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Bringing together terms like circus and children’s rights may seem at first site uncombined. But what happens if circus get another meaning like…social circus? Circus as a tradition and a way of life is a living universal organism, a worldwide spoken language that is developing and following its own evolution paths. From traditional circus, to contemporary circus and from circus schools for professionals to social circuses, the circus world has a long history in Europe and in the whole world. In the circus communities of today words like “social integration, self--confidence, hope, creativity, taking responsibility, group--work, fun”, and many more, are more than familiar. These are the social circus communities that co--exist with other communities of traditional, modern, contemporary circus, bringing a whole new way of perceiving circus arts. The world of social circus opened for me while I was looking for my internship. Within my studies at Freie University in Berlin under the title “Master in Childhood studies and Children’s Rights” the professors were quite open in the fields we could look for our internship. It was up to the students to write on a children’s rights matter within the place they chose to do their internship, which of course had to do directly or indirectly with children. Having worked for years as a clown--entertainer in children’s parties, a stillt walker and juggler in numerous performances and voluntarily in Ngo’s working with street kids giving theatrical and juggling workshops, the idea of doing my practicum in a circus school for children was more than tempting since nothing like that exists in my country of origin, Greece. During the one month I spent in Cabuwazi children circus in Berlin, I had my first taste on what is a social circus. Having written an article at the end of my internship on how Cabuwazi is a place that promotes and respects children’s rights, the idea of doing a dissertation on social circuses and their work with children and their rights was pretty much established in my mind. Using different tools and facts I will try to support my hypothesis that Social circus projects (SCP) are institutions and organizations that are supporting and promoting children’s rights. With bibliographic knowledge, internet articles and research, series of interviews and personal experience from the author, we will guide ourselves within the history of circus, the placement of circus arts in today’s societies, an analysis on social circuses, leading us closer to see in which ways SCP are promoting and respecting children’s right and which are these rights specifically.[author summary]

This guide offers the actors in the social circus field the keys to the study and validation of the effects of the circus on wellbeing. The guide also explains how to collect information on these effects by using surveys and interviews, and for processing the information and compiling an information package without major investments in research. Any circus performer can easily collect at least a minimal amount of feedback. trained researchers can be asked for assistance when necessary.
The purpose of studying the impact of circus is to collect information in order to develop circus activity and to explain the significance of circus to its organisers and purchasers, for example the municipal sector. Impact study hopes to find answers to the following questions: how does social circus promote wellbeing? Why should social circus be organised?
In social circus everyone gets to practice and perform tricks and stunts. the attention is directed towards controlling the body and the equipment, on balance and movement. the atmosphere in the circus is encouraging and mistakes are expected. Participation in group activities with others creates community spirit and gives participants the confidence to perform. Social circus has many wellbeing effects, and it is important to make them visible. This guide for conducting research on a social circus can be modified to collect impact data also on other services. [editor summary]