Beirut: Ten days ago a bomb killed three and injured 16 and today at least four were killed and 38 injured. The attacks seem to be targeted at Lebanese secret police, army and christian politicians.
Me and the juggler Caspar Sylwan go to Lebanon in one week. This at a time when most foreigners avoid Lebanon. The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends people not to go there.
We go to continue the work with the Circuna Team of Trainers - 20 young people from Palestine refugee camps all over Lebanon (300 000+ Palestine refugees in Lebanon today), who need more stimuli to develop as performers and teachers. We bring unicycles, juggling material and acrobat-mats, as well as a sound system. This is a SIDA-supported project and a cooperation between Clowns without Borders, Sweden and Al-Jana/ARCPA, Lebanon.
I feel that going there now is important as it keeps up the moral of the group - we promised to come in spite of an unstable situation. Knowing what the Team-members risk and sacrifice to be in the project puts things in perspective, too. Going brings stability for the group, brings continuity to the process, brings an injection of humanity, peaceful ambition and fun to kids who suffer the consequences of political instability the most.
The risk of us being hurt by car bombs is very small. Beirut is a big town and people live there as usual.
Perhaps most importantly: I so look forward to seeing the Team again! All the smiles and hugs, their expectations for the future and their pride of the work. I will evaluate their development from the physical training they’ve got since November and initiate more artistic work, towards creating characters and making shows. I know they look forward to this. Me too! I just hope we have time to do everything we want. Car bombs surely will slow us down.
