Social Circus debuts today in Cuenca

Circo Social debuta hoy en Cuenca

Ecuador opens today the first Social circus tent in the city of Cuenca. This project, led by the vice presidency, seeks to rescue children and young people in vulnerable situations.

About 19,000 children and young people of low resources that live on the streets or live in risk of become homeless; have been involved in this project, which started a year and a half ago and  is referenced by the Cirque du Soleil of Canada.

Thanks to the collaboration between the state and municipalities, circus arts teachers and social workers, young people have learned the values of solidarity, self-esteem, pride of ownership, achieving goals, giving them tools for life. Under the project, the boys receive psycho-social support, are trained in values, they give them self-esteem, safety and teamwork.

This is the first of six tents that are expected to open this year. Follow this one, the circus will continue in Loja, Tena, Quito, Guayaquil and Manta; each will invest about $ 1.2 million in infrastructure and equipment.

This Friday a show with 75 people on stage will be offered, including 22 teenagers from Quito and Cuenca and other circuses from China, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico and Canada.

Ecuador’s Vice President Lenin Moreno will like to open up the artistic range and put some music in the social circus, so they are working to implement symphony orchestras and choirs composed of 200 children and youth in vulnerable situations or not.