Megan's ESC project at an Equine Therapy Centre in Belgium

Our ESC volunteer Megan finished her project this summer. She was volunteering at an equine therapy centre for vulnerable teenagers. Find out more below:

My European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project was volunteering with Centrum Molenmoes in Wezemaal, Belgium. I worked with both “Equicanis”, an equine therapy practice, and “Rizsas”, a non-formal education centre for vulnerable teenagers. This links in with the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 of Quality Education. These teenagers could not continue traditional school for a variety of reasons, and are obliged to attend an alternative for their education until they turn 18. Centrum Molenmoes was set up to help these teenagers receive a quality education outside of the formal education system.  

I helped to provide equine therapy for clients and for the teenagers at the youth centre. We worked within the Institutional Pedagogy framework, which basically means that we created a little society, or “institution”, that helped us all learn how to live with each other. We helped people learn about themselves, about animals, and how to live in a community together. We never forced the teenagers to do anything, all their motivation to act had to come from within.  

Every day we cooked together, we cleaned the living spaces, and we cared for the animals. The ESC volunteers also ran various workshops to help the teenagers to find their passions. I did a lot of arts, crafts and Gaelic football!  

This experience offered countless opportunities for my own growth and learning, and I'll always be grateful for the memories and insights I gained along the way!  

October is Time To Move month highlighting opportunities in Europe for young people. Check out our competition here.