Dear Friend,

We (Berit and David) have just spent an incredible month in Bangladesh, working closely with our local partner, KOINONIA, as well as our six social circus teams and trainers in Rohingya refugee camps and host communities. It was inspiring to be back in the field—supervising, conducting workshops, and witnessing the impact of MMCC’s efforts firsthand.

Collaboration with Clowns Without Borders

During our visit to Bangladesh, together with our local partner, we also facilitated Clowns Without Borders Spain’s performance tour in the Rohingya camps and slums in Dhaka.

We are both very impressed and very grateful for the incredible work of our friends from Clowns Without Borders. During their tour they brought joy and smiles to over 10,000 audiences through their shows.

Beyond their inspiring shows, they also conducted workshops for our children and trainers, teaching them valuable skills. They also generously donated a lot of circus equipment to our teams in Bangladesh, ensuring the joy continues to spread. This was our first collaboration with Clowns Without Borders, and we look forward to continuing our work with them in Bangladesh and beyond. To support MMCC activities in Bangladesh, you can donate to our campaign "Circus of Hope Bangladesh": https://goto.gg/62256

What is Happening in Afghanistan?

Despite Afghanistan's challenges and restrictions, MMCC continues to develop its network and operational systems. Our 37 social circus teams in 17 provinces (from which 14 are female-led) simultaneously and semi-independently conduct regular weekly rehearsing, social games, and various educational and social activities for over a thousand girls and boys. The teams are focal points of fun and hope for their communities and are getting increasing support and acceptance. In their weekly Zoom meetings we learn many new surprising stories and here are a few of them from this month:

Roya Circus (a female-led team) and Daranoor Circus, both based in Nangarhar province, were able to perform together for the first time. This marked not only their first joint performance but also the first time that girls could perform in front of a mixed audience of boys and girls.

Yakawlang Circus, a female-led team in the central highlands of Bamyan, offers more than just juggling and various collective games. The team leader also provides English classes. Team leaders have full freedom to include any subjects and activities they choose, without any top-down orders. We are often amazed by how innovative, wise, and resourceful our team leaders are in supporting their children and communities.

Radmanesh Circus, which consists mainly of disabled students in Herat province, is led by Abdulrahim (the one in the wheelchair). He has been highly effective in convincing locals to support children's well-being by funding new circus T-shirts, food, and improvements to the children's playground. He also assisted Helmand Circus in supporting another disabled person in Helmand.

Badakhshan Circus, led by a young female team leader in Fayzabad, reduced its activities in December and January due to threats from new government restrictions. However, in the past few weeks, with support from her students' parents and the local community, she has gradually regained confidence and resumed her work, now engaging an even larger number of children.

All the junior artists of Momtaz Circus in Ghor province have received a 'VIP haircut' while juggling! Their video has gone viral, and now more hair salons are inviting them to come and juggle. The entrepreneurial spirit of this team and their positive approach manifests in various ways, from performing and entertaining children of earthquake victims while distributing food packages to participating in celebrations and national events.

'Fly to your dreams, don't believe in chains!' This poem was recently posted on Badakhan's FB page along with this photo. Our Social Circus community has become a forum and a new youth subculture with a very constructive and ambitious spirit, especially in the most difficult situations, particularly for girls. In this forum, besides the weekly Zoom meetings, they have WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, Dropboxes, and access to different online material such as information, instructions, and activity reports to inspire and motivate each other. Spanning thousands of kilometers across 17 provinces, with different languages and cultures, they share one very important thing: HOPE. A single poem tells it so well: 'Fly to your dreams, don't believe in chains!'

To support our network in Afghanistan please visit this link: https://goto.gg/51330

Sophia's Garden Concert

Join us on Saturday, June 14th, at 14:00 in Trier, Germany, for Sophia’s 8^th Garden Concert a special fundraising event "Bringing Laughter to Children of War." Sophia began her fundraising efforts for MMCC at just seven years old, and her passion continues to grow. If you'd like to attend or participate whether as an audience member, volunteer musician, or circus artist please, reach out to smhjansen26@gmail.com. We would love to see you in Trier.

MMCC Membership for 2025

We are so grateful for your generous donation toward last year’s membership fee! Your support through the annual membership fee not only helps us access vital governmental and international resources but also enables us to officially fundraise and collect donations as a registered international charitable organization. This, in turn, allows us to expand our efforts, reach more children, and bring even more joy, hope, and opportunities to communities in need. Your generosity has been truly invaluable, and we look forward to having you with us throughout 2025.

2025's Membership payment link: https://buy.stripe.com/00gcQi3pQaVge5y8wL

Help Us Spread the Word!

Please support us by spreading the word and sharing this email on your social media. Every share helps us reach more people, bring joy to more children, and make a greater impact!

We sincerely thank you all for your support and would love to hear from you! Your feedback and suggestions are invaluable in helping us improve our work.

Our best regards

Berit and David