“International meeting on the Method Social Circus”

On May 30, 2022, in the Mini Art Center – Sofia

was held the “International meeting of the Social Circus method” with the participation of Bulgarian and foreign experts in social circus methodology and the first Bulgarian assistant / toolkit book with the name “Book for support for Social Circus method” was launched together with practical demonstrations, icebreaker games and tasty pastries from Dat´s Tasty.

The official guest were H.E. Jes Brogaard Nielsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Bulgaria. (Danish Embassy in Sofia)
Mr. Søren Stockmar from Cirkus Tværs (Denmark) www.cirkustvaers.dk

This event was part of the project “Training in the method of the social circus for teachers and social workers”
implemented by the Mini Art Foundation, which improves the education and integration of children with special needs, as well as the introduction of innovative and effective social circus practice in Bulgaria now for teachers, pedagogues and social workers.
The project was funded by the Sofia Municipality under the program “Europe” 2021

During the meeting, teachers, social workers and visitors with an interest in circus art and social activities was able to get acquainted with the goals and methodology of the social circus presented by Geo Kalev

and Galina Ryom-Røjbek and Vladimir Nikolov presented the book “Book for support for Social Circus method”.

The event also was including an LIVE online presentation with the participation of the director of the social circus “Cirkus Tværs” – Denmark.

The discussion will also be attended by students already certified by the Social Circus Method, who underwent special training courses in April and May.

The objectives of the meeting were to identify and share good practices, as well as to outline a comprehensive vision for the integration of innovative practices in education and social services in Bulgaria.

See more details from the official Facebook event here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/575644107165984

“One of the biggest challenges in working with vulnerable children is
how to fully engage them in the learning process, given their needs, interests and abilities.
We often describe these children as “different” or “problematic”,
given that their behaviour does not fit into the expectations and requirements of schooling and extracurricular activities.
Trauma and rejection are usually present in the lives of such children.

We offer a different approach to working with “different children”, say the authors of the innovative method and organizers of the event from the Mini Art Foundation, whose courses has already passed and certificated over 50 social workers and teachers in the field of social pedagogy in Bulgaria.

The social circus is different from the traditional, professional one, in that it attaches importance to the experience of the participants rather than to the result of the experience. The method goes beyond the aesthetic and entertainment role and emphasizes the establishment of connections between participants and the community. In other words – for the social circus the path is no less important than the result and this liberates and inspires.

There are several principles that define the social circus

– creating a safe and fun environment

-enabling expression and creativity

-cooperation between social work and circus

-duration in time

-assessment of the needs of the participants

– relationship with the community

More about the social circus as a phenomenon and concept

The concept of the Social Circus originated in Europe in the last years of the 20th century and is gaining popularity as an approach to empowering vulnerable groups in order to better integrate them into society.

The main idea is through training in elements of circus art, the target group to acquire basic skills that will increase the chances of better integration into society.

The approach builds on existing psychodrama and role-playing games, combining physical exercises and skills to achieve balance and synchrony with psychological assistance related to the acquisition of new social and communicative skills.