Escola de Circo Pequeno Tigre - Núcleo São Gonçalo - RJ Escola de Circo Pequeno Tigre - Núcleo Rio de Janeiro - RJ Little Tiger Circus School-  São Gonçalo Site - RJ The Little Tiger Circus School (Escola de Circo Pequeno Tigre ECPT) is part of the Social Programe Crescer e Viver (Grow and Live). Which supports the United Samba School of Porto da Pedra which started its activities in January 2002 with an art-education project in the social circus area. This project uses a circus-arts methodology in combination with other artistic and cultural programs (dance, capoeira, music, theater and literature) for the integral development and promotion of citizenship with children and youth at risk. In addition, the ECPT dedicates special attention to networks related to the implementation of their activities, the optimization of the care to their attendees and the expansion of their capacity through other mediums in society. They aim to develop public policies which guarantee and promote human, economic, social and cultural rights. In a short time the ECPT has turned into one of the most respected and recognized circus programs in Brazil, supporting 80 children and youth in São Gonçalo city. The activities developed at the project are free and take place at the CIEP Pastor Valdemar Zarro, six days a week. Besides the circus activities the attendee’s enjoy medical care and attend debates on issues related to citizenship such as environment, drugs, violence, rights, sex and education. The school’s main concern is the development and success of their activities. Therefore, they promote weekly meetings with all their teachers, where they get to discuss the class-planning, the problems and ways to improve the education of the youth. There are also monthly meetings to make evaluations of all the activities. Another important characteristic is the existence of a co-supportive commission, where they discuss the responsibility for the activities and the students themselves can participate, conducting the management of the institution in a democratic and open way. The ECPT is also in charge of the creation of a circus troupe, in which most of the participants are at the National Circus School improving their skills. The troupe gives presentations at various sites in Rio de Janeiro and even outside of the state. The youth then receives financial support, which enables them to help their families. In 2005 the Grow and Live Program was selected as a finalist for the Criança Esperança (Children’s Hope) at the Ministry of Culture for the 2005 Itaú-Unicef Award.  In 2003 Dreams Brasil donated R$ 6.750 (US$ 3,940) to the development of the school’s activities;  In 2004 Dreams Brasil donated R$ 33.606 (US$ 19,768) for the creation of the Rio de Janeiro site;   In 2005 Dreams Brasil donated R$ 20.000 (US$ 11,765)  to the development of the school’s activities;   In 2008 Dreams Brasil still gives financial support to the ECPT.

Escola de Circo Pequeno Tigre - Núcleo Rio de Janeiro – RJ

A project located in the center of Rio de Janeiro dedicated to helping street children and other at-risk youth through social circus activities.

In 2004, the Little Tiger Circus School (ECPT) began a process of expansion. A series of initiatives were begun in the city of Rio de Janeiro . Among those initiatives was a social circus program modeled after the successful social circus project in S ão Gonçalo. The program was launched on October 12th, Brazil ’s Children’s Day.   The Rio de Janeiro branch of ECPT is located in the Praça Onze (Square 11) community, next to Marquês da Sapucaí, the central point of the most important Brazilian celebrations, Carnaval. This location can be considered the pinnacle of the convergence of art and popular culture as a tool for social intervention, which is, not ironically, one of the principal aims of ECPT.   According to the honorable judge Dr. Siro Darlan of the 1st Vara da Infância e da Juventude of Rio de Janeiro, (the children’s protection court), an estimated 300 boys and girls live and/or hang out on the streets of downtown and the upper-class neighborhoods of the southern zone of Rio de Janeiro. Despite public policies developed by the state government and the hundreds of community initiatives throughout the city, the problem of street children remains unsolved.   ECPT - Nucleus of Rio de Janeiro is located on a large piece of land near the children’s court that was donated by the city. On the land, a Big Top was erected and two rooms for administrative activities and a bathroom were constructed. The program offers classes in social circus, dance, capoeira, and other subjects and serves nearly 80 youths each day.   The program also offers regular activities and visits with the participants’ families to further enhance its support of the community.   Working with the difficulties that surround street children and other at-risk youth continues to be the greatest challenge for the program, yet with careful perseverance, ECPT – Nucleus of Rio de Janeiro has managed to bring continuity and stability to its participants and each day is symbolic for the participants of being in a new place, living a new reality, and trying to survive in a new way.   With time, inspiration from the activities, and newly-aquired knowledge, the program’s youths have made significant improvements, which can be seen in many ways. Some of the most obvious accomplishments have been stronger solidarity among the group, improved access to health clinics and public assistance, increased school attendance and improved grades, and a reduction in hyperactive and aggressive behavior, as well as a reduction in domestic violence. In 2007 Dreams Brasil contributed R$ 10.000 (US$ 5,882) to the partial cost and maintenance of the scholarships given to the young participants of the new Trampoline Troupe project for Citizenship. This project aims to strengthen the productivity and social inclusion of the children who have participated in the Social Circus of Crescer e Viver (Grow and Live) through development of their skills through circus arts.

Website: www.crescereviver.org.br

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