Home-grown circus kids

A Port Moresby based circus is providing a lifeline for young Papua New Guineans.

Aged from 16 to 20, the youngsters were selected by the PNG Circus in a talent identification program about two years ago.

Training at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, the eight have now performed in balancing acts and fire shows at major city events, as well as around the country at places including Mt Hagen and Kundiawa.

Freddy Kamo, 18, is one of the performers and says the circus has given him purpose and has provided him with the opportunity to get off the streets.

The PNG Circus is a small troupe that is hired to perform at corporate and government functions, community shows and festivals.

It’s supported under the

NCD Active City Development Program and headed by Argentinians Mariana Silva and Juan Cruz Bracamonte, who have both travelled the globe teaching circus performance.

They have been on a selfdescribed ‘world tour’ since 2003, performing their own show, Mandragora Circo (mandragoracirco.com.ar), in countries as diverse as India, Kenya, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

They came to PNG in 2018 and have decided to stay longer, seeing the positive impact that the circus can have for young people in PNG.

You can see more about the PNG Circus on Facebook.