If Luck Will Come

A beautiful and powerful documentary following Zahra and Zalgai, two children growing up in Afghanistan, where childhood ends at the age of 14.

As one of the few children's NGOs still active in Afghanistan, MMCC is proud to have contributed to this amazing film, directed by Camille Bildsøe and produced by Sofie Husum Johannesen at ELK FILM. The film will have its World Premiere at CPH:DOX this week. After the second screening, on Monday 16^th March, MMCC’s Executive Director, Berit Muhlhausen, will join a panel discussion about children in conflict and war zones, and how play can be crucial for their well-being, development, and mental health. More info & booking: https://cphdox.dk/film/if-luck-will-come

Management Workshop & Female Leadership

Last month, we concluded an inspiring workshop in Uzbekistan with our Afghan colleagues. The week-long meeting focused on their remarkable resources and the inclusion of girls and female leaders in all levels and aspects of the activities. One of the key themes was how our Social Circus networks in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and beyond can actively support one another within a dynamic and synergistic ecosystem. Following this workshop, our Afghan team held annual team leader workshops in Kabul (for male and female team leaders separately). These gatherings are unique opportunities for improvement, integration, collaboration, exchange of skills, and further nationalization of our work in Afghanistan.

20 Female & 20 Male - 40 Teams in Afghanistan

A record number of Social Circus Team Leaders, and a record number of teams led by female team-leaders. We have never had so many active teams in Afghanistan. Social Circus is especially important in this new era of Afghanistan, where entertainment and joy have been radically reduced, yet are more needed than ever, particularly for girls. Our improved expansion system makes it easier, safer, and more efficient to create and support semi-independent integrated units that are more sustainable and capable of making the impossible possible.

Bangladesh - more Teams and a Stronger Focus on Girls

In Bangladesh as well, the girls are growing in both numbers and activities. With new female team-leaders added, we now have 3 dedicated girls’ teams and 3 boys’ teams in the Rohingya camps plus one mixed team in the host community. Our biggest challenge so far (besides funding) has been the inclusion of girls. After inspiring workshops by the Flying Seagull Project team during their performing tour, facilitated by us and our local partner KOINONIA, the children and especially the girls gained many new skills and even confidence to perform: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTh6B4dk4fK

Due to an overall increased focus on girls’ inclusion, separation of boys and girls in the regular activities and working closer with the families, more parents are gradually allowing their daughters to participate in the social circus. As a direct result, in January, before the Ramazan started, Rohingya girls for the first time performed on stage. An important milestone and icebreaker to be hopefully followed by many more such events in the future. At the moment we have no project funding to support the activities in the Rohingya camps. Continuation therefore currently rely on donations: www.globalgiving.org/projects/circus-of-hope