Social Circus blossoms and grows in Afghanistan:
Two challenging years have passed since the crucial change of power in Afghanistan. In MMCC we are both happy and proud that we have managed not only to continue but also to large scale grow and expand our social circus under the new circumstances. As a result of our new decentralized model, in which the role of MMCC has changed to host, facilitate and support a network and movement of youth with each their own circus team, MMCC in Afghanistan now consist of 26 Social Circus teams in 10 provinces. Each team, with each its own unique identity, self-made logos, and Facebook pages, includes 30+ children and a youth leader who trains them and organizes public performances and workshops for other children as well. Six of the teams are led by female team leaders, and one team is led by a disabled team leader who from his wheelchair empowers children with diverse abilities to juggle and have fun. After each 4-month cycle or ‘batch’ of activities, we invite new team leaders to join the network. Subject to funding, the MMCC circus network in Afghanistan is thereby expected to further grow to 40 teams in 20 provinces within the coming years. What makes us extra happy is that this year so far more than 50% of the children in the activities are girls.
We appreciate your continued support of our activities especially in these difficult times.
For more support you can contribute to our 2 fundraising:
1- https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/sharing/
2- https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/backtolife/
And to read more in details about our activities please visit our latest newsletter: https://conta.cc/3Kyxkvf
Dear Friends,
Since August Afghanistan has been going through radical political changes and is now facing enormous difficulties that have naturally also affected our organization and our projects.
As soon as we received the permissions from the new government in Afghanistan in December we started activities including workshops and juggling competitions in 7 provinces (10 locations) in Kabul, Herat, Ghor, Bamyan, Nangarhar, Balkh, and Khost. Hundreds of children and youth participated in regional workshops, competitions, and performances. This time, the juggling competitions and how we organized them were totally decentralized and mostly carried out by the youth themselves.
Over 170 girls and boys in two different morning and afternoon shifts are attending our winter program in Herat province right now. Our winter program provides different school subjects, together with entertaining activities such as social circus and social games. The students get a nutritious warm meal every day too. This is a unique opportunity, especially for the underprivileged children to turn the cold winter season into a happy time of fun with art and culture.
Children of Afghanistan have a severe need for experiencing a happy childhood, laughter, joy, and educational entertainment now more than ever. We hope the international community, including governments, humanitarian organizations, and individuals pay more attention to this emergency situation and do not forget Afghanistan and its children.
Dear Friend,
Thank you for supporting the children of Afghanistan. Your generous donations are so essential in bringing joy, laughter, and hope to so many children and youth in Afghanistan.
All donations up to $50 will be matched at 50% this week: www.globalgiving.org/projects/BackToLife
Millions of children & youth in Afghanistan need to be hopeful, joyful, positive, inspired & make a bright future. The war, poverty & coronavirus are imposing increasing depression & hopelessness. MMCC for 19 years has been the major source of fun, creating peaceful culture & capacity-building children & youth. Because of the pandemic, we have lost a big part of our donor support at this crucial time. Join us in supporting our NGO & give a unique chance to the children and youth of Afghanistan.
Your donation finances performances, events, capacity building, & various workshops e.g. climate action & civil society activities for thousands of children and youth. The indirect beneficiaries especially by the national & international media will be millions. Also, MMCC continues & sustains its operations on Afghan hands with a new strategy by supporting the youth who grow up in our ambient & continue activities on their own to keep being a source of joy & fun for millions of children & youth.
We highly appreciate your contributions and spreading the word and the link: www.globalgiving.org/projects/BackToLife
on your social media.
Thank you for your support.
Links:
Dear Friend,
Thank you for supporting the children of Afghanistan in these difficult times.
Your generous donation supported us to pioneer various new activities which helped Afghanistan in the most difficult time of the pandemic. These activities also motivated more donors to join supporting our work and therefore rapidly increasing the results. Since the start of our “Coronavirus Response in Afghanistan” by your contributions together with the additional supports we have:
These initial activities inspired UNICEF in making a partnership project with us in further educating children of IDP camps in Kabul and Herat and also producing and distributing hygiene material and equipment in their camps. Here you can see a short video about it: https://youtu.be/vNvmZ3Gzqxc
Now children of Afghanistan need to get “Back to Life” and start understanding and fitting themselves into the new normal life. The pandemic has deteriorated the already difficult situation. We need to cheer up, stop depression, and with all the COVID-19 measures taken seriously, start a happy joyful productive life. We are now focusing on developing and producing campaigns, performances, and workshops with the main focus on “Back to Life”.
The bigger sponsors are restricted by their rigid mandates and can’t support fun and educational entertainment such as bringing smiles and cheerful activities. Therefore again we have to rely on individual donations. Our “Coronavirus Response in Afghanistan” is now focusing on “Back to Life” activities. We highly appreciate your contributions and spreading the word and the link: www.globalgiving.org/projects/Coronavirus-Afghanistan on your social media.
Thank you for your support.
Dear Friend,
Thank you for making a remarkable positive impact in the lives of so many children in such a difficult time. We have uploaded 50 more photos of the activities you have supported to watch and enjoy: www.globalgiving.org/projects/Best-Winter-Ever/photos
This “Best Winter Ever” was a fantastic time and the over 1100 children will never forget it. This has brought not only educational, artistic and cultural activities to the underprivileged kids but also a sense of belonging and taste of joyful childhood. In all the provinces and districts where the winter program was implemented we made inauguration celebrations and invited parents and community leaders to join.
As the Coronavirus is gradually becoming a problem in Afghanistan we had more focus on health and hygiene education mainly on the importance and correct way of hand-washing. We performed our popular hygiene show (with 2 meters tall dancing hands) and made Coronavirus information activities and hand-wash workshops for children, parents and Afghan media. Video: https://youtu.be/sSdkn0EYGZo
We have temporary stopped all the public activities because of Coronavirus and modified some activities in this difficult time to focus on informing children and families about coronavirus mainly through media.
We are still short in the funds, any contributions would be spent on maintaining expanding and improving our activities in Afghanistan for children.
Thank you for your generous support.
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