Bringing Circus Magic to Palestinian Children

Since January 2026, we’ve been bringing “The Wonderland” to children across the West Bank. The show is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and created and performed by Palestinian artists. With acrobatics, storytelling and playful characters, it turns any space into a place where anything is possible.

Where we are now

We’ve now delivered 53 performances: 5 full performances of “The Wonderland” and 48 adapted performances. Together they have reached 12,418 children and community members. That is well beyond our original goal of 50 performances and 7,500 children, and we’re so proud of the team for getting there.

Full performances (1,280 children)

We presented 5 full shows, at our circus tent in Birzeit and at the Yalla Al Hadeeka Festival in Ramallah. Audiences included students from Al Montessori School, children from Art to Heart and Al Azareyeh, and patients from the Thalassemia Centre.

Adapted performances (11,138 children)

The full show needs a specific set-up and space, and it wasn’t always possible to bring children to us. So we adapted it into a lighter, mobile version and took it to them, with 48 performances in 19 communities. These included Jenin, Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, Tulkarem, Salfit, Jericho, and the refugee camps of Al Amari, Balata and Askar. Some shows were outdoors, so we adjusted the disciplines to suit open spaces.

Why we adapted

Movement restrictions and safety concerns made travel unpredictable. Schools also moved to distance learning for several weeks. Rather than pause, we went to the children. The adapted shows aren’t identical to the full experience, but they let us keep showing up, reach communities who couldn’t travel, and keep offering a safe, joyful space.

What it means
For many of the children, this is a rare moment to laugh, imagine and simply be a child. Whether it’s under a tent, in a school hall or in the open air, the circus becomes a space that feels safe and theirs. Audiences have left visibly moved, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who makes this possible.

Giving Tuesday 2026
If you’d like to support more children’s moments of joy, GivingTuesday is a great time to do it. GlobalGiving’s GivingTuesday 2026 campaign runs for 36 hours, from Dec 1 at 00:00 EST to Dec 2 at 12:00 EST, with a proportional match from GlobalGiving. Mark the date & Support us!

Thank you for being part of this journey.