The circus as a tool to build a future for youth

In 2020, South Africa had a population of more than 59 million. Almost one third, or 32.6% of South Africans aged between 15 and 64, were unemployed between January and March 2021, a record since the introduction of these quarterly statistical surveys. This situation has a direct impact on households, with 89% faced with food insecurity, while 73% of adults have stopped their education before secondary school. There are many school dropouts and a significant number of these young people from slums are caught up in juvenile delinquency. 

To address this critical situation and the need to reintegrate young people in society, Zip Zap Circus works to develop a program specially designed to meet the aspirations of disadvantaged groups, using the potential of the circus to offer them an opportunity to achieve fulfilment in working life. 
 

After being a winner of the Sport and Development call for projects in 2021, Zip Zap Circus is one of the winners of the Impact 2024 International program co-financed with Paris 2024.    

The winning project aims to improve the material conditions of circus practices to enable the integration, training and professionalization of adolescents in precarious situations in South Africa. More specifically, it will replace equipment with equipment compliant with safety standards. It will also strengthen training in the maintenance of circus equipment, safety, and the physical preparation of students and professionals.

Safety: improved safety for young people during training with standard-compliant equipment suitable for the ages, sizes and levels of young people;
Training: improvement in teaching performance and better continuity in teaching through an adequate amount of higher quality equipment;
Professionalization: an increase in the annual number of performances through new professional equipment for an advanced and professional level.