European response to national needs in Circus Formation

The objective of the project is to deliver written resource and accredited trainings of Circus Pedagogy so its methods can be integrated into the work of Education, Health and Social sector.  
We will develop HANDBOOKS and COURSES reflecting on the common European and worldwide needs of these sectors as specialized ones to our national circumstances. We will make a COLLECTION OF VOCATIONAL ARTICLES and scientific studies, which support the evidence based teaching, so it proves why and on what way circus is an effective way to develop wide range of skills starting from basic competencies to higher level of fine motor control and nerve stimulation.  
It is an important objective of the project to get official recognition of these methods, so we also aim to accreditate our courses. Also very important objective of this project to adapt certain products to national circumstances and deliver them in NATIONAL LANGUAGE, so to serve the national needs and fill in a huge gap we faced, that often the therapists, teachers, conductors, sport instructors do not speak English, so they are not able to understand the English handbooks and articles, thus it would be seriously needed to their development.

As a result of this project, the products we develop and disseminate until 2021 August:
Book of functional juggling based on Craig Quat’s methods (English language, digital format)
Collection of articles and scientific evidences (English language, digital format, partial national translations)
Circus pedagogy handbook (Czech language, digital format)
Course ’Introduction to circus pedagogy for social circus workers’ (accreditation in Czech Rp.)
Manual of specialized vocational training in (social) circus  (Hungarian language, digital format)
Adapted introductory course for social circus pedagogy (accreditation in Hungary)
Functional juggling training (accreditation in Italy)
Book on cross-over of circus with traditional gymnastic theory (English and Italian language, digital format).

Circus pedagogy and its use in formal, informal education and healthcare is growing very fast in the last 10-15 years, as it is revealed how relevant improvement can be reached by using these colourful,  and exciting tools to enhance connections in the brain, stimulate nerve system, and develop learning skills, social skills and also in the quality of the movement by bringing to a higher level the gross and fine motor skills. (Research of Oxford University)
In the partner countries ’social circus’ – which means to use circus pedagogy in social context with marginalized groups and disadvantaged groups or with low function population- has already a history of 15-20 years. Each of the partners are active on this field, doing the same – if we look at it from outside - but doing it on different ways if we look it closer. We provide circus courses and teach wide range of groups, we cooperate in Europe and we are part of the circus teachers community where we share and exchange good practices. Lately we have started to build programs to provide teacher’s training, and specialized vocational trainings, of which consolidation is in the focus of this project.
We are pioneers in some areas and definitely are pioneers in our countries. Each partner has their own speciality which brings relevant aspects to this project. This makes us complimentary to each other and able to complete our mission to create the handbooks and courses. We need each other to discuss the topics, reflect on each other's doubts and share the best methods and experience which will be realized in the form of peer viewing, joint staff trainings and common tests and feedback sessions.
The core content of each product is based on the same knowledge, so we can support each other to develop and test the specific products. However in each country there is a different request and need emerging so the products has to be adapted properly and be different to be reflect to national needs. So we actually use the international strength and knowledge to produce common European knowledge and also to create adapted national products.
The TARGET GROUPS of this work are then the circus educators, professionals of health, social and educational sector. We have started to work with these institutions about 10 years ago and each of the partners has experience working with their patients and students. Being successful on this area now we can not serve the whole grown industry, we have to be able to train the instructors and teachers, so our main and primarily target group now the teachers in both formal and informal education as working with high function population or with low-function/special need clients.

Educircation is the most significant of our international networks and cooperations, which unites 7 countries.
Educircation provided high quality trainings to professionals working in the field of social, youth and community circus. The aim was to improve the quality of circus teaching, and the cooperation of social work in relation to contemporary circus around Europe. Our trainers were provided with lifelong development opportunities and intensive training through networked training. During this project for teachers of circus techniques 7 workshops, 14 joint staff trainings and 2 organizational partner meetings were held for professional circus teachers and artists in order to share skills, information and experience among the network and beyond. The Network is supported by Erasmus+, The EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport.

Publications, conclusion documents and more about this project on the website: