Children affected by the hostilities in eastern Ukraine stage a circus play guided by a group of Swiss circus performers.
Over a week eight performers of the Swiss Lollypop Circus were teaching circus performance to Ukrainian children affected by the combat actions in eastern Ukraine. They prepared a circus performance where the children themselves will be the main characters. The project was presented by Olena Dvorytska, Project Manager, Member of International NGO “Soroptimist International” and NGO “Vulyk Idey – Smart Children Club” at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
“In our center children of different age groups – from preschool to high school children – train jointly with the Swiss performers. These are internally displaced children, children affected by the combat actions in eastern Ukraine, as well as children that require a particular treatment. Everyone is excited, they are all very persistent,” said Tetiana Verbytska, director of the National Ecological and Naturalistic Center for Students’ Youth. “Our children are diverse, they never thought that they would be able to stage a performance themselves with the support of the circus performers. We never thought we would get so many circus groups including jugglers, illusionists, fire eaters and clowns. It is the first time the children are able to discover their creative potential,” Olena Dvorytska added.
The tradition of similar projects goes back to the first Lollypop project for children in Romania in 2004. “We made a project with kids from poor families, or with kids who had no parents or lived on the street. We were making it for ten years. For two years we were coming to Popovo, Ukraine, where we made a project with the poor community. Kids are the same all over the world, they are the same as in Switzerland, they like to play. It is very important for their future life to see positive things and experience,” said Carola Rousse, Director of the Swiss Circus Lollypop.
The play will take place on September 9 at 14.00 at the National Ecological and Naturalistic Center for Students’ Youth in Kyiv (19 Vyshhorodska str.). Entrance is free. The circus tent can host about 250 people.