Salto Vitale

Youth circuses play an important role in the empowerment of deprived youth in Ethiopia. Their free shows are set in football fields or market places, include a wide variety of circus arts and attract thousands of people. What is unique, though, are the messages woven through each performance. Through comedy, acrobatics, live music and circus acts, powerful ideas are making their way to the public. These messages focus on hiv/aids awareness education and issues like female genital mutilation, girls abduction and child marriages. But by far the greatest success can be seen in the lives of the circus kids. Their story is one of personal triumph over poverty and disillusionment; to pursue one's dreams and taking one's chances despite the harsh reality of the children's life.

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