Our Project
Social Circus Myanmar volunteers are launching a fourth season of circus workshops for children and young people in Myanmar. Social circus engages and empowers at-risk young people by giving them a chance to learn new skills and create a lot of inspiring fun and positive change for themselves and their communities.
Social circus activities give participants a real sense of achievement through improving their co-ordination and self-confidence, while creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
Why it Matters
Our motto is "Everyone Needs to Have Fun", especially children and young adults living in a country struggling with the transition from decades of military rule; a country where child rights remain a big issue. Children too often bear the brunt of exploitation and violence fueled by poverty and ethnic tensions. Social circus brings people together regardless of race, religion, gender or disability. In a society building a new future, the need for mutual understanding, equality and respect for one another is more important than ever.
Who is Involved
Many of the children and young people taking part in Social Circus Myanmar programmes are street kids, orphans, child labourers, children who have fled the conflict zone, children living with disabilities and children who can't go to school because they have to work to help their families.
Led by circus skills trainer and performer Jules Howarth, Social Circus Myanmar has partnered with local community organisations to deliver workshops in and around Yangon since 2014. Most activities take place during the annual dry season from November to April. Some of the circus teams have been involved right from the start, while others are joining the programme as it expands.
Help Make It Happen
Thanks so much to everyone who has supported this project over the past few years. We've had three successful seasons already and couldn't have got this far without you. Please support us again if you can and share our crowdfunding campaign with family and friends. With your help, we will make it happen!
Plans for this Season
Jules resumes regular workshops for our existing social circus groups from late November, introducing new skills and performance training, and expanding teaching capacity by training more local tutors. We'll add more workshops once funding and teaching resources are in place.
Our community partners include:
Eden Centre for DisabledChildren
Thanlyin Boys' Training Centre (Department of Social Welfare)
Mary Chapman School for the Deaf
Taw Mae Phar Hostel, Insein, (Children from the conflict zone in Karen state)
Yadana Orphanage and Hope for Shining Stars, Mingaladon
Our Values
Inclusion, Accessibility, Gender Equality, Sharing, Creativity, Learning through Fun and Play.
Our Mission
To provide a platform for young people to play, share, learn together and inspire each other while developing their skills, confidence and sense of self-worth.
To train tutors, performers and crew to support ongoing social circus activities.
To work with Myanmar partners to develop a locally-led social circus network and training centre.
Results Last Season
Over 100 workshop sessions were delivered to circus teams in locations in and around Yangon.
Visiting international volunteer tutors joined the workshops for specific periods, introducing new technical and performance skills.
Circus teams came together for a Day of Fun to share and present their skills.
A public workshop was held to celebrate International Social Circus Day on 1 April 2017, one of more than 50 events which took place around the globe.
See more of last season's action in our Slideshow
Thanks for your support, you are making it all possible!
