Blue Heart Circus in Aqaba

Under the patronage of Jordanian Minister of Culture Haifa Al-Najjar, Red Noses - Jordan, in partnership with Safe Hands for Rehabilitation and Training and in collaboration with the Our Lady of Peace Center - Aqaba Branch and the Aqaba International School, launched the third mission of the Blue Circus Heart Project at the Aqaba International School on the evening of Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The event was attended by several children and their families, as well as influencers and opinion leaders, including the Director of Aqaba Culture directorate, Tareq Al-Badoor, MP Tamam Riyati, the Director of Red Noses - Jordan, Dara Madanat, and the General Manager of Safe Hands for Rehabilitation and Training, Jiman Ammari.

During this introductory and interactive session, the aforementioned institutions and their scope of work in Jordan were introduced. The discussion also focused on the importance of inclusion for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with their peers in a safe environment through social and artistic activities. The impact of these activities in enhancing children's ability to communicate with their surroundings, increasing their self-confidence, and developing their social and artistic skills was highlighted, reinforcing the concept of inclusion within their local communities.

A dialogue was opened with opinion leaders and the parents of participating children, who shared stories of their children's experiences and the tangible changes they observed as a result of the activities conducted over the past few days. Attendees praised the work of the foundation and the significance of such specialized programs in developing children's abilities, promoting their inclusion, and providing a healthy environment for them to integrate into society, especially in governorates that typically receive less attention than major cities.

The Blue Circus Heart Project aims to promote social inclusion for children with autism spectrum disorder aged 7-14 through a holistic approach targeting children, parents, service providers, and the local community. This is achieved through a variety of activities, including a four-day circus workshop for children with ASD and their peers, a Humor relief workshop, a toolkit training workshop for parents and service providers, and an awareness and advocacy session to inform the local community and opinion leaders about the importance of inclusion for children with ASD. The project also features a circus performance presented by the children to the local community.

The project consists of several missions carried out between March 2024 and February 2025 in the governorates of Aqaba, Salt, and Madaba. This month marked the implementation of the first mission dedicated to Aqaba Governorate.