Volunteering connects diverse people because helps us to break out of the comfort zone. This is always the beginning of the adventure with the community but also with ourselves.
Continue readingBreaking out of the comfort zone with Xiaojian Zheng
Posts tagged volunteering
Rubbish open wide their jaws
Oh, let me get wet and cold at last. I want to do something useful for the earth today
– I thought, after a month of lockdown.
As was raining the volunteer’s clean up at Claddagh beach in Galway have been cancelled. But around midday the rain stopped, so Aga, Mary, and I took litter keepers, gloves and bags and we went to the shore of Atlantic.
Continue readingThe Power of Volunteering – Sita Karki and Hugh Murphy
Today we celebrate International Volunteer Day. On this occasion, I would like to introduce you to my volunteer friends: Sita Karki and Hugh Murphy.
They were born in various countries, are completely different ages and have other passions. But equally, they share a big heart and volunteer work as Wave Makers for the European Capital of Culture Galway 2020.
Continue readingWave Makers keep community spark
Even if something undesirable happens in our life, it always has many hues. The pandemic of Covid-19 and lockdown have been hard and surspised news for everybody, also for the team of Galway 2020. However Wave Makers not the first time look after the light between clouds. They built the bridges to stay with touch with the local community.
Continue readingCards and letters – a great way to connect
Outside the window is a November grey, cars move along the wet street, but their noise reminds me of the sound of the sea. The flame of a cinnamon candle lights up my kitchen, where I write letters to residents of nursing homes.
Continue readingMaybe a song will cheer us up today
Once again Ireland showed me that it does not take much to create the magic.
On the 1st of October is chilly and wet. I put on the Wave Maker’s orange jacket and get on my blue bike. Nothing is happening on Walter Macken Place, and the Mervue housing estate seems to be lifeless. I can see mold on the buildings and temporary road works on the street. However, when I look more closely, I can notice sunflowers in the garden and even a small greenhouse.
Continue readingKites in Athenry
Finally, I am going by train. No matter if only fifteen minutes, I feel the same call for adventure as if I were going to Dublin. Meanwhile, I get off in Athenry – a tiny town near Galway.
On the platform, I meet Bronagh. She is also a Wave Maker of Galway 2020. We will be flying kites with Hope it Rains. It is not raining, thanks God, but the wind is as usual. Who would have seen West Ireland without the wind?
Continue readingCan we walk on water? – what say the murals in Galway!
I love murals in urban space. But I missed them in Galway. Meanwhile, something has changed. Thought-provoking photomontages appeared on several buildings in my city, and they called to me.
Continue readingUmbrella Orphanage
When the next month is still terribly grey and the ocean is pouring on your head. Do you wonder if the Irish winter consisted of the same Blue Mondays?
On top of it people in Galway still hope it rains. Yes, HOPE it RAINS – SOINEANN nó DOINEANN this is the project, as part of the European Capital of Culture Galway 2020, dedicated especially to Galway – the rainiest city in Europe.
The authors of this activity prove that rainy and blowing weather can bring people closer to each other and wake up creativity.
Continue reading“Life is beautiful because of the people we meet”
Have you ever had the situation that hostile weather thwarted your plans, just like a storm stopped the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture at 8 th February 2020, in Galway, Ireland and overturned the plans of 50,000 enthusiasts?
Nothing replaces the performance prepared by the Wonder Works class-world company. However, even a pressing storm can not stop what was born between people in the rainy city.
Continue reading