The circus is an integral part of the CAMELON programmes in the Philippines. It is a practice considered as therapeutic as it is rewarding and allows children to blossom, feel well, have fun and build a positive self-image.
In 2019, more than 300 circus workshops were organized for girls’ victims of sexual abuse with an ever-renewed enthusiasm. In total, 30 shows were created, produced and performed by the girls in public places and approximately 10 000 persons have been made aware of children’s’ rights and prevention of sexual violence during these shows.
Congratulations to the circus artists, the local team and the volunteers for this wonderful accomplished work!
The circus quite simply: restore colors, vitality and confidence
For 15 years now, CAMELEON has introduced social circus activities and have ever since shown positives results. While talking to the beneficiaries, many explained how sport and artistic activities have positively impacted their general wellbeing through the release of stress and improved self-esteem.
In fact, the weekly trainings and the circus show performances help to develop values such as teamwork, patience, concentration, investment, confidence and self-control. To date, 30 girls joined the circus in Passi with a certain level of excellence. Some of them are also current trainers teaching circus activities to other beneficiaries in shelters which allow them to develop complementary skills in leadership and mutual aid.
These positive results have been confirmed by the impact study ran in 2018 by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Luxembourg: the rigor and requirement requested by the circus activities have a positive impact on the behavior and mental health of the young girls.
Girls’ empowerment and local colors: the transforming and emancipating experience of the circus. From juggling to tightrope walking…
Juggling, Rolla-Bolla, trapeze, fabric, hoop, contortion, human pyramids and tightrope walking: here are some of the numerous activities offered during these colorful workshops under the watchful eye and guidance of volunteering circus professionals. Then is it up to the most talented and motivated young girls, the trainers to supervise the training for the rest of the year.
After several intensive trainings, Anna-Lyne has become a real Rolla-Bolla expert and will probably one day, become a “trainer”, something that her dad and herself consider with pride.
For 5 years now, within the framework of a partnership and under the aegis of Alain Luc (« Tito Luc »), director of the National Circus School of Rosny-Sous-Bois (ENACR), circus artists come from France every year in shelters to teach the girls and assist them during their shows and choreographies. For the circus artists as our beneficiaries, “more than an art, the circus has become a therapy” (Roxane, volunteer circus artist).
Their troupe travels more than 11000km to share their passion to the Philippians where more than a quarter of the population lives under the poverty line and therefore has no access to this type of activity. If at the beginning, the girls dared very little to reveal and speak about themselves, this time is now over and the exchanges between the French circus artists and the children is very rich and strong. The help and support provided by the professional circus artists is therefore essential.
The social circus makes also possible to raise awareness and inform the general public about sexual violence
For CAMELEON, the circus is not only a tool for reconstruction but also a tool for raising awareness to the general public through what we call the social circus.
The young girls victims of sexual violence, beneficiaries of our programs and who actively practice circus activities, use their skills in the circus to help ostracized children to develop their self-confidence, to explore their potential and encourage them to become active citizens. As trainers, the girls teach basic circus techniques and targets participants from the most disadvantaged communities and share with the children their knowledge and experience of the circus art.
In parallel, the young children’ rights ambassadors and the young health ambassadors, take over during these workshops to put in place awareness and preventive actions against sexual violence on children.
Finally, each circus show that we organize is the opportunity to raise awareness of the children rights in the general public. In 2019, more than 10 000 person were made aware. In a country where rape is too often silenced by omerta, a shame or a rejection, the diffusion of preventive messages is more necessary than ever.
A beautiful adventure as well as an experience full of meaning and results!