“CircusAid promotes positive social and emotional health for political and environmental refugees by creating opportunities for problem solving, teamwork, increased self confidence and most of all, joy and laughter through engagement in circus activities during the resettlement process.”
THE PROBLEM
Occupational Deprivation
Occupational deprivation is when someone is deprived of participating in activities that give them meaning. It can lead to depression and anxiety, which can lead to mental illness. Without social and occupational support, thousands of people will develop mental health issues. Addressing occupational health in refugee camps and support centers is not just about supporting refugees, but also about protecting the communities already in existence.
HOW IT WORKS
CircusAid programs increase resilience, mental health and community connection through engagement in circus activities delivered to increase social, emotional, physical and cognitive capacities. The projects are implemented in partnership with local organizations.
Who We Are
CircusAid is a social development branch of Holistic Circus Therapy (HCT), providing professional development training and services that utilize circus as an educational, team building, and therapeutic tool—100% of profits from HCT's services fund CircusAid's programs.
learn more about Founding Director Jill here
For more information about what we do and who we serve here.
Founder Jill Maglio
Projects
“This basic human need becomes challenging during resettlement where there are heavy restrictions on choice, opportunity, accessibility, freedom, and resources.”
lombok
Lombok ‘Train the Trainer’ Project
CircusAid provided 847 free CircusAid experiences to local communities in Lombok, Indonesia to introduce occupational therapy practices and unify health and education professionals in service delivery for environmental refugees, at-risk youth, and women survivors of sexual assault.
Greece
A Community Health Project for Yazidi Adults and Children residing in Serres, Greece. In collaboration with ZHAW School of Occupational Therapy and Lifting Hands International. CircusAid provided psychosocial support and life skills education by providing theatrical games, acro-balance, yoga, object manipulation, and performance activities to help heal the members of the Yazidi community that reside in Serres, Greece.
Sustainability
CircusAid maintains a goal of transferring leadership of activities to local representation. By training local leaders in effective CircusAid practices, more people can participate long term. Simultaneously, we support Greek-based employment through providing means of professional development training and local paid skilled labor.
The project involves international and local circus artists, social circus educators, sustainable development engineers, partner organisations, local university representation, Greek-based artists and occupational therapists and the refugee populations that participate in the project.
Learn more about our Sustainable Business Model / Scalability in Funding Here.
“Maglio tells Buzzworthy that ‘throughout history circus has been an effective means to empower marginalized communities, giving them a platform to creatively express dissatisfaction with oppressive socio-political infrastructures’, she also emphasizes the benefits of ‘life skills’, like problem-solving, reciprocity, teamwork, empathy and perseverance.”
Interested in getting involved with CircusAid? Find out more about funding and sustainability here, and consider donating at the link below.
CircusAid Partners
Press and Collaborations
Jill talked with Dr Kate Riegle van West about the benefits of poi, circus arts, and occupational therapy to promote positive social and emotional health for political and environmental refugees. Dr. Kate will be joining the next Holistic Circus Therapy certified training to share her research, knowledge and insights on using poi for aging populations. Find out more
— SPIN POI INTERVIEW
Extensive evidence on occupational deprivation supports that opportunities for occupational engagement and the acquisition of life skills during the refugee migration journey are essential components to healthy resettlement,’ Jill says. ‘This evidence is the foundation of CircusAid projects in which we aim to collaborate with other organizations to help the debilitating occupational deprivation experienced by refugees.’
— OT NEWS UK
"Maglio tells Buzzworthy that throughout “history circus has been an effective means to empower marginalized communities, giving them a platform to creatively express dissatisfaction with oppressive socio-political infrastructures”, she also emphasizes the benefits of “life skills, like problem-solving, reciprocity, teamwork, empathy and perseverance”. Find out more
-BUZZWORTHY
Have you ever been to the circus and on the way out thought ‘how good was that!’ Not only are the skills fantastic to watch but they are great fun to try too. The color, the movement, the team work, the sense of achievement as you practice and progress through the skills. Circus skills and arts offer so much as an inclusive activity – the skills gained are only a small part of what circus training offers.” Find out more
—MEDILL REPORTS CHICAGO
"Maglio’s approach to social circus is deeply influenced by her background as an occupational therapist: “Research supports that occupational deprivation results in mental health issues while social circus results in increased resilience and community connection. We all know children need to play for healthy development. We forget adults need to play too, especially during this time of vulnerable redevelopment” Find out more
— CIRCUS TALK
"I brought equipment to make 25 hula hoops and as soon as the guys in the camp saw what I was doing, they rushed over to help. They wanted something to do. I also brought feather balancing and juggling balls. The objective wasn't that people learn circus skills, but that people were interacting, and laughing, and smiling. They had a bit of time and respite from the trauma they're experiencing to promote their resilience for the next stage of the journey." Find out more
— VICE NEWS
What Our Service Recipients Think
“The physical practices serve as our medium for providing these children and young adults with an opportunity and a structure to be challenged physically and mentally, to focus, to work together, to learn to channel their energy, strength, determination, and courage healthfully and productively, and to have fun and feel connected while doing so!”
“We close our workshops with a sitting circle where we give the participants an opportunity to reflect and share something that they loved - something that made them feel strong, proud, or happy, or what they feel best at. In very few words and with the help of some young, excited translators, we are hearing many remarks of happiness. But even beyond words, we can feel the pleasure they are taking in their accomplishments. The feeling of being seen and supported shines through their smiles.”
- Leah Barsher, CircusAid volunteer 2018
"Working and learning with CircusAid this summer was absolutely life changing. From learning the contexts in which Holistic Circus Therapy can be applied, to specific activities that work on a specific life skill, the hands on training made me feel hopeful and prepared to use circus as a tool in my future occupational therapy career."
-Brianne Cody, Athens 2018
