Community Relations
Cirque du Monde
Cirque du Monde is one of the greatest sources of pride for Cirque du Soleil. Set in motion in 1995, this programme is now operating in more than 50 communities throughout the world in partnership with Jeunesse du Monde, Oxfam International and many community organizations recognized in their milieu for the quality of their work with young people.
Cirque du Monde does not claim to be a panacea for all social problems. Nor is it an entertainment designed to make young people forget the difficulties of their situation for the duration of a workshop. Cirque du Monde enables young people to achieve their full potential. It is an opportunity for its participants to experience positive personal growth and can be a catalyst in boosting their self-confidence and their sense of personal identity.
The pedagogical approach of Cirque du Monde is founded on the crossroads of circus arts and social intervention. At that nexus we create a training curriculum centered on respect, safety and pleasure. At the same time we set incremental, proportioned challenges in circus training techniques for young people. This develops better physical conditioning and opens up avenues of expression and personal growth.
The impact of Cirque du Monde goes beyond individual benefits. Working as a group the participants learn about cohesion, teamwork and respect for peers. Its effects are also visible at the community level through reconciliation between opposing groups of young people, change in the perception of the community toward youth at risk and the implementation of a dialogue between the community and its young people.