Circus Somaliland: a Tool for Awareness Raising
Introduction About the Circus Program
Circus Somaliland is community awareness, Art, creative and innovative program established in Somaliland at the beginning of 1997 with the support of Oxfam NOVIB (Dutch organization). It is the most well-known youth program that HAVOYOCO runs. Circus Somaliland disseminates messages on social issues through their shows, which they travel throughout the country. Circus Somaliland performs its shows free of charge to reach a large number of audiences in different regions, districts and villages. Mainly the Focus of the messages is on civic education and other awareness programs. The major messages that the program delivers include: illegal migration, community education during elections, education, small arms control, landmines problems, HIV/AIDS, peace education, human rights advocating the rights of minorities, ,child rights and child protection, child sensitive social protection, democracy empowerment and the creation of opportunities for younger children to become self-sufficient, in which girls constitute an important target group.
Circus drama troupe
Theatre group composed of ten young actors by doing dramas by themselves and sometimes with the assistance of the circus scriptwriter. The theatre group perform their scripted play in public and social halls of Somaliland. Their performance of scripted play brings together large number of children, youth and adults to convey massages through play, creative dance and dramatized poetry. This is the tool that Circus Somaliland mainly uses to educate the public about all their social problems.
Other channels the tool use include:
Mass media like TVs , Radio, newspapers and IEC materials .
Circus school
Circus school provides training for youth and children who show interest in the circus with the support of their parents, no matter which clan, Region, village or social background they belong to. Now there are 18 girls participating in the circus school. These 18 girls are from poor and destitute families. And by participating in circus training they receive education (school fees, school uniform and education material)
Kamal Hassan, previously a performer himself and now the circus project manager, describes the world of the circus performer. “We called the circus the school of life. The circus man will not have contact with bad habits like chewing, smoking, sniffing glue illegal migration …”Above all else, education is the priority for circus members, who have to attend school every day. This is followed by daily practice sessions. Kamal recounts the ethos that circus members were expected to live by: “[we were told] you guys should understand if you don’t love education you don’t love circus. You should have skill and professionalism to support yourself and your family”.Circus graduates go on to pursue a range of activities. Many of Kamal’s peers now work for INGOs, LNGOs and Government departments. It is not uncommon for graduates to go on to university.
However Kamal is clear that confidence is one of the main outcomes for circus graduates. “A child like I used to be couldn’t stand in front of 3,000 people. Now I have Confidence to perform dramas, public speeches and communicate messages”.