“After a long night in the bus, I set foot in Ljubljana so well-rested. I had the contact of Skala’s association thanks to Ophelie. Helping by an old map, I managed, somehow, to meet them! Zef, the circus project manager, and all his team received me with open arms. I was going to stay 2 weeks with them. I started to discover how works the association ; participating into circus activities : I helped children, assisted teachers during their classes, I led workshops, and managed to create moments of pedagogical exchange with circus teachers. The circus school offer 2 social classes per week. It’s open to everyone and free. Children are around 5 and 15 years old. Everyone come to train and learn what he wants and teachers advise, help, guide them and share their knowledge. It was during an afternoon in a poor neighborhood that I truly realized the importance of social work.

3 days a week the Skala’s minibus is coming at 3pm at the foot of those big and grey buildings. When we arrived, the weather was rainy and only one boy was waiting at us in the square. He helped us to take all the material out of the van: tables, chairs, games, table football, pens, balls, gas and coffee for mothers who will cook it and share it while children play! During 3 hours, we played with them, spoke, animated workshops,… Kids know the team which is here to support them. It’s like a big family and every time the minibus comes even if it’s snowing or raining and the people from the neighborhood know it!

Circus activities are less and less present to leave space for others and to concentrate them into Skala’s premises. I spent this afternoon there, speaking how I could, playing, enjoying, living! When this wonderful 6 years old girl came to me and hug me so strong, I realized how our work there was important!”