Creating Creative Corners: Monique Julian's Global Arts Travel Program By Ruby Boukabou

Need to get past a motovation dip or escape the nine to five? Why not devise a play in a Bolivian orphanage, teach photography to teen mums in Nicaragua, share some moves in a Brazilian social circus, redecorate a children's home or plant a garden in Peru? 32 year old Canbera woman Monique Julian has launched a unique South American volunteer program from her London base.

Over a glass of sangria following a salsa class in the south of London, Julian tells Ruby Boukabou how she transformed a long term travel bug into her freshly launched global organisation, Creative Corners.

For Canberra raised Monique Julian, travel was always on the cards; with parents who were travellers and herself always inquisitive and open, voyaging and volunteer working OS was a natural
end of study step. Turning it into her life by setting up a global creative travel organisation has been a matter of hard work, focus and continual belief in the important role of the arts within communities.

"There is no greater success in life than living the way you want to live and following your passions," says Julian, "mine being travel, the arts/theatre and trying to make a difference through community
projects." Creative Corners is sending artists and teachers to South America to work on creative projects within the communities.

Full word count 2000 words. Photos available.