Annual Report 2025 - Caravan

annual report 2025

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Index

11

06

01

Young Caravan

Key Activities

Foreword

Raising Caravan Profile

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07

02

Values

In a Nutshell

Caravan in Numbers

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08

03

Our Network

Caravan Team

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09

04

Thank You

2025 Timeline

Vision & Mission

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10

05

Join Us

Projects

Objectives

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Foreword

These conversations naturally led us toward the future. During the Autumn General Assembly, members began the first brainstorming sessions for Caravan’s next Strategic Plan, exploring the priorities and ideas that will guide the network beyond 2025. Caravan continues to grow thanks to the dedication, creativity, and collaboration of its members and partners. This report reflects the many steps taken together last year, and the shared future that we build together.

Training and knowledge sharing remained at the centre of Caravan’s work. In 2025, we celebrated the completion of Circus Transformation (CTF) 8, with 21 participants certified as social circus trainers. This edition introduced the Pedagogical Eye, a new element designed to strengthen reflection, ensure quality, and support the creation of braver learning spaces within the programme. At the same time, the network launched CTF 9, the largest consortium in the programme’s history, bringing together 16 organisations. A new Pedagogical Committee was also created to help guide the long-term vision and development of the training programme. Throughout the year, Caravan members also found moments to reconnect and exchange in person. The CTF Alumni Gathering in Stockholm brought together trainers from across previous programme editions, while the in-person General Assembly in Finland provided an important space for discussion, decision-making, and community building within the network.

In circus, transitions matter. A moment between two tricks can change the rhythm of the whole performance. For Caravan, 2025 has been one of those moments; a year of movement, reflection, and preparation for what comes next. As we approach the end of our 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, the network has been looking both backwards and forwards: recognising the work achieved together, while beginning to imagine the next chapter of Caravan’s collective journey. This year also marked an important change within the team. Caravan welcomed Nathalie Maikere as Coordinator and Adriane Morard as Communications Officer. At the same time, the Board grew with two new members: Silja Kyytinen from Sirkus Magenta and Mohammad Rabah from Palestinian Circus School. Their arrival brings new perspectives and experiences while continuing the collaborative spirit that sustains the network.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Caravan in a Nutshell

15

Friends

25

Members

Caravan is an international youth and social circus network.

It is composed of 25 Members and 15 Friends from across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and North America. These circus schools all advocate for the positive impact of circus in the field of youth and are all different shapes and sizes. The network was established in 2008 by 7 European circus schools, with a common goal to use youth and social circus as an educational tool and to dedicate this work to groups from disadvantaged backgrounds with specific needs.

Coordination Employees

Continents

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Caravan offices are graciously hosted by the ECBru on the Tour & Taxis site in Brussels.

The Caravan Team

the coordination Team

Our board

Nathalie Maikere Coordinator

Teresa FajardoCaravan Vice PresidentECBru, Belgium

Becca ClaytonCaravan TreasurerGalway Community Circus, Ireland

Taina KopraCaravan PresidentSorin Sirkus, Finland

Will Borrell Community Development Officer

Adriane Morard Communications Officer

Caravan coordination team is based in Brussels. The offices are graciously hosted by the ECBru on the Tour & Taxi site, overseen by the Coordinator, who executes the annual work plan, supports and informs members.

Zef BerisajCircus Fuskabo, Slovenia

Silja Kyytinen Sirkus Magenta, Finland

Mohammad RabahPalestinian Circus School. Palestine

Caravan Board is nominated from the Network’s Members and prepare the draft work plan, budget, and accounts, supervises the daily management of the Network, and represent the organisation externally.In 2025 we welcomed Silja Kyytinen and Mohammad Rabah to the Board.

Thank you to our Board for their ongoing commitment to our Network!

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Our Vision & Mission

Changing lives through circus !

vision

To use circus arts to create positive personal, community and social change.

mission

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Our Objectives

For 2021-2025

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A catalyst - for participation andyouth leadership

An advocate - for a more fare,sustainable, recognized sector

A community - for building capacity, solidarity and mutualmembers

An Expert - in developping anddelivering quality in youth andcircus education

Caravan as an

Caravan as an

Caravan as a

Caravan as a

Expert

Advocate

Community

Catalyst

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Discover our Strategic plan

Key Activities

Innovative research & publications

Volunteering programs

Raising awareness & advocacy activities

Peer to peer& intercultural exchanges

Trainings

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Our Values

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02

04

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Honesty & Integrity

Loyalty & Solidarity

Inclusivity

Trust & Respect

At the heart of all Caravan’s activities lies a set of core values that holds our family together. Every project we deliver and every action we take stems from a strong foundation of honesty and integrity.

We firmly believe that circus is for everyone, which is why all our projects have inclusivity in mind.

We strive to show loyalty and solidarity to our Members

and create an atmosphere of trust and respect.

We want to keep the world of circus colourful, diverse, and safe for all those who desire to participate.

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Fight against discrimination

Gender Equality

Safety & Security

Accountability

The final element that rests at the heart of our ethos is about the safety and security of our members and participants; from the young to the vulnerable, and all those who are at risk of abuse or neglect.

We appreciate and encourage careful participation from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, genders, and abilities into our practices. Particularly, we actively fight against discrimination of any kind,

We hold all our Members, as well as ourselves, accountable for our actions, and offer support and recognition of important advances in this field.

and pay specific attention to gender equality.

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Caravan in Numbers

8,356

social media followers

25

countries

25

members

15

friends

11

statutory meetings

1042

newsletter subscribers

2020

2021

2023

2022

2024

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2025 Financial Overview

2025 was a financially stable year for CARAVAN, despite some unforeseen challenges. The main source of income remained the EACEA Operating Grant, complemented by membership fees and European programme funding.The accounts closed with a deficit of €17,003.70. This result is primarily due to unexpected staff costs linked to the sick leave of a team member, as well as lower-than-anticipated income from Maribel funding. The latter did not fully cover the holiday allowance, as this is calculated based on employment in the previous year.Without these two elements, the organisation would have been close to breakeven. Financial reserves remain solid, ensuring stability while the Coordination team continues to strengthen fundraising efforts to support the long-term sustainability of the network.

Balance

€-17,003.70

Reserves as of December 2025

€58,40.65

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2025 Timeline

Board Meetings

JAN

FEB

MAR

Dissemination Activities

General Assemblies

Project Activities

W.A.Y Meetings

Working Groups

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19

23

25 — 28

5 — 10

19 — 23

28.2 —.3.3

12 — 13

MAY

APR

JUN

JUL

AUG

3 — 7

21

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

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Projects

In 2025 Caravan carried out 2 projects across Europe, with our Members participating in exchanges all over the world.

Caravan is a community for building capacity, solidarity and mutual aid.Caravan is keen to strengthen Members' project management capacity and to encourage the Members to further develop their project activities and use the Network as a safe space to initiate new dynamics and ideas.

Circus Transformation in Action 8 & 9

CTF Alumni

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Circus Transformation in Action

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What?

Our Circus Transformation in Action (CTF) training program is our flagship activity, and every year we develop a new generation of social circus trainers.

It is the result of a 5-year European research project carried out by 2 universities,8 Caravan Members, and the Caravan coordination team.

The result of which was an in-depth Guidebook for Social Circus Trainers and is used to deliver 4 modules hosted by 4 different Caravan Members over the course of a year.

get the guidebook

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Jump to CTF Alumni

Circus Transformation in Action 8

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HOW?

Transitioning to Module D hosted by CIRQUEON in Prague, from the 24th – 28th March. This intensive five-day module was a hub of creativity and learning, focusing on advanced techniques and pedagogical approaches in social circus. Participants from various corners of Europe converged to share knowledge, refine their skills, and cultivate new ideas. Thanks to the wonderful trainers from CIRQUEON, the sessions were rich with practical workshops, insightful lectures, and spirited discussions, all contributing to a deeper understanding and mastery of social circus methodologies.

CTF 8 . In Module C, hosted by Altro Circo in Siena, Italy from the 7th – 11th February, we were diving deep into the art of teaching and group management. Through embodied methods, interactive discussions, and hands-on practice, participants explored how to communicate effectively, manage diverse groups, and create inclusive learning environments. A big thank you to our wonderful hosts for providing the perfect space for this step in our shared learning journey, and the fantastic trainers from Altro Circo.

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Circus Transformation in Action 9

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HOW?

Building on the findings of CTF Advanced, we introduced improved working methodologies to further refine the learning experience for participants.We also established a pedagogical committee, who would take strategic decisions about the implementation of the modules, and consider the future strategy for the programme. This enabled CTF 9 to not only strengthen the skills of its participants but also reinforces Caravan’s commitment to advancing high-quality, innovative pedagogy in social circus training

CTF 9 In 2025, we successfully implemented Modules A & B the 9th cycle of the Circus Transformation Project (CTF 9), marking a significant milestone in the program’s history. This edition saw an unprecedented level of interest from our network members and friends, resulting in a record number of 16 participating organisations. This overwhelming response highlights the growing recognition of CTF as a key initiative for professional development in the social circus sector.

During this cycle we continued with the implementation of the ‘pedagogical eye’, during modules A & D — this provides a structured approach to observing, evaluating, and recommending improvements throughout the modules. This allowed for deeper reflection on pedagogical practices, ensuring that trainers could adapt their approaches in real time and enhance their impact..

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Circus Transformation in Action 9

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Module A was hosted by Cirkus Fuskabo in Ljubljana from the 15th – 19th Septmeber. A dynamic group of 22 participants from across our network came together to learn from outstanding trainers from Altro Circo and Circusplaneet on the theme of the Social Context in circus arts. Throughout the module, participants delved into critical discussions around social barriers, discrimination, and prejudice, building strong connections and sharing insights on how social circus can be a force for positive change. One of the highlights of the week was joining the local outreach project, the Minibus of Joy, where participants had the opportunity to engage directly with the community.

Pedagogical developments: Pedagogical Eye, Pedagogical Committee, CTF handover meetings

Module B was hosted by Cirkus Cirkör in Stockholm, Sweden from the 1st – 5th December, focusing on “The Act of Teaching”. Expert trainers from AltroCirco and Cirkör leading the way. The trainers shared their extensive knowledge and passion for teaching, offering valuable insights into creating meaningful learning experiences. Through engaging sessions and hands-on activities, participants developed new strategies for refining their teaching practices and gained inspiration for their work.

Key learnings: Reflective practices, working with diverse groups, health issues and protocol.

Ongoing questions: How to maintain high pedagogical quality in a growing program and sector.

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Circus Transformation in Action 8 & 9

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WHO?

CTF 8

CTF 9

21 participants

22 participants

• Cirkus Fuskabo
• Cirkus Cirkör
• Altro Circo
• CIRQUEON
• Sorin Sirkus
• Galway Community Circus
• Coraggio
• École de Cirque de Bruxelles
• Cirquenciel, Sirkus Magenta
• Palestinian Circus School
• Kreativni Pogon
• Zaltimbanq
• Cirkus Bosko

• Sorin Sirkus
• Galway Community Circus
• Altro Circo
• CIRQUEON
• Cirkus Cirkör
• Cirkus Fuskabo
• Coraggio
• Palestinian Circus School
• Cirquenciel

• Kreativni Pogon
• Zaltimbanq
• Sirkus Magenta
• Cirkus Bosko
• Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles
• Upsala Sirkus
• Ateneu Popular Nou Barris

Funded by Sorin Sirkus’ & Galway Community Circus’ Youth Accreditation of the Erasmus+ programme.

Funded by Galway Community Circus’ and Cirkus Cirkör’s Youth Accreditation of the Erasmus+ programme.

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Circus Transformation in Action 8 & 9

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CTF Alumni

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WHAT?

Following the completion of the CTF Advanced project in 2024, we have been implementing stratgies to improve the quality and delivery of the CTF Programme, specifically in the following areas:

Circus Transformation (CTF) Alumni Meeting and Capacity Building 6 – 8 June, Stockholm. The CTF Alumni Gathering in Stockholm, hosted by Cirkus Cirkör, was a fatnastic event. This gathering focused on creating a strong sense of community among participants from the past eight cycles of our flagship program. It provided a valuable platform for alumni to discuss new methodologies and brainstorm future projects for the group. The CTF Alumni Gathering offered a valuable opportunity for trainers from different programme editions to reconnect, exchange experiences, and continue learning from one another.

The programme included a partner acrobatics workshop led by CTF trainer Rapha, alongside peer-to-peer discussions exploring current topics such as anti-racism, inclusion, building an international community, and strengthening a shared sense of belonging. Participants also discovered inspiring initiatives presented by Cirkör, including the projects Lights On Circus and circus activities developed with elderly communities. The gathering concluded with a moment of cultural celebration, as participants joined in the festivities of Swedish National Day, adding a festive and memorable dimension to the event.

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CTF Alumni

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WHO?

• Cirkus Cirkör
• CIRQUEON
• Kreativni Pogon
• Coraggio
• AltroCirco
• Sorin Sirkus

Funded by Cirkus Cirkör’s Youth Accreditation of the Erasmus+ programme.

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Young Caravan

Caravan has been developing and building youth circus for young people, sharing best practices in this area, and building Caravan Members’ capacity to have meaningful and practical actions in their circus schools.

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What About Youth? (WAY)

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The What About Youth? (WAY) youth forum within the Caravan network has been instrumental since 2021 in leading a youth-led strategy integral to the network's ethos. At its core, WAY is dedicated to achieving several key objectives.

Firstly, it serves as a vital channel for connecting youth with the wider circus community, fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration. Secondly, WAY empowers young participants to voice their opinions and cultivates their leadership skills, nurturing a generation of circus advocates and change-makers. Additionally, the forum aims to inspire youth to contemplate their future within the circus field, offering guidance and support as they navigate their career paths.

Finally, WAY showcases the diverse array of opportunities available within the circus sector, encouraging young individuals to explore and pursue their passions, thus enriching both their personal growth and the broader circus community. Through its multifaceted approach, WAY continues to play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of circus enthusiasts and professionals within the Caravan Network.

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What About Youth? (WAY)

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guiding Principles

05

Voluntary and Responsible Participation

01

02

03

04

Mutual Respect

Possibility of Making Mistakes

Non-Judgemental

Exchanging Ideas

06

07

08

09

Solidarity

Change Makers

Signalling

Inspiring

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What About Youth? (WAY)

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members

Goodbye

New Members

Unchanged

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What About Youth? (WAY)

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MEETINGS

A key milestone was the successful funding of the KA2 project “Youth Echo,” led by CIRQUEON. The project focuses on developing “Mini WAYs” within partner organisations and creating new methodologies for collecting insights and perspectives from youth communities. In parallel, the group also submitted a KA1 youth exchange project titled “Risky Business,” which explores different dimensions of safety in circus practice — including mental, physical, social, and technical aspects such as rigging. If approved, the exchange will take place in Ghent in 2026, hosted by Circusplaneet.

In 2025, the WAY – Youth Forum continued to strengthen youth participation within the Caravan network, creating spaces for young people to exchange ideas, develop projects, and contribute to the direction of the organisation. The group met seven times online throughout the year, alongside an in-person gathering during the Autumn General Assembly in Tampere, allowing members to deepen their collaboration and reflect on the role of youth voices within the network.

The group also explored new creative directions through an artistic research initiative facilitated by Danae, offering workshops for WAY members to develop approaches to artistic research with young people in public spaces. Looking ahead, the group decided to launch a new call for participants in 2026, ensuring the continued renewal and diversity of youth voices within the network.

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Youth Exchanges & Volunteers

In 2025, Caravan continued to increase volunteering opportunities for our members, mainly under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), and continued encouraging them to welcome young volunteers every year who will become engaged citizens in tomorrow’s society. Youth exchanges are also a key pillar of the community building and knowledge exchange between young people within the network, so we have continued to support our members in facilitating such events.

Cirque Hors Piste

Ton sur Tonl'Art d'en Faire Ecole du Cirque de Bruxelles The Paslestinian Circus School

Cirkuskus& CIRQUEON

50

111

20

Sorin Sirkus

40

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Volunteers

Laura - Netherlands Galway Community Circus Ireland

Giulia Urso - Italy Cabuwazi Berlin

Luïza - Latvia Cirkuskus Slovakia

Yevheniia Jsem - Ukraine, Cirkus LeGrando Czechia

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Raising Caravan Profile

Caravan is strongly committed to bringing expertise and raising awareness among stakeholders not yet aware of the powerful impacts of youth and social circus.

We recorded 5 new podcast episodes, focussing on the founding of the Caravan Network, and the resilience building efforts of our members in challenging contexts. Our online following continued to grow, as we promoted our values and ethos through our social media channels. We hope that 2026 can see a resurgence of in personal advocacy events, and give us the opportunity to continue telling the story of our powerful network.

As a transitional year for Caravan, we could not participate in many international events, to promote our work in the field of Youth and Social Circus. We did however focus on our online tools for exchanging knowledge and highlighting the amazing stories of our members.

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Raising Caravan Profile

NICE Meeting : 16-18 MayGalway, Ireland

Taina represented Caravan at the NICE meeting in Galway in spring, to participate in the session ‘The Power of Networks’ to discuss our work and place in the European circus landscape, and the role we play for our members. This was the beginning of a longer partnership between Caravan, EYCO, and FEDEC regarding collaborating on future activities together, on the topic of mental health, and organisational sustainability.

On Galway Community Circus Website

Read the 2025 N.I.C.E. Meetings program

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Raising Caravan Profile

Caravan WeekPilot advocacy initiative

In 2025, Caravan launched Caravan Week as a pilot activity under the Advocate pillar of the network’s strategic plan. The initiative explored new ways for the network to share its knowledge and strengthen the visibility of Youth and Social Circus at an international level. For this first edition, Caravan experimented with a podcast format, creating a series of conversations highlighting how social circus organizations work with young people in complex and changing environments.Through these podcast episodes, leaders from several member organizations shared their experiences and perspectives on the circus as a tool for resilience. The stories reflected diverse realities across different countries and contexts, while illustrating the shared commitment of the network to supporting young people through creativity, expression, and community-building. As a pilot initiative, Caravan Week offered a first step toward developing new advocacy tools that amplify the voices and impact of the Youth and Social Circus sector.

Discover the podcasts

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Other activities across the network

Freš ManéžLe Grando, CIRQUEON, & Cirkuskus Freš Manéž is a unique youth circus festival that serves as a vibrant meeting point for young artists and educators dedicated to the circus arts. Organized by Cirkus LeGrando, it focuses on sharing enthusiasm for contemporary circus through collaborative workshops, joint training, and experimental performances. The festival bridges the gap between hobbyists and professionals, fostering a community where skills and pedagogical approaches are exchanged freely. With a growing international reach involving participants from Germany, Austria and Slovakia, it creates a space for lasting friendships and creative inspiration. Beyond technical skills, Freš Manéž celebrates the "fresh" energy of the next generation, making it one of the cornerstones of the youth circus scene in Czech Republic.

Games Exchange Sorin Sirkus, 30th June – 2nd July A games exchange workshop was hosted in Tampere, Finland. 28 participants came together to share and learn from each other. Participants came from Italy, Czechia, Lebanon, Montenegro, Sweden and Poland.

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Our Network

Caravan is a living Network with highly involved Members who know and trust each other, and feel connected, like a strong family unit.In 2025 Caravan welcomed 2 new Friends Spazio Ipotetico and Think Circus.

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Caravan Around the World

North America

Africa

Asia

Europe

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Caravan in Europe

Members

Friends

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Bac

Caravan in Asia

Members

Friends

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Caravan in Africa

Members

Members

Friends

Friends

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Caravan in North America

Members

Members

Friends

Friends

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Thank You

To all of our members for your support, participation and enthusiasm in 2025!

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Interested in joining the Caravan family?

Together, we can change lives through circus!

More information

Share your feedback

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Caravan offices are graciously hosted by the ECBru on the Tour & Taxis site in Brussels.

info@caravancircusnetwork.eu

info@caravancircusnetwork.eu

Caravan aims at being environmentally friendly, that is why this year’s Annual Report is in a digital format, 0 copies printed!

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CARAVANRue Picard 3 1000 Brussels Belgium

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Cirkus Le Grando Czech Repubilc

Cirkus LeGrando is a circus school from the Czech Republic established in 2005. We provide courses for youth for ages between 2 and 20 years and for adults. We offer summer camps, we do a summer tour with the kids who attend our courses. We have been organizing youth circus Festival Freš manéž since 2014. Our Vision is to spread the magic of circus among children, youth and adults. Our Mission is to educate and create through circus arts. We aim to:- Develop motoric, artistic and presentation skills.- Mediate positive experiences and growth of self confidence.- Educate by challenging oneself, adventure and experience.

Website

Circusplaneet Belgium

Circusplaneet was founded in 1996 by a group of friends who believed in a better world, a place under the sun that unites people through a common circus passion.Circusplaneet organises various activities: circus courses, workshops, performances with youngsters, EVS, international Youth Exchanges, social neighbourhood projects. Circusplaneet has 1000 members. 14 people in the staff, about 20 freelance-teachers, and about 40 very active volunteers. Through our activities we reach several thousand kids and youngsters each year.

Website

Think Circus Scotland

Think Circus SCIO is a charity based in Edinburgh. They are a circus with a purpose far beyond the Big Top - their sessions share the wonder and creativity of this art form to improve the confidence, imagination and life prospects of children and young people. Established in 2017, they reach over 10,600 participants each year, and our proudest achievement is running regular youth and family programmes in Leith, Newhaven and Craigmillar. They aim to create a supportive community where failure is celebrated, confidence grows, and the impossible becomes real.

Website

©Cirque Hors Piste, Montreal, Canadaa

Cirkus in Beweging, Belgium

Cirkus in Beweging (CiB), the circus school of Leuven was established in 1994 by Rika Taeymans. Based on the Sherborne movement therapy she developed a circus pedagogy based on taking care of yourself and the other. Until today, the beating heart of our circus school is about giving and receiving confidence, to discover and develop your talents in a safe place. This is how we create a daring space, where we dare to be ourselves, to move, play, dream and perform. Where making mistakes is a must! We keep (re)forming ourselves and circus based on the diversity of our participants. All together we are committed to sustainability caring for everything and everyone and contributing to a just future.

Website

Sirkus Magenta Finland

Sirkus Magenta is a non-profit, awarded social circus association based in Finland. Magenta was founded in 2011. Magenta’s heart is a communal circus space which they opened in 2024 in the lively suburb of Eastern Helsinki. Sirkus Magenta works towards an equal and communal world. They promote social inclusion and wellbeing. They empower people in difficult situations and bring them joy. Sirkus Magenta works with special needs children, youth at risk, low-income families, people with disabilities, the elderly, and anyone at risk of social exclusion. In addition, they teach circus for families, kids and adults in 60 hobby groups every week. They also offer training and performing space. They reach over 10,000 people annually through social circus, hobby groups, corporate events, performances and workshops.

Website

Ateneu Popular de Nou Barris Spain

The Ateneu Popular de Nou Barris (Ateneu) has been in operation since 1977 in the district of Nou Barris in Barcelona. It is managed by the non-profit association “Bidó de Nou Barris”. It uses circus and culture as a means of education to reach a social transformation. “Bidó de Nou Barris” is governed by a board elected by the assembly members and several working committees, in which anyone interested can participate. Considering circus as a tool for education in values and the transformation of society, Ateneu provides training and social circus activities to children, adolescents, and young people, including groups in danger of social exclusion and training of trainers in social circus.

Website

Circusful Northern Ireland

Circusful is Ireland’s premier circus arts organisation. Its headquarters in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is the first and only fully equipped, purpose-built circus arts centre on the island.In 2021, Circusful launched its new name and brand together with a new vision: A 21st Century where the streets, hearts and minds are filled with the wonder and colour of circus. Their new mission: We support people to surprise themselves through circus. We meet them where they are, have fun and build a community together.Every week, across the island of Ireland and beyond, Circusful:

• teach circus skills to people of all ages and abilities.
• bring events and conferences to life through the work of our professional artists.

• add the wonder and colour of circus to other people’s festivals, events, and workshops.

These activities are supported by a small staff team and a freelance team of both trainers and professional performers.

Website

"Hi, my name is Laura, I am from the Netherlands. Prior to joining the GCC team I was on tour with a circus in the Netherlands performing Cyr wheel and unicycle. At GCC I will be Assistant teaching, organising Scratch Nights, cleaning the circus space and doing anything that needs to be done to help the circus run smoothly. Additionally, we will work on a personal project researching what it takes to develop a career as a circus artist in Ireland. I am excited for the opportunity to be involved with a circus organisation like GCC and learn about all the work that goes into an organisation like this. Additionally, I want to learn stilt walking and improve my wire walking and handstands.”

Laura from the Netherlands, Galway Community Circus (GCC) in Ireland

5 new members:

• Michaela Zadražilová – CIRQUEON – Czechia
• Pauline Ducuroir - École de Cirque de Bruxelles – Belgium
• Giulia Corvi - Altro Circo – Italy
• Maria Mäensivu – Sorin Sirkus – Finland
• Rasha Hoteit – cirquenciel - Lebanon.

L’Art d’En Faire, France

L’Art d’en faire is a circus school and a non-profit organisation working on youth and social circus and using circus as a tool for education. It was set up in 2008 in South Ardèche, France. L’Art d’en faire have several compatible activities, in the village of Joyeuse and in remote rural areas in the surroundings : circus school for local residents, circus in school (primary and secondary), circus as educational extracurricular activities with partners, circus and disability (workshops and trainings with special institutes), integration, mixed projects (participants with and without disabilities) and youth resources. Its projects aim to create social cohesion between inhabitants, in urban districts and rural areas, with circus as a bond. L’Art d’en faire work with many partners and want to be active in the local development of South Ardèche, on educational, social, and cultural aspects. Since september 2023, the school works all year long, in a building (and not anymore under a tent).

Website

Sorin Sirkus (Finland)

29th July - 4th August40 participants Tampere, Finland Finland for MOVENTURE—a Youth Exchange exploring movement in nature, culture, and circus practice. 40 young participants from Cabuwazi (Germany), Ateneu (Spain), the Palestinian Circus School(Palestine) and Sorin Sirkus (Finland)

Cirkokrog Slovenia

The Association for Circus Pedagogy -Cirkokrog- is a nongovernmental non-profit association that is developing and working in the field of circus pedagogy, youth, and social circus in Slovenia since 2005. Cirkokrog uses circus activities to stimulate creative expression, cooperation, connectedness, education, empowerment, promotion and activation of children, youth, and other groups. They are active with youth and social circus programs held in schools, multicultural schools, (re)educational homes for children and youth, asylum homes, student homes, youth centres and elsewhere. They also organize international youth exchanges and street circus projects in deprivileged communities. They aim to create mixed communities and create bridges between different groups of people. Cirkokrog’s focus is to develop and cherish youth and social circus programs based on the empowerment of youth, inclusion of deprivileged groups, culture animation and community work.

Website

CIRQUEON Czech Republic

CIRQUEON is an umbrella organization dedicated to the support and development of contemporary circus in the Czech Republic. The main purpose of CIRQUEON is to provide information about the Czech and European contemporary circus events, to support projects of the new circus wave emerging in the Czech Republic and to facilitate educational and training programs for children, youths, and adults. CIRQUEON supports the creation of new performance projects and provides rehearsal space for artists. In February 2010, CIRQUEON, the Centre for Contemporary Circus was founded in a rented industrial space. The centre houses a training space, an office, and an information centre. There is a library available which collects Czech and foreign publications, articles and DVDs related to the contemporary circus. The library is registered in the SIBMAS international network of performing arts collections. In March 2012 CIRQUEON and other partners established a Czech social and youth circus network Cirkonet.

Website

©Seoul Street Arts Creation Center, Seoul, South Korea

6 members that we said Goodbye to

• Merlo Hollenbach – Zip Zap Circus – South Africa
• Niels Ver Hamme - Circus Planeet – Belgium
• Dorothea Hofmeisterová - CIRQUEON - Czech Republic
• Paavo Kivimäki – Sorin Sirkus – Finland
• Tamara Raicevic – Cirkus Bosko – Montenegro
• Hanane Thoumy – Cirquenciel – Lebanon

The Palestinian Circus School Palestine

The Childhood Program, operating in Birzeit, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Jenin, and Tulkarem, caters to children aged 5 to 14, promoting self-discovery, teamwork, and critical thinking among approximately 200 children annually. The Social Program employs social circus to engage marginalized groups, collaborating with rehabilitation centres in Ramallah and Tulkarem through the Passion Program, supporting around 50 children with mental disabilities.The program partners with educational and women's institutions in Gaza, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and Jerusalem, reaching about 100 girls each year. The Training of Trainers' Program focuses on qualifying circus trainers, equipping them with the necessary skills to deliver educational programs creatively.

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Phare Ponleu Selpak, Cambodia

Phare Ponleu Selpak is a Cambodian non-profit arts school located in Battambang, offering support to children, youth, and the surrounding communities through artistic, educational, and social support programmes. Over 1,000 students are empowered every year through our schools and programmes: performing, visual and applied arts, leisure classes and vocational training, allowing children and young adults to develop their creativity, communication, concentration, and life skills and access a sustainable artistic career whilst preserving and promoting Cambodian arts, heritage, and culture.

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Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde France

Le plus petit cirque du monde is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 in Bagneux (92). It’s a place for artistic research, social experimentation, and international artistic exchanges. It aims at promoting culture and arts, especially in the disadvantaged areas of the Parisian suburbs. Its artistic program combines circus arts, urban planning, dance and music. PPCM is also a main actor in the field of social circus in France. The organization supports contemporary productions and professionals in the field of performing arts. In 2023, it became the first place in the suburbs to obtain the state label “Centre Culturel de Rencontre”.

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"Hi, my name is Luīza. I am from Latvia. I've been involved in the circus world for about three years now. During that time, I’ve worked at a circus school, explored various disciplines, and helped with lighting and sound for several shows. Along the way, I also picked up a bit of rigging. One of my hobbies is photography, and I especially enjoy capturing circus artists—they're always doing something dynamic and visually interesting. Before this, I worked in the art and cinema industries, and now I’m exploring ways to bring all of it together—and just have fun with it. Being a volunteer would be a valuable experience, learning new skills, making new contacts, and exploring the contemporary circus scene in Bratislava and in its surroundings.”

Luïza from Latvia, Cirkuskus in Slovakia.

Kreativni Pogon Serbia

Established in 2017, this is the first circus school in Serbia, based in Novi Sad. Their organisation uses circus as a tool for solving social and community issues around Serbia trough different projects. Their goal is to develop the capability of human body and mental state of all ages from children to seniors, we are promoting circus as a multidisciplinary artistic, cultural, social, community and pedagogical form. They have formed relationships with Temishoara circus school in Romania, and Circus Fuskabo in Slovenia, from whom they have developed their pedagogical knowledge in circus. Novi Sad was the ECOC in 2022 and our project Take balance – with circus was one of the projects that took place including 10 primary schools, school for children with special needs, team of psychologists, and many more…We are going to make an advocacy panel discussion for school system. Also, we started an institution developing our project of decentralising culture.

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Nablus Circus School Palestine

Assirk Assaghir is made up of a team of motivated trainers and enthusiastic students from the Nablus area, including surrounding villages and refugee camps. This area in the northern West Bank, is one of the areas the most hard-hit by the Israeli occupation. The more subtle effects of the occupation, such as a lack of playgrounds in most neighbourhoods, high students to teacher ratio in schools and almost no affordable extracurricular activities are the realities that affect children there. They aim to provide children with a safe place to play, more individual attention than they get in schools and a fun extracurricular activity that builds skills and allows them to develop their personalities. Many of the trainers have been with the circus since its establishment in 2004 and have worked tirelessly as volunteers to keep their dream alive. Assirk Assaghir provides circus workshops for children and teenagers in acrobatics, stilts, unicycle, clowning, juggling, trapeze, tissue and other with occasional workshops in music and acting. All activities require that the students encourage and support each other, creating an environment of trust where students feel free to take risks and express themselves. The trainers encourage the students become active, not only in circus, but in other aspects of their lives, especially in school. The trainers and students perform in many different centres around Nablus and in the refugee camps.

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Courant d’Cirque Switzerland

Swiss Circus Company Courant d’Cirque manages a panel of different actions combining professional creations, social-cultural and educational projects: - International Youth Circus Project Axé Cirque; this project is a platform for intercultural exchanges of young people, enabling 80 soon-to-be adults to live a magical and unique artistic and human experience through exchange workshops, cultural activities, artistic discoveries and sharing of knowledge. - National Youth Circus Project LABO’Cirque: they welcome young Swiss emerging circus talents for three weeks of intensive research. They are guided and supervised by a professional artistic team. - Social Circus Project Festival Encirqué: Encirqué is both a festival entirely dedicated to circus dissemination and a large-scale participatory mediation project. It is based on a manifesto that evokes a strong desire for recognition of the contemporary circus as an art form as well as a tool for social integration and wishes to actively participate in its development.

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Vasim Circus Space, Netherlands

Vasim Circus Space was founded eighteen years ago in the Vasim building in Nijmegen from a small group of enthusiast people strongly believing in the positive impact of social circus. Today, Vasim Circus space host dozens of people training on a regular basis and artists work on their productions. The primary building is currently being renovated and converted into a cultural dream location, where Circus Space will of course be given a central place. The objective of this renovation is to make Vasim, even more visible and accessible, so that more people can come into contact with the power of circus.

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Spazio Ipotetico Italy

Spazio Ipotetico was created in 2021 with the idea of generating places in which it was possible to rethink the match between two concepts generally associated only with rehabilitative or therapeutic purposes: art and disability. Putting these two concepts into dialogue means relating a word that by its nature escapes categories and classification (art), with one that constitutes a classification in itself (disability): it is precisely from the connection of these two backgrounds that the social stigma that sees the disabled person as being in a constant state of non-possibility, can be overcome. Creating this dialogue means generating spaces for meeting and participation, spaces of creativity where possibilities can be created: new, unexpected hypotheses. Spazio Ipotetico isn’t a space, it isn’t a project, nor a person, it does not belong to a person. Spazio Ipotetico is a thought, a posture, a different way of being and live relationships, a different way of looking at the world and at the people. The association wants to offer itself as a space in which every person - beyond the classification or diagnosis assigned - can encounter the pleasure and beauty of art, and express themselves through a free creative process oriented to their needs and desires.

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©Altro Circoa, Italy

Cirque Hors Piste (Canada)

9th - 11th May111 participants Camp Le P’tit Bonheur - Lac Supérieur, Quebec CIRKASKINA BIG GATHERING - 111 participants from 15 social circus communities across all Canada (12-30 years old) 3 days of activities including interactive workshops, nature activities, an open-stage style show (optional), the creation of an artistic manifesto, circus jams, and cultural workshops/exchanges.

View a short video introducing Cirkaskina

École de Cirque de Bruxelles,Belgium

The École de Cirque de Bruxelles (ECBru) has forged, through 43 years of experience, its own methodology and pedagogy in circus arts. It considers that circus arts, beyond the mind-soul and skills-creativity conciliation, can be used as a tool for education, pedagogy, and integration. In that framework, circus lessons are provided for about 1000 students each week: children, adolescents, and adults, whether they are physically and/or mentally challenged or not, and from disadvantaged or more privileged neighbourhoods. Since 1991, ECBru has worked with people with disabilities, developing Handicirque : an expertise in the inclusive approach and adapted circus practice. These various empirical experiences led to a systematic development of specific and global competences and tools. L’École de Cirque de Bruxelles offers specific training programmes, such as the internationally recognised Training of trainers with more than 30 years of experience: La Formation Pédagogique, an acquisition of a complete package of teaching skills during one year full time, as well as an in-depth knowledge of circus art. In 2010, ECB created “Le Centre Européen de Funambulisme”, which offers tightrope walking trainings and performances throughout Europe.

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Norköppings UngdomcirkusSweden

Norrköppings Ungdomcirkus is the oldest and one of the biggest youth circuses in Sweden. We have over 150 artists, with ages ranging from 4 to 21. Our focus is in making a circus family. Every year we create a show and play it in our own circus tent, where everyone is involved. Artists, parents, siblings help with everything from raising the tent to rigging, lights, music, costume and more.

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Métis'Gwa Guadeloupe France

Métis’Gwa is an association from Guadeloupe. It believes in art not only as a tool to get to know a society but also to communicate and exchange ideas beyond borders. It supports culture in the Caribbean, Europe and in the world since 2007. Its actions promote the link between art, culture and society through creation, training, spreading and employment.

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Ton sur Ton (Switzerland)l'Art d'en Faire (France) L'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles (Belgium) and The Palestinian Circus School.

3rd to 9th of August 50 participants La Chaux -de-Fonds, Switzerland The aim of the exchange was to experience the circus in a different way and to enable young people to develop various personal and social skills.

Our statutory meetings form an important part of our annual calendar. In 2024, 9 Board meetings and 2 (+1 extraordinary) General ssemblies were organised.Caravan organised 7 Board meetings in 2024, out of which 4 took place online and 3 in Person. In February, it took place in Ljubljana, in tandem with FuskaFEST, in June it took place in Brussels, where the Statues were officially updated with the Moniteur Belge, and in November, the board meeting preceded the General Assembly in Barcelona.The purpose of these meetings was to support and guide the Caravan coordination team, ensuring that decisions made at the General Assemblies were implemented, the strategic plan was delivered, and strong governance was maintained. They also played a key role in finalizing important legal, administrative, and human resources matters.In 2024, these meetings were especially valuable as Caravan continued to navigate a period of transition and growth. With evolving governance structures, the board dedicated extra time and effort to support the coordination team and ensure that strategic decisions were effectively put into action.

Seoul Street Arts Creation Center South Korea

Founded in 2015, Seoul Street Arts Creation Center (SSACC) is South Korea's first base camp dedicated to the production, practice, education, and distribution of street arts and circus. SSACC develops diverse street arts and circus works, trains artists to engage boldly with citizens, and nurtures cultural foundations to flourish in Seoul’s streets. Through international partnerships, SSACC fosters experts in the field and strives to expand diverse social programs for both citizens and artists.

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7 Unchanged:

• Julien Cottenie – Circusplaneet – Belgium
• Pia Povsic – Skala – Slovenia
• Molly O’Brien – Cloughjordan Circus Club – Rep. Ireland.

Zip Zap Circus School, South Africa

Zip Zap was founded in Cape Town in 1992 to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa. Working with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds, Zip Zap helps kids to ‘dare to dream’ and learn to make those dreams a reality. Zip Zap’s 8 different programmes are all provided to students for free (over 2000 each year), with financial and material support coming from individuals, organisations, corporations, and foundations. The Zip Zap children have performed for presidents and world leaders. They have done 40 international tours and numerous international media showcases. Young people who grew up on the streets are now skilled and valued artists and technicians in the entertainment and film industries. Best of all, these kids have become teachers themselves. They are ambassadors and role models for others, demonstrating dramatically to young people and the wider public the possibility of a new way of treating each other.

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Taking Flight Ireland

Taking Flight is dedicated to the development of circus arts through 3 strands: education, performance and community.They run a regular schedule of classes for children and adults as well as developing coach education. Classes include silks, rope, trapeze, cocoon, wall running, hoop, straps, and acrobatics, as well as a variety of workshops and bespoke courses. Our coach education includes a variety of pedagogical and technical courses with partners such as Ecole Nationale De Cirque, High Performance Rigging, LEGacy Circus, Sport Ireland, and many individual international circus artists and educators. They develop bespoke responses to local needs, working with community groups such as Wet n’Wild and BeLongTo, running family introduction days, as well as longer courses and performances such as the Schools Project in partnership with St. Marys and Trinity Comprehensive. We are currently working with Erin Ball of LEGacy Circus and Cara of Sport Ireland on our upcoming adaptive aerial syllabus with a focus of making circus accessible to people with disabilities.

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Skala Fuskabo Slovenia

The dynamic started in 2013 in the streets of Ljubljana with a circus workshop in the framework of the street program “Minibus of Joy”. Due to its popularity, the project moved to weekly closed indoor structured activities. The target groups are children and youths from 6 to 18 years who come from different areas of Ljubljana, each with specific needs. Many of them come from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds., which is why most of Fuskabo’s activities are free of charge. Fuskabo is part of the non-governmental organization Skala, which has been working for 24 years in the field of youth street education. In addition to Fuskabo, the organization carries out a street program through its Minibus of joy, sports activities, music group, daily centre, summer camps etc. It has over 200 users in mentioned activities above.

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Spring General Assembly meeting8th May, online (26 participants) The Spring Online General Assembly marked our seventh virtual gathering as a network. Over the years, the tools and formats used to facilitate these meetings have been steadily refined, making it easier to coordinate productive and engaging exchanges across countries and time zones. The meeting offered an important moment for members to reconnect, share updates, and collectively review key developments within the network. Several important topics were presented and discussed during the Assembly. Members were introduced to the new communications strategy, designed to strengthen Caravan’s visibility, highlight the projects of the network, and ensure greater consistency in our shared branding. This discussion also led to the creation of a communications subgroup, intended to connect communications officers across member organisations, encourage peer exchange, and support alignment across the network. The Assembly also included an evaluation of the current strategic plan, recognising the strong development of the Expert pillar while identifying the need for further work in advocacy and continued efforts to strengthen youth participation and leadership strategies. Finally, members reviewed and validated the financial report and annual report, and the network was pleased to welcome Spazio Ipotetico from Italy as a new Friend.

©The Palestinian Circus School, Palestine

Coraggio Die Kulturanstifter Germany

Since 2019, Coraggio – Die Kulturanstifter e.V. has been providing holistic cultural education for people of all ages through circus, theatre and dance in various districts of Berlin and Halle an der Saale. We believe that everyone has the right to shape society and their own lives. With our combination of community circus, education and social work, we open up new worlds of experience and learning with all the senses.Coraggio is cooperating with primary schools in Berlin, engaging especially in disadvantaged neighbourhoods to enable children to take part in weekly circus and dance groups as an after-school-activity. Since 2021, Coraggio has been offering funambulism classes and workshops (balancing on tightwires up to 6m height with support of a balancing pole) for adults and young people. In 2024, we installed our training facilities on a long-term basis at Tempelhofer Feld, a pioneering recreational park in Berlin. In the same year, we launched a 3-year project to develop a more inclusive pedagogy for people with mental disabilities and mental health issues.

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"Wim Wenders’ movie Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire) shows the city through the eyes of angels, ordinary people, and circus artists. Maybe following this fantasy is what led me here – to begin my one-year volunteering experience at CABUWAZI through the European Solidarity Corps project. Berlin is an amazing city full of possibilities, but it also takes a lot of your energy! I started assisting the circus activities with kids in the Tempelhof tent and have been part of this colorful social circus world ever since. I can describe the first months as hectic, and maybe now things are starting to find order in my mind and in my rhythm. This project gave me a lot – from the carneval parade in the streets of Neukölln to the projects in refugee shelters, where we connect with kids of different ages and backgrounds using circus. During the week, we mostly work with schools, in every school project week new pupils are coming in to train with us and together, we create a final show for Friday. It is amazing what teamwork can create, and how you see the kids’ abilities grow – from the first time they touch the trapeze on Monday until the curtain of the Showzelt closes on Friday. During these months, I also assisted at the Freedom of Movement festival and got to see all of the action behind the curtain – talking to artists, assisting the team, and growing both professionally and personally thanks to the amazing people working with me. My fellow volunteers are for sure the biggest gift of this experience. It is such a blessing to be surrounded by creative, valuable circus artists who help each other – from figuring out where to find the olive oil in the supermarket to learning a new routine on the silks. In my time at CABUWAZI, I experienced what it means to be part of an artistic, caring community that uses culture and circus as a way to create a better world – one that is active, engaged, and full of the beautiful craziness of circus people from all over the globe. I really am learning how inspiring it can be to be part of a community – and how powerful circus is. So watch out, Berlin! The CABUWAZI volunteer community is here to fill you with our energy, passion, and colors from all around the world."

Giulia Urso from Italy, Cabuwazi in Berlin.

Ton sur Ton Switzerland

Since 2001, the foundation Ton sur Ton, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, has provided full and lively academic teaching to the students of the Bern-Jura-Neuchâtel region (Switzerland) in the disciplines of Jazz, Modern Music, Theatre, Contemporary Dance and Circus Arts.In parallel to the recreational and the pre-professional teachings, the Ton sur Ton foundation initiated in 2016 the program Art Sans Frontière and is now a leader in the field of inclusive culture. It is a participatory mediation and social circus program that aspires to use circus, dance, theatre and music as integration and personal development tools. Art Sans Frontière favours a concrete, real and participatory access to performing arts and is facilitated by professionals.

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"Ahoj! Jsem Yevheniia and I'm Ukrainian. My Lužánky workplace is Legato, where I am a part of the circus activities. In my free time, I tried the trapeze, which was a new aerial apparatus for me. During my work time, I help coaches and teach children and adults tricks on the aerial hoop, sharing acrobatics exercises. It is really nice and a pleasure to be in this huge, wonderful place."

Yevheniia Jsem from Ukraine, Cirkus LeGrando in Czechia.

CABUWAZI, Germany

CABUWAZI is a youth circus in Berlin that started in 1994 and is part of GrenzKultur gGmbH since 2010. With its six locations across different areas of the city, CABUWAZI offers circus pedagogical leisure activities for children and young people between 2 and 26 years – many of them free of charge. Their activities are based on the idea that people, and especially children, need to develop social competences to create a stable and safe environment for themselves. Through the physical aspects of circus training – strength, balance, and coordination – as well as the trust-building required in games, exercises, and performances, CABUWAZI fosters confidence, teamwork, and personal growth. Each year around 12,000 children and young people train at CABUWAZI. GrenzKultur gGmbH also runs the Circus Akademie Berlin that offers further education and ongoing professional workshops for circus educators, and Alegria – Institut für Zirkustherapie, which provides resource-orientated, therapeutic services for children and young people, helping them deal with difficult feelings as well as teaching techniques for self-regulation.

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Zaltimbanq’ Zirkus Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s only circus school, welcomes over 250 students aged 6 to 69, participating in one or more of its 19 weekly classes. These include multidisciplinary classes as well as specialized ones, such as acrobatics, aerial silks, aerial hoop and trapeze, Chinese pole, and more. The school also offers an Open Training space twice a week. In addition to regular classes, Zaltimbanq’ organizes workshops for children and adults, led by international instructors, during school holidays and on weekends. The school also hosts performances. Every two years in May, Zaltimbanq’ presents the festival “Cirque sous Chapiteau.” This 10-day event brings international artists to the big top for performances and to work with the school’s youngsters. The festival also gives the students the opportunity to show what they have learned to their parents and friends.

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Mobile Mini Circus for Children Afghanistan

MMCC (Mobile Mini Circus for Children) is a leading social circus organization working for and with vulnerable children and youth in challenged societies. Through social circus, they improve social skills and facilitate a sense of belonging to the society. The key elements of their pedagogy and works are children’s participation, facilitation, local ownership, sustainability, and cost efficiency. MMCC has reached over 3.6 million audience and workshop participants in Afghanistan since 2002. It established “Afghan Educational Children Circus” as its satellite organization which implements and carries on the activities in Afghanistan. With 15 years of experience, a unique pedagogy, a range of developed systems of initiating, implementing, administrating, monitoring and supervisions, MMCC is now reaching other countries to support similar initiatives and provide its unique capacities to the world.

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Cirkus Cirkör Sweden

Cirkus Cirkör was started in 1995 and is the most prominent circus company in the Nordics today. Our umbrella covers performances on tour in Sweden and the world, courses and educational programs for all ages, an upper secondary school for circus, business events and many, many collaboration projects. Cirkus Cirkör is an idea of how to use the arts to influence, develop and change the world. With curiosity, humour and courage, we explore the diversity and limits of the circus arts. Cirkus Cirkör is a platform where different artistic practices flourish and surprise. We collaborate with many and use the circus as a method to lift and inspire humans.

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Galway Community Circus Ireland

Galway Community Circus is Ireland’s flagship for youth and social circus, located in the heart of Galway City. Galway Community Circus provides access to high-quality subsidised circus arts education through their circus school offering youth and adult programmes for over 600 weekly students as well as professional training and community programmes in partnership with those who have specific social or developmental needs. They provide artist supports, training and mentoring and lead the development of youth circus in Ireland through academic, national and international partnerships.

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AltroCirco, Italy

AltroCirco is a program of Association Giocolieri & Dintorni for the development and acknowledgement of social circus in Italy. It has developed a network of associations and individuals working with social circus in Italy, to support a common process of growth and promote circus as an instrument of social transformation. AltroCirco has the following mission: Network - Research - Professional training and sharing methodologies.

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Cirque Hors Piste Canada

Cirque Hors Piste (CHP) is a Montreal organization dedicated to social circus intervention. The organization uses the circus arts to offer youth who are marginalized or at risk of exclusion an alternative path of personal development, with social support that allows them to move forward and flourish as citizens. Its impact on individuals in precarious situations is unequivocal, in addition to contributing more widely to the collective well-being in its community.

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Upsala Circus International

Upsala-Circus is a circus open to life. They combine circus pedagogy and contemporary art to implement socio-cultural, educational, and artistic projects for children and adults. The project began as a social initiative for street children and young people in St. Petersburg, Russia. Over 25 years, it has evolved into an international endeavor that integrates programs for at-risk children and young people in precarious situations, inclusive projects, and a professional circus troupe. Today, Upsala-Circus creates circus art in both Russia (St. Petersburg) and Germany (Zeitz). Their mission is to create opportunities for people to develop their creative potential, enabling them to become freer and happier. Upsala-Circus believes that contemporary art is inseparable from life itself, with all its diverse aspects and people. For this reason, they actively involve project participants in the creative process, encouraging them to become co-authors of their work.

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CirquencielLebanon

Established in 2001, cirquenciel became the first circus school in Lebanon. It promotes intercultural dialogue and helps youth at risk find a professional path. Cirquenciel works toward an environment free of any discrimination and aims at spreading peace through circus arts. On April 7th, 2016, cirquenciel opened its own dedicated space in Jisr el Wati, Beirut (Lebanon), with its own school that hosts classes, workshops, and events to build a community centred around circus, arts, and movement. These three aspects of cirquenciel’s educational approach have proven to boost the physical, cognitive, and social developments of the beneficiaries. Students work in a spirit of joy, cooperation, peace, and unity. Within the local community, cirquenciel runs many projects that serve the purpose of integration, artistic vocational training, and other soft skills that are essential to one’s feeling of belonging in society.

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Autumn General Assembly meeting27 & 28 November, Martinen, Finland (50 participants) The Autumn General Assembly brought members of the Caravan network together in person in a truly special setting: the Marttinen Youth Centre, surrounded by the Finnish wilderness. Hosted by Sorin Sirkus, the gathering was organised and facilitated by their dedicated Impact Team, creating a warm and supportive environment for reflection, discussion, and connection. The meeting was also marked by a strong presence of young people from across the network, with members of What About Youth? (WAY Youth Forum) contributing actively to the conversations. A highlight of the youth programme was the presentation of the Youth Echo project by CIRQUEON, offering inspiration on how youth voices can shape projects and decision-making within the sector. Throughout the Assembly, members participated in a series of workshops and exchanges focused on the future of the network. Nathalie facilitated a collective intelligence workshop exploring the next stage of Caravan’s strategic development through the stages of discover, dream, and design. Adriane led a Caravan branding workshop, reflecting on how the network communicates its identity and projects. Will hosted a session on solidarity and resilience, addressing the realities faced by members in Palestine, Lebanon, and Serbia, and opening an important discussion on how the network can respond with support and collaboration. Members also shared updates on their own projects, strengthening connections across the network. Alongside the formal programme, participants experienced moments of community-building, including a communal sauna and celebrations marking 40 years of Sorin Sirkus, with attendees enjoying the anniversary performance “Soriversum.” The Assembly concluded with the validation of the 2026 Annual Plan and Budget, and the election of Tommaso Negri from AltroCirco and Rose Abou Elias from Cirquenciel to the Caravan Board for 2026.

Cloughjordan Circus Club Ireland

Cloughjordan Circus Club is a youth and social circus project based in rural Tipperary, Ireland. The project offers an alternative social and creative outlet to children and young people aged 8 – 25 years, promoting social connections, creative expression and physical wellbeing through inclusive, participatory circus arts. We run a year-round programme of weekly circus workshops, teaching skills such as juggling, diabolo, hula hoop, stilt walking, unicycle, tightwire, acro and have classes for Beginners, Juniors and Teens. We meet in St Kieran’s Hall in Cloughjordan on Mondays! Our programme includes annual performance projects, regular holiday camps, weekend masterclasses with visiting tutors as well as opportunities to engage with the wider youth circus community in Ireland through projects like the Irish Youth Circus Gathering and trips to events such as Festival of Fools, Belfast. We are also running a programme of Outdoor Wire Walking Workshops as part of our Wires Crossed initiative.

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Circus Bosko, Montenegro

In September 2013 a group of animators and volunteers from Don Bosko centre Podgorica, decided to try circus skills, inspired by their colleagues and peers from the organization Skala based in Ljubljana. Two leaders were trained in Ljubljana where Circus Fuskabo was already established. Upon their return, the first group was formed and started practicing regularly. The trainers were further trained on international circus trainings in Slovenia, together with youngsters from different countries. This programme had great success in Podgorica, as it is the first and only programme of this type in our country.Their goals:

• Education of children and youth through preventive system in the area of circus arts.
• Develop their creativity, persistence, reflexes, motor skills, concentration and teamwork.
• Personal monitoring through preparation of individual and group performances focusing on mental, social, and physical development of the youth.

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Sorin Sirkus Finland

Sorin Sirkus is a youth circus based in Tampere, Finland, established in 1985. Its main objective is to maintain, enhance, and develop circus education for children and young people. Sorin Sirkus provides basic education in circus arts, based on the national core curriculum, to 600 students each week.The organization also offers a wide variety of social circus workshops for at-risk youth, as well as short-term courses and camps for children and adults. Sorin Sirkus is recognized as a forerunner in the field of Finnish youth and social circus. Sorin Sirkus organizes a diverse range of activities, from youth circus schools to social circus programs, workplace wellness workshops, festivals, camps, and performances. The organization was awarded the State Prize for Children’s Culture in 2010 and was named Finnish Young Cultural Ambassador by the Ministry of Education and Culture in both 2008 and 2009.

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Cirkuskus (Slovakia) & CIRQUEON (Czechia)

12th -18th November20 participants Peer-to-peer learning between teens, hands-on-experience during the night of circus festival by organizing workshops or performing at open stage or doing street acts.