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Description of initiative
It brings together two existing projects: Educircation - a network of seven countries organising trainings for social circus; and Wires Crossed - a large scale funambulism project coordinated by Galway Community Circus (GCC). The Educircation project gives circus facilitators from the participating organisations an opportunity to develop their professional skills and competences through workshops in circus practice (including juggling, percussion, parkour). These skills will then be passed to thousands of students attending classes of the partner organisations.
Through the Wires Crossed project, GCC have been involved in the production of the world's first methodologies for using funambulism (wire-waling using a balancing pole) and FunLine (a more accessible practice that combines funambulism and slackline) as innovative techniques to promote positive wellbeing in people of all ages and abilities. Funambulism is an activity that is surprisingly accessible, while also a powerful mindfulness tool that supports the development of focus, self-belief and courage. GCC have been working with the European Funambulism Network and Europe's leading experts in funambulism and pedagogy to create an innovative training-for-trainers programme and teaching methodology in this technique. 'GCC meets Educircation' will allow youth and social circus tutors from the Partner Organisations to learn about this powerful new methodology, and how to use it within the future work of both themselves and their partner organisations,
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
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Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
By educating circus tutors in methodology we improve the standards of youth work around Europe, as circus is being used as a tool of youth and social work in most countries in Europe and beyond with great results proving the importance of creative non-competitive physical activity in lives of young people and adults. According to Jill Maglio and Carol McKinstry (2008, Occupational therapy and Circus: Potential partners in enhancing the health and wellbeing of today's youth participation in circus programmes increases positive risk taking both physically and emotionally, promotes physical health and body awareness, increases self-confidence and self-efficacy, improves social connectedness, teamwork, and leadership skills within the group and enables participants to acquire a broadened skill base relating to circus as well as more generic 'life skills'.