Reinventing Circus Organisations is a project of four European social circus organizations - CIRQUEON from the Czech Republic, Coraggio from Germany, Cirkus Cirkor from Sweden and Cirkus in Beweging from Belgium.The project contains nine international activities aiming to improve the skills of the staff members of the organizations in the field of leadership, management, and communication. The partner organizations joined together in this partnership with their need to change the actual structures of their organization to be able to provide good working space for their staff, the efficient reaching of their goals and treating their clients, students and partners as well as possible.The partners feel that the common hierarchical management of organizations is not suitable for the 21st century anymore, especially while working in the social and youth work and want to adapt themselves to the challenges of this time and challenges yet to come.As a guide to this change, they chose the book Reinventing Organisations by Belgian author Frederic Laloux.In total there are 60 mobilities planned in the project that will be spread between the four organizations equally and will be divided between managers, coordinators, tutors and admin workers. The participants will get a chance to meet their peers from the European social circus community and learn how to improve their skills and through them to change the structure of their organization.The project activities count 4 meetings of management staff, 4 study visits of tutors and admin workers and 1 evaluation meeting combining both groups of participants. The activities will consist of discussions, lectures, sharing of best practices, observing and job shadowing, individual and group work, research and studying of literature. The participants will be encouraged to continue in their progress after the end of the activities as well.The expected result of the project is the change of the organizational structure and leadership and management practices of the four partner organizations resulting in being more successful in reaching their goal of bringing the benefits of social circus practices to as many people as possible. The project will impact not only the four of our organizations and their staff members but also their stakeholders such as students or clients, collaborators, local, regional and national communities. We will share our experience and newly learned know-how with other professionals and organizations in the European social circus community.

The strategic partnership project “On the Wire - Balancing our fear”, has been organised within the partnership of Circus CABUWAZI, Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles in Belgium, Cirkus Cirkor from Sweden and Zahrada, o.p.s. CIRQUEON from Czech Republic. It aim was to create innovative pedagogical methods in the field of trauma release, using the the circus pedagogical tool of high-wire walking. . Our project was aiming to train youth workers combining circus pedagogy and modern therapy methods towards trauma release. We are now convinced that circus pedagogy has huge potential to support the trauma release process with children and youngsters based on their physical activities, which we had explored with the support of professionals. “Funambulisme”, the high wire walking with a balancing pole, had been the main tool in our project to develop the competences of the youth workers. It has been a very effective way to work with different target groups, as it is surprisingly easy to learn for beginners, yet pedagogically intense, as the wire can be set up on different heights ranging from 20 cm to several meters (with a safety leash). As Outputs of the project we have created the curriculum and pedagogical framework for the youth workers to develop their competences, and in the research report we reflected and described the potential in working with traumatised kids and youngsters utilizing “Funambulisme” as a medium. The main objectives of our project was to bring together knowledge from psychosocial empowerment and circus pedagogy to develop a new approach on use Funabulism as a tool for youth work, with the specific focus on trauma release. To show its potential for integration and empowerment of young people with the special needs, in particular young refugees. By combining these two fields, our goal was to develop a accebile and clear pedagogical method, which can be applied in the work with young people with refugee backgroud by training youth workers. We have discovered that the application of these method had improve the well-being of the young refugee community and contribute towards their integration within our society. The circus space is a social place which allows people to overcome their blockades and fears indirectly through building trust and a feeling of belonging with the circus. We had contribute to the empwoerment of young people involved in our local circus activities those issues, allowing them to fully take part in our local community. The project has proven that Circus pedagogy is a very effective field of social work which is creating strong experiences for children and youth where they can overcome blockades and inner tensions through positive, empowering experiences of success and social acceptance. We want to continueto work on the development of the necessary competences for the pedagogues working in the circus field to work especielly with excluded youth groups, like traumatised refugee children and present this outcomes to the wider field circus community field as an effective method to deal with integration and empowerment.

<< Background >>Social circus is an innovative educational tool in itself, but in order to develop and improve the quality of youth and social circus pedagogy, a need for a social circus trainers program arose in the early 2010’s. Thus, Circus Trans Formation in Action (CTF in Action, later CTF) was developed as a training program for social circus trainers. It is 240 hours of training which takes place over 4 modules at 4 different international youth circuses, connecting circus trainers from across the world. Youth and social circus trainers work mainly with youth, who often have fewer possibilities and opportunities in their lives. This links the training program directly with the fields of social work and youth work in general. The main idea of this project at hand is to develop and enhance the training program and disseminate the knowledge gained during previous training programs to aforementioned fields. It also takes into account recent experiences and research findings in all of the three fields and joins them together in our quest for professional development. The CTF training is based on our curriculum, “Guidebook for Social Circus Trainers”, which is the outcome of a 5-year European research carried out by 2 universities, 8 Caravan members and the Caravan office. Each session is focused on specific Teaching/Learning Units (TLU) of the Guidebook. The first session deals with «Social context» (TLU A). The second session deals with «Act of teaching» (TLU B), the 3rd session with «Management / Steering of teaching» (TLU C) and the 4th session deals with «Foundations» (TLU D) and «Circus Techniques & Creativity» (TLU E). CTF is one of the flagship programs of Caravan network. Caravan is an international youth and social circus network of 22 circus schools from across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, that advocates for the positive impact of youth and social circus. The network was established in 2008 by 6 European circus schools, including Sorin Sirkus, 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. Caravan is a non-profit organisation that is committed to developing the sector and empowering its members. The members are closely connected, and these links have been created through our projects: Youth festivals and exchanges, training for trainer programmes, capacity buildings, volunteer exchanges, production of research, seminars and gathering of resources. The network continuously evaluates and improves the program in order to maintain the legitimacy of the program. CTF has now been running for 5 cycles as the first one started in 2015. The first evaluation was done in 2018 (Extending CTF)andow it is time to undertake a second evaluation. This project addresses the new challenges and needs to refine the CTF training, which have arisen during the last 5 CTF cycles and in the current state of the world. This evaluation would also enable the consortium to build on other projects’ results run through the framework of Caravan.During the last 6 years, the CTF training program has developed and deepened the knowledge of social work and youth development using circus as a carrier. By evaluating the program and identifying the results and good practices, we aim to disseminate the knowledge to other relevant fields and organise roundtable meetings to learn from each other. In order for this to happen, we have extended our network to cover many organisations and NGOs from the social and youth work sectors.<< Objectives >>THE MAIN OBJECTIVES are to develop and enhance the training program by strengthening the network with partners from social work and youth work, disseminate the knowledge gained in previous training programs and enable active communication between the fields of circus art, social work and youth work. The CTF Advanced project takes into account recent experiences and findings in all of the three fields and joins them together in our quest for professional development.This is done by organising a series of workshops, seminars and roundtable meetings between youth circuses, social circus trainers, social work organisations and institutions as well as youth work organisations (listed in the associated partners section). These meetings are organised during the LTAs in each country, but as well nationally in between the meetings so that the outcomes of the discussions in every country can be shared by all of the partners at the LTAs.The following organisations and associations have agreed to collaborate with us in CTF Advanced and to be a part of our extended network of associates working towards the same goal of sharing experiences, methodology, pedagogical solutions, and special needs with different target groups: Sopimusvuori ry – social rehabilitation center (Finland), Tampereen Lastenklinikan Tuki ry – Children’s Clinic Support Association (Finland), Beztíže – a youth centre working with young people from disadvantaged groups (Czech Republic), Association of families with children with visual impairment (Czech Republic), Galway Autism Partnership (GAP) – a family/community local charity for autism spectrum disorder (Ireland), Arts Alive Galway – a community-based arts programme (Ireland), Youth Work Ireland – the largest youth organisation in Ireland, Foróige – the leading youth organisation in Ireland which has been working with young people since 1952 and Dynamo International – an NGO and a youth service that fights, all over the world, for the defence of the fundamental rights of people in a situation of social exclusion. Moreover, with the help of this network we aim to keep improving/strengthening the framework of competences for social circus trainers and the quality and legitimacy of their work, thus improving their recognition and employability. This helps the social circus trainers, who work with young people with fewer opportunities or special needs and marginalized people, by drawing their attention on the benefits of youth and social circus for their end-users. Sub- objectives: OBJ 1: Evaluate the content and impacts of Circus Trans Formation in Action training for social circus trainers. OBJ 2: Update and enhance CTF guidebook and the training in a reaction to the changing world: covid-19, sustainable pedagogy, developments in distance learning, forced migration, work with disabilities etc. OBJ 3: Plan a follow-up strategy and peer network for CTF trainers which ensures enhanced communication during and after CTF trainings. The trainers are given possibilities to develop their pedagogical insights, and acquire a peer network of professional colleagues.<< Implementation >>Two transnational meetings and five Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities (later LTA) will be held in order to advance the project, while progress on the Intellectual Outputs (later IO) will also happen in between the meetings. One of the LTA’s is online. In addition to LTA’s, several online follow-up meetings will be organised to ensure the advancement of the IO’s.IO1: Creating the extended network of associates in each country and organising a series of roundtable meetings and seminars both nationally and internationally. Evaluating the content and impacts of CTF for social circus trainers. 12 months, 1 Mar 2022 to 31 Dec 2022. - Mar 2022. Preparation meeting online with partners. - May 2022 Kick off meeting (3 days): pedagogical steering group & Caravan representatives meet (total 15 persons). Roundtable seminar with the extended network of associates in Finland and discussion over the project methodology, distribution of roles and tasks, timetable, budget tweaks and overall management of the project as well as the challenges and demands of development concerning the training in a multicultural setting. The group will also make suggestions on how to incorporate distance learning methods in the training. - Follow up meeting online - June 2022 LTA 1 (2 days): pedagogical steering group meet in person. Roundtable seminar with the Czech network of associates. Coordination meeting: take stock of the evaluation activities and data collected + design analysis methodology further + discuss project management aspects (finance, admin, reporting). - Follow up meeting online - Oct 2022 LTA 2 (2 days): pedagogical steering group meet in person. Roundtable seminar with the Swedish network of associates. - Follow up meeting online and preparing for the IO2. IO2: Updating the CTF Guidebook: data analysis and revision of the guidebook (collected data but also outputs from other projects). 12 months, 1 Mar 2023 to 31 Feb 2024. - Mar 2023 LTA 3 (5 days): CTF trainers and pedagogical steering group meet. A bigger roundtable meeting with the Irish network of associates, discussion on the techniques of dissemination and sharing experiences on youth work.- Discussions on sustainable pedagogy, follow-up and peer network strategy with the network of associates- Revision of the CTF Guidebook, revision of training modules / possible creation of new modules - External evaluation of the revised guidebook (3 external evaluators picked by the leading team and hired as consultant to deliver feedbacks) & final edits for Guidebook and training layout. - Follow up online meeting - May 2023 LTA 4 (2 days): pedagogical steering group ONLINE meet. Meeting the entire international network of associates and sharing knowledge on the development of the project and future plans. Coordination: Feedbacks/discussion/evaluation revised Guidebook + take stock of the implementation so far, project management, reporting and further detail next steps.- Follow up online meeting in between. - Aug 2023 LTA 5 (2 days): pedagogical steering group meet. 2 days in person meeting. - Follow up online meeting in between. - Jan 2024 Conclusion meeting: Finnish network of associates, pedagogical steering group & Caravan representatives. Conclusion meeting and dissemination: next to a festival/event, presentation of the revised guidebook and training, external communication. IO 3: follow-up strategy and peer network concept planning. 4 months, 1 Mar 2024 to 30 June 2024.- from the data collected at the LTA 3, writing a concept paper about follow-up and peer network strategy - Final online coordination meeting focused on project management and reporting<< Results >>Short term outcomes: - An international network of associates from the fields of social work and youth work, meeting regularly online and nationally in person, sharing experiences and knowledge on good practises and methodology in their work- An evaluation report - An updated version of CTF Guidebook with enhanced and polished pedagogical insights - An updated version of CTF training modules, including possibly new module(s) on subjects that arise during the project - A follow-up strategy for former CTF participants (to stay in touch, share insights, get access to revised data/pedagogical materials,...) and possibly an exchange system for CTF trainers and refresher activitiesLong term outcomes: - Increased network of relevant fields of expertise (social work, youth work) and practical knowledge in how to maintain such a network- Increased pedagogical competences for youth and social circus trainers thus improving the quality of their work and the impact on participants - Increased peer to peer exchanges between youth and social circus trainers - Increased employability for the social circus trainers - Increased well-being effects from social circus activities with the end-users (young people usually with fewer opportunities, with special needs, and marginalized people)

Youth and social circus is a measure of intervention based on the combination of circus arts, sports and social-pedagogy. It targets the young but also various at-risk groups in order to support the empowerment and emancipation of individuals and assist with participants’ personal and social development by nurturing their self-esteem and trust in others, as well as by helping them to acquire social skills, express their creativity and realize their potential and become active citizens. In this approach, the primary goal is not to learn the circus arts, but rather to create social change because it helps individuals assume their place in a society. Various studies indicate that the socio-pedagogical and welfare impacts of social circus are undeniable. Due to these positive impacts, the surveys show that there is a growing need of formally educated youth and social circus professionals having not only knowledge in circus arts but also possessing a deep knowledge of pedagogy to work with the young and with people with fewer opportunities in the society.The project produces the first research based European full-degree curriculum of 180 ECTS in EQF level 6 of Youth and Social Circus Pedagogy with five national implementation plans to respond both to the shortage of the professionals and qualitative needs. After the project the programme begins at least in the partner organizations and it is expected to get adapted to other organizations and countries as well. It is possible for the students either to carry out the studies in one European country or construct the whole study programme by choosing the suitable modules from the European offer and that will be validated in each European country according to the Bologna declaration. The curriculum is free of charge and available to all Youth and Social Circus Schools, universities and NGO´s in social and education sector that would like to expand their activity to the youth and social circus instructor education. The programme includes a model for validation of prior formal, non formal and informal learning and a model for a personal study plan that supports both employability and mobility in Europe. This project bases on research and cooperation between four European universities, five social circus schools and European youth and social circus network Caravan. As the youth and social circus will also be part of official research based teacher education programmes in higher education institutions, the quality and the esteem of youth and social circus training is expected to rise significantly. This way the project improves and extends the offer of European high quality learning opportunities.The participants are social circus school trainers, pedagogical experts and social circus directors from 5 partner countries (Finland, Sweden, Ireland, France and Chezh republic), including the project partners: universities, youth and social circus schools and the international association «CARAVAN », a network in Brussels that gathers 22 youth and social circus schools, coming from 14 European countries and 1 Middle East country, Afganistan. The end-users, the young students of youth and social circus will also take part in planning, evaluation and developing the programme.As result of the project the future youth and social circus instructors, circus schools, various social and educational professionals will benefit from this project, enabling them to be equally educated in Europe as circus trainers, in order to work efficiently with the young and with different learners as well as to expand their employment potential around Europe. Due to the new European wide offer of youth and social circus pedagogy, the most benefitting target group are the young, notably those who are at the risk of marginalization, who will have new opportunities to join the Youth and Social Circus where the participants can develop various skills and potentials and maintain their physical and mental wellbeing in a learning environment that is professional, sportive, artistic, safe and fun. By transferring their new personal strengths and potentials gained at youth and social circus to other life contexts in education, employment and personal life, the young have better chances to join their societies as active citizens, that in turn will have a positive impact on the inclusion and harmonization of the population at local, regional, national and European levels.

Youth and social circus organisations do not regard circus solely as an art form, but also as a medium for the education of people and the social integration of people with fewer opportunities, with special needs or marginalised (prisoners, old people, immigrants, minority groups,...). It is a universal tool presenting many pedagogical assets. The development of this rapidly growing sector as led to a new profession: youth and social circus instructor. Several short-term non formal vocational trainings are already offered in this fields and the time has come for a professionalization of the sector.Consequently, this Strategic Partnership project gathered employers and pedagogical experts of youth and social circus organisations along with universities and higher school academic experts in order to:- Analyse the educational offer in youth and social circus pedagogy in each partner country and address the needs of this sector- Create European frameworks of competences laying the foundations for a European long-term training programme that is better aligned to the needs and opportunities offered by the labour market- Develop the basis of short-term post secondary school qualifications in accordance with European Qualifications Framework in order to recognise and validate the knowledge, skills and competences acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning- Create pathways between non-formal and formal education through a cross sectoral partnership linking circus organisations, higher schools and universities- Encourage European active citizenship and intercultural exchanges- Improve the pedagogical quality of youth and social circus work for the benefit of the end-users, i.e. young people with fewer opportunities, people with special needs, old people, immigrants,...This process will enable the sector to create more job opportunities and to validate the qualifications of professionals active in the field, and hence work towards an official recognition of their qualifications.