Cirkus In Beweging is looking for A TEACHING VOLUNTEER for 10 to 12 months to join us with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) between September 2026 and August 2027

ESC volunteer Noor teachings aerial straps (2025-2026)

Are you between 18 and 30 years old? Do you have a background in circus, parkour, acrobatics or theatre/dance? Would you love to assist teaching circus or parkour to our amazing students?

Cirkus in Beweging is an open house for circus education and parkour and have weekly classes for average 1500 participants between 0 to 80 years old, but the vast majority is between 3 and 20. We teach many disciplines like (aerial) acrobatics, parkour (free running), balance and juggling, but also embrace percussion, acro-yoga, circo-motorics for preschoolers, and more …

Cirkus in Beweging actively invests in broad accessibility for all. Therefore we work with different partners. Because everybody has the right to enjoy and learn!

We focus strongly on the benefits of circus education to advance the personal, social and motoric development of our participants and the broader community. We do this based on a strong pedagogic approach.

Our educational work is based on 4 MAIN VALUES:

  1. The heart of our circus school is all about offering and receiving CONFIDENCE. A safe place where you can grow and develop your talents.
  2. This is how we create BRAVE spaces where de dare to move, play, dream, be and show ourselves. This includes making ‘mistakes’ as a perfect way of discovering new paths.
  3. We look for circus forms where everyone feels at home. We continue to (re)form ourselves and circus from the DIVERSITY of our participants.
  4. Together we push for SUSTAINABILITY, caring for everything and everyone and together building a just future.

Our ACTIVITIES:

  • Weekly circus classes from Monday to Sunday for average 1500 participants
  • We partner with schools, neighbourhood community centres, centres working with people with disabilities, a language school for people newly arriving to Belgium, etc.. to reach as many children and youth as possible
  • Workshops like Open Circus workshops at festivals and events on demand
  • Guidance of Production groups
  • Organisation of different show moments for our students
  • Circus Vacation camp

VOLUNTEERING WITH ESC AT CIRKUS IN BEWEGING

Every year we hosts 2 international ESC volunteers who stay with us for a period between 10 to 12 months. We offer volunteers an interesting discovery journey or growth path in circus education.
The main task of the volunteer is to assist the teachers during the classes. This can mean:

  • supporting teachers with all kind of needs like taking care of students with extra guidance needs (neuro-divergent students, students with disabilities, among others).
  • Teaching specific technical skills or trics
  • Guiding warm-ups and stretching exercises

Together with the teachers you prepare and evaluate the classes. In the beginning the role of the volunteer is more limited to assist so you can become familiar with the organization and our working methods. Gradually you will take up more responsibilities and start taking more initiative in the classes. The volunteers mainly work with children and young people between 3 and 18 years old but occasionally also work with adults. Almost all our classes take place in the evenings between 4PM and 10 PM. On Wednesdays we start classes at 1.30PM. On Saturdays and Sundays we have classes throughout the entire day.

Besides that that you will also join other teachers during the day to assist them in circus workshops or circus animations for schools, organisations or companies.

During the school vacation periods you will also support teaching during the holiday camps
Throughout the year we organise different presentations for our students, like open stages, a gala night, a presentation weekend, a workshop space during the annual CIRKL circus festival, summer activities and shows for our production group(s). Here you can also perform and we expect all the team joins to prepare, set-up, do all kinds of small and bigger tasks, support as stage hands, etc…

All volunteers also join in different logistical tasks from repairing and preparing circus tools and costumes, helping with building up sets for shows, cleaning the class spaces, transportation of materials, and in documenting many or our activities.

Practical information

PERIOD: The volunteer is asked to come for a period of minimum 10 and up to 12 months, preferably starting between September 7 and 10, 2026.

SCHEDULE: As a volunteer you are expected to work average 30-35 hours per week, mostly during the afternoons and evenings. The working hours are spread over 5 or 6 days a week. A detailed schedule is developed together with the supervisor. Here you can see the weekly class schedule for schoolyear 2026-2027

VACATION: In the ESC program you are entitled to 2 days off a month. These days can be accumulated and used for a bigger holiday. It is important to plan them good in coordination with your supervisor and teaching colleagues.
Weekends: You are entitled to a weekly break of 2 consecutive days. In various periods we work during the weekends. You are requested to be present and work in all our major activities. When you work more than the average hours per week you can take extra free moments to compensate for that.

ACCOMODATION: The volunteer will be hosted at the circus guesthouse which you share with other ESC volunteers or international guests and occasional visitors (artists, trainers,…).

POCKET MONEY: The volunteer will receive a monthly allowance of 415 euro including pocket and food money.

TRANSPORTATION: ESC covers your transportation from home to Cirkus in Beweging and back home upon completing your volunteering period, within a limited budget range, based on the rates of the EU defined in the distance calculator of the EU. We will inform you about the exact rates when you are selected. Cirkus in Beweging will provide you with a bicycle for all your local transportation in and around the city. All other transportation related to the activities of the organisation will be paid by us.

GUIDANCE:
SUPERVISOR: The volunteers are selected, guided and supported by a supervisor, who is an employees of Cirkus in Beweging. The supervisor will guide the volunteer in the organisation and together with the volunteer, will plan and evaluate their work, tasks and wellbeing on a regular basis.

MENTOR: The volunteer will get a mentor whom will guide them a bit around the town and the school, who will introduce the volunteer to the broader life in and around Leuven and function as a person they can turn to should they need an extra pair of ears.

Applications

Interested in joining us? Fantastict!! Then you might be our volunteer!!
Please send us a motivation letter + a CV in which you highlight all your relevant experience in circus, parkour, sports, art, youth education, international experiences etc.. and send it to jessika@cirkusinbeweging.be

Please fill out the online application form. We don’t process applications that have not filled this out.
Since we always receive several applications, we also plan an online meeting with the selected applicants.
We will let you know within a week after receiving your application if you are selected for a call and if so, we suggest you some dates for this.

Looking forward to your applications!!

Welcome to Cirkus in Beweging!