Galway Community Circus, in partnership with New Horizon Athlone, the Gateway Youth Project UBU, Foróige and the Athlone Community Taskforce, delivered a transformative two-week circus programme in Athlone to support the physical and mental wellbeing of refugee youth and young people in Direct Provision.
The programme, called ‘Big Tops to Big Dreams’, culminated in a vibrant event on Saturday 10th of August at Burgess Park which featured a colourful parade, circus workshops, and a captivating performance titled ‘Resilience’.
Funded by the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts, ‘Big Tops to Big Dreams’ brought together youth participants, circus and arts educators, youth workers, translators, and community partners to explore circus skills, performance techniques, and engage in meaningful discussions around learning.
Led by experienced circus educator Pete Duncan, the programme provided an enriching environment where participants could learn, express themselves, and build lasting connections with their peers.
“We are immensely proud of what the young people have achieved through this programme,” said Pete Duncan.
“The performance of ‘Resilience’ was a true testament to their hard work, creativity, and the strong bonds they’ve formed. Circus has given them a powerful platform to express themselves and build confidence. I work all across Europe and this is one of the best teams and best events of the last decade.”
The event kicked off with a lively parade, leading participants and attendees to the big top tent at Burgess Park. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as participants led circus workshops for their peers, allowing attendees to try their hand at various circus skills.
The highlight of the afternoon was the performance, scripted and compered by one of the young performers, that showcased the skills and creativity the participants had developed over the course of the programme.
“New Horizon has been working with displaced people in Athlone for 24 years and we can safely say that this was the best event ever,” said Gerry Callaghan, Chair of New Horizon Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support.
“These young people have been trained by their life experiences, both outside and inside Ireland, to make themselves invisible. It’s so incredibly empowering to put on stilts and swagger around the town. They will cherish this memory for all their days.”
“The skills our young people learned in a mere 12 hours were skills they will take forward in life,” said Shelly Dunican, Youth Officer at Gateway Youth Project UBU.
“’Resilience’ was a fitting name as the young people who came in on day one had grown significantly in confidence by day six. As a youth worker I am honoured to have been a part of this experience with them and I learned just as much as they did.”
“The ‘Resilience’ circus skills show was a great way to showcase and highlight these young people’s newfound skills and was a big way to end their circus journey for this year.”
Lynn Carroll, Executive Director at Galway Community Circus, added, “This programme has been an incredible journey for everyone involved.
“It was truly heart-warming to see the joy and pride on the faces of the participants as they performed, and in their families as they watched.”
“‘Big Top to Big Dreams’ has been an invaluable experience in helping these young people feel more connected to their community and more confident in themselves.”
The success of the programme would not have been possible without funding from the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts, and the collaborative efforts of New Horizon Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support, the Gateway Youth Project UBU, Foróige and Athlone Community Taskforce.
These partnerships have played a crucial role in ensuring that the programme provided a supportive and inclusive environment for all participants.
