What is ESC?
The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) funds and supports young people between 18 and 30 to volunteer or work in projects that benefit communities. It’s an initiative of the European Union and offers an inspiring and empowering experience for those who want to help others as well as learn and develop themselves.
Each year Kilkenny Steiner School welcome ESC volunteers from all over Europe, offering a wonderful opportunity to come and learn, enjoy and participate within a Steiner education community, working closely with teachers, parents and the children, and become involved in our daily lives.
You as an ESC Volunteer can bring a welcome and long lasting impact to the school community, offering a new energy and enthusiasm to all involved. Spend time reflecting on your experiences and personal growth as you immerse yourself in a different community and embrace the richness of intermingling cultures…
If I were to describe my experience at Kilkenny Steiner School in words, the following immediately come to mind: friendly, communal, diverse, open, challenging (in a good way), and much more.
My name is Svea, I am 19 years old, German, and for the school year of 2023/2024 I volunteered at Kilkenny Steiner School.
There I worked as a class helper for the 3rd/4th grade.
As someone with no previous experience in Steiner education, I not only learned about the Steiner approach but I also learned along with the children in the classroom.
Working at Kilkenny Steiner has not just taught me a lot in terms of education, but the school and the close work with the children has as well shaped and helped me to grow as a person.
The time I spend at the school was not only characterised by cheerful children, who were a lot of fun to work with, but also by an open and loving community that welcomed and integrated me from the very beginning.
My year at the Kilkenny Steiner School was formative in many ways and coming back to Germany I’m filled with new knowledge, experience and lots of happy memories!
Svea – ESC Volunteer Sept 2023 to June 2024
My name is Chaïnèze, I am 21 years old and from France.
I’ve been volunteering at Kilkenny Steiner School for 10 months in 2023/2024. I my time at the school I was mainly with Féileacáin, (ages 4 -6) though, I also helped in class 5/6 and 3/4.
While I briefly knew what Steiner Education was about, experiencing it for almost a year was very interesting. During my volunteering learned a lot, not only about Steiner pedagogy but also about myself. The approach is all about the children’s soul, listening to them and help them to grow in the best way possible.
The feeling of being in a community that truly cares for one another might be what I liked the most after playing chess, basketball and all sorts of games with the children. “
Chaïnèze – ESC Volunteer. Sept – June 2024
What are the Qualities needed in a Volunteer?
We look for volunteers who are enthusiastic and motivated to make the placement a
success for everyone involved. Ideally our volunteers would have an interest in or
experience of Steiner Education obtained through training, voluntary work or hobby and
have a basic understanding of the Steiner Ethos, and would like to learn more of.
A love of working with children;
enthusiasm to learn new skills;
open mindedness;
an interest in Steiner education;
a team worker and team player;
an interest in exploring Ireland and its culture;
an interest in learning more about yourself.
We look for candidates that have proven themselves to caring or nurturing in their
previous experiences. They are required to have a mature outlook and to be able to live
independently in nearby Callan and to deal responsibly and appropriately with children. It
is important that they are able to take initiative under guidance.
What will the work involve?
Along with helping in the classroom, volunteers will be invited to enjoy the festivals
that we celebrate to mark the changing of seasons and to be involved with the
creativity at school, through arts and crafts, gardening, music etc,.
Accommodation
Volunteers will have their own bedroom with shared kitchen, bathroom and living space
with either a host family or in a shared house with other ESC volunteers.
Mentorship
While volunteering abroad can be richly rewarding, it can also be challenging. All our
volunteers attend a structured mentoring program which provides on-going personal
support throughout the duration of the placement. This helps participants settle in to their
new environment, offering social, emotional and cultural support and learning
opportunities. It’s also a chance for the volunteers to get to know other volunteers and
share the joys and challenges of living away from home.
How to get involved
The ESC programme is open to young people between 18 and 30, from all EU countries
outside of Ireland.
visit https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en for more info
and https://www.leargas.ie/programmes/european-solidarity-corps/ to apply.