When I applied to take part in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program in the south of France, within the circus school L’art D’en Faire, I had two main motivations: the first was to learn the French language, and the second was to learn several circus skills, such as juggling. My volunteer story began in January and ended in August 2025, in an organization called L’art D’en Faire.

The tasks I had were mostly focused on assisting instructors who are professional circus artists. The organization functioned as a kind of school where children of different ages, as well as adults, attended their courses once a week. These circus courses focused on training participants in various circus and artistic skills, such as juggling, tightrope walking, trapeze, and more. We also often prepared performances that members of these groups performed in front of an audience, which was mostly made up of their parents and friends.

My main task was to help during the preparation of these workshops. I worked with children as young as five years old all the way up to adults. What I learned through this experience is that working with children requires specific skills. It is necessary to develop a feel for it, because sometimes it is not easy—especially with children who have a lot of energy and can lose focus on preparations and tasks. At the beginning this was very difficult, especially since all the children spoke exclusively French, which I did not know at that time. Over time it became easier, and in the end I felt comfortable enough to even lead a workshop independently.

In addition, it is important for me to emphasize that I also learned some French, which is an excellent investment in myself. What I would particularly like to highlight as valuable from this experience are the various circus skills; I am especially fond of juggling, which I can now do while moving at the same time on a large ball.

When I was not working at the organization, I spent my free time with friends I met there, exploring the beautiful nature of southern France. The weather was wonderful, and I often went to the local market that was held every week. The town where I stayed was a medieval town called Joyeuse, and during the spring I truly enjoyed walking around and observing the old medieval walls.

In conclusion, I would like to send a message to everyone who is thinking about embarking on such an adventure: do not hesitate—you will not make a mistake. On the contrary, this kind of experience will certainly change your life, and the experiences you gain cannot be paid for with money. I can say with certainty that I developed greatly as a person during these seven months, and I am truly grateful to the Addiction Prevention Competence Centre for the opportunity and support throughout the entire engagement. They truly made this period of my life unforgettable.

You can read more about international volunteering at this link.