CIRCO DEL MUNDO (WORLD CIRCUS)

Organizational Vision
Citizen Base Strategy
How It's Working
Lessons Learned

Organizational Vision

Circo del Mundo (World Circus) is an citizen sector organization which uses the art of the circus to improve the quality of the education given to children and youngsters at risk, through non formal avenues which encourage individual, cultural and social development to overcome adverse life conditions. The work is mainly focused on stimulating mechanisms of protection in children and youngsters to reduce or stop the effects of the risk in their environment.

Circo del Mundo is having a direct impact on children, youngsters and communities living in poverty: it helps them to develop a sense of belonging, self-respect, fosters their sense of humor and builds support networks. The production of shows helps to build links with other social organizations with similar aims, thus generating strategic networks and extending the positive social impact.

Citizen Base Strategy

Taking advantage of the attraction of circus art, the World Circus presented its first show (Zircozita) in 1998. Since the beginning, the aim has been to show their art to a massive audience and to raise funds to sustain their social programs. In 2003, Circo del Mundo decided to open an expansion area in order to sell their products and extend their mission to other social issues. It decided to use the experience gained in the production of social shows and focus on the design of products to raise funds. This extension area helped the organization professionalize their operations and market their shows. Now, in line with their strategy for expansion, many citizen sector organizations request their circus workshops and/or training programs for their beneficiaries, companies hire Circo del Mundo to participate in their anniversary celebrations or events, and state agencies call them to join cultural or public events and producers hire Circo del Mundo to entertain corporate events. To increase their impact, sustain their community and extend their market, they have developed a market strategy including a website, brochures, and other media to advertise their activities. Throughout their first year of activity, the extension area raised 13% of the World Circus annual income. The resources raised by the extension area helps to keep on investing in social intervention programs, enhancing their quality and extending their scope of influence.

Each person or organization that hires Circo del Mundo not only receives a quality service but is also supporting their social mission. 60% of the resources raised are used to cover human resources, production and management costs while 40% is reinvested in supporting social intervention programs. Circo del Mundo has also started The Friendship Club, which consists of business people, artists and politicians who support Circo del Mundo’s achievements. The acting troupe of Circo del Mundo is composed of 16 youngsters from 18 to 22 years of age. The majority of these actors were direct beneficiaries of one of Circo del Mundos programs. Once at-risk youth, they decided to become professionals and earn a salary utilizing their art and skills.

How It’s Working

• In 1995, one of Circo del Mundo’s Inter-Active Clowning program worked with 300 children of 3 to 6 years of age, stimulating their sense of humor and involving educators and parents.

• At one of Circo del Mundo’s Field Circus Workshops, 250 children between the ages of 6 and 18 participated to focus on techniques to transform the individual’s social behavior.

• Circo del Mundo offers training to 17 children and youngsters who wish to continue their training in circus techniques for two and a half years.

• The Joy Squad provides support to the treatment of 100 ill children attended at public hospitals.

Lessons Learned

• Transmit the organization’s social mission in every business opportunity. It is important to show companies that they are not only hiring a quality service but contributing to the circus’ social work.

• Get your beneficiaries involved in your profit generating initiatives. Beneficiaries need to be involved in the services being sold, and need to have a clear salary, insurance policy and benefits.