About Go Inspired

As a way to combine adventure, travel, education, and cultural exploration, Go Inspired took form. Refusal to give up what we deem as the “good things in life” in order to enter the work force, Go Inspired was a way to combine our zest for life with our passion for working towards a healthy global community.
We believe that peace in action can come in many forms but that self-exploration and cultural exchange sit at the heart of it. When we challenge ourselves to go beyond our comfort zone positive change takes place. In the spirit of adventure, we invite you to join us in whichever program resonates with you and hope that you find it as passion-invoking as we have. After all, it’s about going inspired and then going on to inspire others.

Brigitta Brandt (Co-Founder)

A favorite line of her father’s “We’re on an adventure!” has become Brigitta’s life motto. As a student, Brigitta found herself under the spell of academia but appreciates that in the words of internationally renowned peace activist Colman Mccarthy, “you can earn all A’s and then go out and flunk life.”
She has seen first-hand how experiential learning can enrich life and enliven spirit. As part of her undergraduate degree, Brigitta first studied abroad at the University of the Virgin Islands and has been a nomad ever since. She has a Master’s degree in International Peace, Development and Conflict Resolution from the Universitat de Jaume I in Castellon, Spain and is currently working towards another Master’s in Counseling and Psychology from Goddard College in VT, USA. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Armenia and has spent time exploring Europe, Canada, the US and the Caribbean. Brigitta loves Spanish plazas, Roman ruins, Canadian friendliness, New England landscape, Austrian mountains, Caribbean beaches, French vineyards, and Armenian cuisine.
In what is left of her spare time, she enjoys camping, reading, yoga, gardening, cycling, and discovering the secrets of language. She is excited that Go Inspired fosters adventure and that she can share her infatuation for travel and learning with others.

Margo Kopec (Co-Founder)

After Margo graduated with a BA in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Connecticut, she worked for international publishing companies in California and New York. Her thirst for adventure first brought her to The Italian Riviera living and working with an Italian family. Then she moved to a small city on the coast of Spain five years ago where she earned a Master’s degree in Peace, Development and Conflict Resolution from the Universitat de Jaume I.
Her work in both television and radio stations in the US and Spain gave her yet another experience out of her “comfort zone”.
She began teaching English in Castellon to university students, children and adults and realized that many of them were looking for opportunities to go abroad.
So Go Inspired began with the idea that if unique and affordable opportunities were available, people would take advantage of them. This was a dream of Margo’s to be able to offer experiences to people around the world in order for them to get a flavor of other cultures and other ways of living. Margo has been lucky enough to travel to over 26 countries and hopes to experience several more. In her free time, she enjoys different cultural experiences, hiking, new cuisine and relaxation through different varieties of yoga. She has just completed her Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Teaching English.

 

Gosia Kotomska

Globetrotting has also defined Gosia’s life – she started at the age of 10 when her family decided to move to Chicago from Poland. During her studies in New York she began working with the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA), which inspired her to learn more about her homeland and return to Poland in order to study Polish history and culture in Cracow. After a few cold winters, she left Poland to live in Oaxaca, Mexico for a year, where she focused on improving her Spanish and exploring the rich cultural heritage of the region as well as its lovely coast.
One of Gosia’s main motivations for perfecting her Spanish was to be able to do a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies in Spain. That’s also where she crossed paths with Margo and Brigitta, and had the unique opportunity of getting to know a very diverse group of people from all over the world. Upon finishing the MA program, she put her knowledge and skills into doing research for the Institute of Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action (IECAH) in Madrid. Currently, she’s back in Poland where she teaches English, American Culture and Global Issues at Warsaw University of Technology.

 

Manuel Escrig

Adventurer could be the best adjective used to describe Manuel. Since he relinquished his stable career in Spain, he has been on a continuous quest in exploring new countries and cultures. He has lived in Ireland, England, France and the USA and has visited 17 countries with plans on seeing many more! Manuel’s passion for travelling and taking photos around the world helps him keep in mind all the cultures he experiences. An avid swimmer, clarinet player, wine lover and cook enthusiast, Manuel is Go Inspired’s answer to a Renaissance Man.
He has a degree in Software Engineering from Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) in Ireland and Universitat Jaume I (UJI) in Spain. His love for adventure and experience of seeing the world along with his expertise in computers brought him to Go Inspired. Through his knowledge he wants to help give others the opportunity to explore the world. Go Inspired is thrilled to have him on board with all the skills and experiences he brings with him.