In a world facing increasing environmental and social challenges, from climate change to inequality, one of the most powerful tools we have for building resilience is community — and at the heart of strong communities are volunteers. Through my experience volunteering at a circus school, I've come to see how even unconventional forms of service, like teaching circus arts, can help weave stronger social bonds and foster resilience.
At first glance, a circus might not seem like a space for community empowerment. But in reality, it's a place of inclusion, creativity, and growth. As a volunteer instructor, I work with both kids and adults, teaching them circus skills like juggling, acrobatics, or clowning. These may sound like simple, fun activities — and they are — but they also build trust, cooperation, physical confidence, and emotional resilience. For many children, especially those facing social or economic difficulties, the circus becomes a space of empowerment where they learn to overcome fear, work as a team, and celebrate small wins.
Resilience isn't just about surviving a crisis. It's about having the networks, relationships, and confidence to adapt and grow. Circus teaches exactly that: when someone drops a juggling ball or stumbles during a trick, we don't see failure — we see a chance to try again, together. This mindset spills over into real life, especially for young people who carry these lessons into school, home, and beyond.
Beyond teaching, my role also involves performing, which helps bring joy, connection, and inspiration to the community. Performances are open to all, breaking down social barriers and creating shared moments of wonder — something deeply needed in uncertain times.
Volunteering in a circus school may not fix climate change or poverty directly. But it helps build the human foundation needed to face those problems together. It shows that resilience is not only about infrastructure or policy — it's also about joy, trust, creativity, and community.
Text: Zoe Guicquero
Zoe je dobrovoľníčkou programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v organizácii Cirkuskus pod koordináciou Bratislavského dobrovoľníckeho centra. Projekt bol podporený Európskou úniou.
