will always have a impotant place in my heart, but, lately, I was feeling the need to fly and live in other places. Terres de l’Ebre is a unique place. It has suffered from dangerous ecological problems due to geographical and political issues.

I’m enrolled in a master’s degree in Data Science in Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (online university) because I want to work in social research, in topics like rural and urban development or sustainability. Now, I want start focusing my career on these issues. This is the main reason for volunteering with GEAI. On the other hand, I would also like to improve my English. Finally, I’m convinced I will learn a lot here in GEAI about ecology, research, and activism.

I strongly believe in democratic values like civic citizenship, ecology, social justice, and intersectional equality. I want to transform society through my personal and professional work. Each of us can contribute to have a more inclusive and conscious society. In Catalan we say “picar pedra“, which means to work hard every day to make changes.

Ilya

Hello! I’m Ilya from Mogilev. It’s a city in Eastern Belarus with a surprisingly engaging history, just waiting to be explored. Perhaps this drive to hear stories of both ordinary people and events of the long past eventually led me to the History Department of Belarussian State University. And with the successful defence of my diploma I’ve returned to my hometown and joined the City Council as a personal assistant to my local representative. 

With the misuse of laws and exploitation of nature, my beloved city started to change and not in the right way. Those unfortunate facts sparked my interest in both Green policies and Just transition. And what is the best way to engage in these issues than volunteering? Ireland and Belarus have common traits in their history: as both were influenced heavily by the Great Powers and struggled greatly to leave the legacy of the past behind. I hope with the help of GEAI I can explore this connection and bring experience to my homeland and share it among my peers! 

On a more light note, I enjoy hiking and nature, as well as TTRPG’s, exploring local history and watching video essays of obscure topics of philosophy of art-house film industry.

Simona

My name is Simona and I’m Italian. I come from a village near Rome, called Cerveteri. It was an ancient Etruscan city and, today, it is famous for its Necropolis, dated 300-700 BC. Since 2004, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Therefore, if you go to Rome, you cannot miss this place, so rich in history and wonderful art.

I have a great passion for foreign languages. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in “Linguistic and Intercultural Mediation”, which led me to love the Spanish language and to study the difficult but fascinating Russian language. My study path continued with a Master’s Degree in “International Cooperation”. During this period, I developed a keen interest in environmental sustainability and climate action.

This ESC volunteer experience combines my most dear interests: languages, communication, environmental protection and the discovery and exploration of a wonderful country, such as Ireland. I hope to have the opportunity to deepen these subjects and to grow both on a personal and professional level.
Besides, I am an avid reader and an aspiring writer. In short, it will be a busy year and a great adventure.

Marine

I’m Marine and I am French. I come from Montabon, it’s a village in the countryside between Le Mans and Tours. This area is well known for its « rilettes » (that’s food !).

I have a Master’s degree in  «rural areas and local development » and I worked two years as an instructor on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for French local authorities. My competences include geographical information system, project managment, local development in rural area and agriculture.

I am interested in sports such as hiking I follow sports in general. I am really interested in Environment protection and Climate Change. I love cooking. I also have a passion for travelling, I have been in Ireland and really like the atmosphere.

The ESC project with GEAI will allowed me to discover more of Ireland culture I hope and improve my knowledge about envionment.

Alina

I’m from Soligorsk, one of the youngest cities in Belarus. Its history began only in 1958 when on the site of the future city the deposits of potash salts were found, and therefore there appeared a settlement for miners.

I have a bachelor’s degree in international law. During my studies I was feeling concerned about the topic of human rights, therefore I had a previous volunteering experience in this field. After graduating I started work as a lawyer in a building company, but I’ve always stayed interested in international law, especially in international environmental law. Besides, since recent time I have a strong passion for social media marketing and believe that social media have a huge potential in influencing people’s attitude to the environment.

One of my reasons to be a volunteer here is to gain international experience in the field of environmental protection and to learn how other communities tackle climate change. During my project I want to focus on managing social media and working with students in local schools. I also hope that this volunteering project will be a good opportunity to prove myself as a lawyer by sharing my knowledge in environmental law.

I’ve been in Ireland almost two months and I’m enjoying Irish weather (no kidding, it’s colder in Belarus in winter), music sessions in pubs and kindness of Irish people.

Nick

Born and raised in Lombardy, Northern Italy, a foggy region that share a connection with Ireland: a Celtic tribe, the Camuni, settled in its green, glacial and lake-filled valleys.

After my bachelor’s degree in Milan (fashion capital anyone?) I moved to the heart of Italy where I was forged as a citizen of Rome. My romanization led to an obsession for “cacio & pepe” pasta. However, old southerner blood flows in my veins. My background spans from humanities to econometrics passing through political science and env&dev economics. Recently I took a diploma of specialization in international cooperation. I have working experience in NGOs and social enterprises, in the fields of energy, AFOC and civic crowdfunding. I’m all about clean energy access for community empowerment. My dream in the drawer is to run a social enterprise to help the rural poor coping with their energy needs.

As a musician, I have found my natural habitat in Ireland countryside. You can always find me at a session. I’m a wanderer, an archer, a songwriter and used to be a videogame fanatic. I enjoy simple things: riding my bicycle along the river with a bag full of comic books, philosophising around Star Wars, exploring ruins in the jungle. But I get lost in supermarkets.

Sasha

Hi, I’m Alexandra – Sasha for short. I’m from Eastern Europe, Belarus.
Five facts to give you an idea about my country:

• our landscape is mostly thick forests, rivers, bogs and lakes;
• we have the world’s largest population of wild European bison;
• Minsk is the capital;
• our specialty is potato pancakes with sour cream ();
• we are bilingual, both Belarusian and Russian are spoken.

So, what can I tell you about myself? I’m a twenty-six-year-old graduate of a linguistics university, with work experience in teaching and journalism. Passionate about visual art, music, fitness, travelling and environment. During my placement in GEAI I would like to work with young people in schools, raising awareness about climate change, and also gain experience in blogging in English and managing social media. A personal goal that I would like to achieve is to run a marathon – I’ve already taken part in 10K and half marathon races here in Ireland.

I’ve been here for a few months now and I can say that Ireland is a great place to go volunteering for a year… lots of things happening around – music events, running events, beautiful places to visit and friendly people around that make you feel at home!

Nino

I’m from Messina, a city of Sicily, sunny island of southern Italy. I studied in Urbino – picturesque town of the Renaissance in the central Italy – where I took a master degree in “Design and Communication for Publishing”. I worked as graphic designer in Bolzano, northern Italy, where three different languages ​​are spoken: Italian, German and Ladin.

I participated in the creation of a new Agrocité in Paris, as part of the “Co-produced resilience” project promoted by Atelier d’Architecture Autogérée, about practices and networks of urban resilience. Moreover, I collaborated with the Italian designer collective Brave New Alps in the construction of the “Hospital(ity) school”, a wooden structure that host an Italian school and a medical and legal assistance point in a refugee camp in southern Italy.

My training in design allows me to develop participatory and site-specific projects that can  involve a given community. I’m interested in deepening design for sustainability and social innovation. During my studies I couldn’t spend a year studying abroad under the Erasmus+, so I decided to try an EVS before I turned 30, to get to know a new culture, meet new people and also to improve my English.

Francesca

Hello there!
I come from a very tiny village in the North of Italy. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science of International Relations and a Master’s degree in Environmental Economics and Policy.

I joined GEAI in September 2017 driven by a very strong interest in research and advocacy for climate change and environmental issues. I was looking for an opportunity to strengthen and develop new skills while working on topics I’m really passionate about and I believe the EVS experience could provide that.

I’m a travel addict besides being a nature and animal lover. My main hobbies include reading, gardening, hiking, listening to music and watching soccer. Since I arrived here, I fell in love with Irish traditional music (and set dancing!), the kindness of Irish people and the beauty of these stunning hilly landscapes sprinkled with dozens of lakes.

I’m very delighted to have been chosen as the Cool Planet Champion for County Leitrim, an initiative aimed at rasing awareness on climate change and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency. I’m really excited about it!

Bruno

I come from Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, a region in the North-East coast of Spain. I’m 25 years old and have a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences at the University of Barcelona. I also have two Master’s degrees, one on Renewable Energy and Sustainability, and the other on Training of Secondary Professional and Language teachers.

I am enthusiastic about sustainability, animals and environment in general. I consider myself a good communicator and I’m very passionate about sharing this knowledge with others. I want people to be more aware of how to improve the world we live in, in respect of the environment. But also to be aware of actions that can harm the environment. Living in Ireland is a great opportunity for me to soak up the perspective and culture of Ireland, to learn more about sustainability, also to improve my English skills and to enjoy this adventure!

Andrea

My name is Andrea. I am from Vigo, a costal city in Galicia (Spain). I studied Environmental Science and I made a Master Degree in Renewable energies. I was really happy to be in Ireland and to experience what the EVS means. GEAI helped me to develop my work skills and also to contribute in the idea of building a better world.

I am really concerned about the environmental issues. I love travelling, exploring cultures and meeting new people. This EVS gave me the opportunity to do all I am passionate about and to grow as a person.

Andrea is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education in Spain, and plans to follow that up with a similar qualification in England.

Alexandre

My name is Alexandre and I come from Lisbon, Portugal.  Despite my educational background (Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy) I decided to join GEAI because it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to experience what it is like to be a volunteer in an EVS project. I am very happy to have been part of an organisation that works towards making a difference in the future of our planet. I am very fond of travelling and meeting new people.

Alexandre currently works as a “Customer Happiness Hero”, also Translator, Knowledge base & Integration Specialist at Smartsupp in Brno, Czech Republic.

Alice

Alice wrote at the start of her EVS in 2015: ”I am a Romanian girl that is in love with nature, I studied Geography and I consider myself a world traveller, I am fascinated by the complexity of the Earth but also by human nature and the cultural heritage of the world. I always wanted to be a volunteer and GEAI is offering me the best opportunity to do it, working for the environment and getting to know and live in a new culture”.

Alice is a Freelance Photographer and has her own blog http://www.cookingmalandrina.com, but she is also a Freelance Consultant at Appen.

Lisandra

I’m from the Azores, in Portugal. And I’m 24 years old.

Lisandra talking about EVS: “You can meet people from all over the world. You can get to know the Irish culture. Don’t be afraid because it’s an amazing experience that you will not regret.”
One of Lisandra’s main contributions to the work of GEAI was the solar energy paper on our view to the matter. Lissandra is currently doing a PhD on Renewable Energies in Estonia!

Olga

Olga, a Ph.D. student in Architecture from Sloviansk in Ukraine worked with Good Energies Alliance Ireland as a graphic web designer. Her project included developing workshops on climate change and fracking. Also, the wonderful website was developed and maintained by her! “The graphic designer  skills which I’ve got in the organization and the Irish hospitality helped me to made my mind about nearest future, so I decided to continue volunteering for GEAI for the next year, and I am also taking  a web-design course.”

Olga is currently in New Zealand, sponsored by an architect firm to work in their team for a year.

Sergii

Sergii came to us from Berdansk in Ukraine.  He is a Mining Engineer and has a Master’s degree specialising in drilling.  When Sergii came to Ireland, he already had four years of work experience in the oil and gas industry.  During the time that he was with GEAI, the campaign against fracking in Ireland was at its height.  His skills were very useful in our work of raising public awareness of fracking and its consequences.  He took on the updating of our website and the organisation of a major international conference in 2013.

Sergii is currently the Project Manager at Weatherford in Ukraine.