Bulaban Circus in Lebanon

The Bulaban Social Circus project aims to create a place of creation and encounter for children and young people as well as for the local families and artists.

As a social circus project, it aims to support children and young people in particular in developing their artistic potential. Through theatre, art and circus disciplines, the participants should be strengthened in their self-efficacy and creative ability.

The creation process supports them in developing their aesthetic perceptions and production skills. In addition, the collective work promotes the social skills of all participants.

The intergenerational cooperation within the project offers should mediate between the different living environments of young and old, strengthen generational solidarity and counteract alienation.

Regional networking with schools, NGOs, the neighbourhood and other actors also contributes to social stability.

First, the installation of a space is intended to create a meeting place that the participating groups can use as a play and creative space. Aside from everyday worries, there is a freedom and informality in the protected environment of a rounded colourful space, which inspires you to be creative with your whole being. In this way, imaginative, dynamic, physical and mental spaces can be cultivated in which the playful body and mind lose their inhibitions and express themselves freely and creatively.

With the aim to gather different people to explore their individualities and their integration into the collective. This playful exchange of stories, experiences and skills can then be shared with people on the streets. We want to activate participation to enable mutual re-empowerment, the ability to bring change and to celebrate the possibilities and dreams of a true coexistence.

With this objective, we want to invite children and adults to Bulaban social circus in the form of afternoon courses, daily trainings, weekend workshops, shows and mobile offers in the region to become artistically active, to show themselves without pressure to perform and to learn holistically.

With the aim that they can deal with current topics that are relevant in their living environment. We want to create the appropriate framework conditions within which the participants can expand their skills and develop their potential, where their expression is taken seriously and community can be lived across generations. In this togetherness, acceptance and empathy can be cultivated and prejudices that exist due to religious, intercultural and socio-economic backgrounds can be reduced.

Where social tensions and problems between groups arise, a meeting place like Bulaban can initiate critical dialogues and re-enhance harmony and tolerance.

This project sees itself as a platform that strengthens social cohesion, supports participation and thus also provides educational, democratic and peace work in the future.