Universidad Mesoamericana sent a report about their activities:

 

We worked with two groups, with 15 persons each, boys and girls. There were 2 classes per week for each group, alternating the days we worked with them.
Each class started with a routine to improve the physical condition and to encourage the kids to take care of their bodies and generate discipline. They understood the need for a strong and flexible body, prepared to perform the techniques that they experienced later. Those routines consisted of individual and group exercises of cardio, strength, flexibility and elasticity. It was interesting to see the kids adapt to the different capabilities and rythms of ther classmates when they were performing each activity.
Acrobatics and handstand. With this, the kids started gaining concience of their bodies, its development and movement through space in a different way, giving an objective to the physical exercises.
Juggling and object manipulation. We prepared the kids with concentration and coordination games, before working with objects. Juggling, being the easiest techniques to start, generated trust, patience and perseverance.
For the end of the workshop we proposed a final presentation with the kids, so they could show the skills that they learned. This demonstrates confidence, discipline and goal achievement.
We obtained the permission to work with both groups at the same time, so they could rehearse the play and practice the different group numbers, that were hula hoop, juggling, human pyramids and skipping.
Finally,  this play was presented by the kids from the circus arts workshop. After that, we continued with classes for a couple of weeks. The kids are very interested in continuing this proyect, because it worked for them as a form of expressing themselves and progressing towards a better way of living.

Observations

At first, there was a sense of rejection of the activities, specially from the boys group and towards the physycial exercises, specially when it involved team work. On the contrary, there was a great interest in the circus activities, so we decided to use them as an incentive.

With this, the kids worked better and faster with their classmates, so they could have more time for the circus activities.