About
We inspire children to reach their potential, nurturing joy, & self-healing.
MMCC is a nonprofit humanitarian organization inspiring challenged children and youth in difficult conditions to discover their potential and take the lead in creating lasting, cheerful societies
Afghanistan
As of 2024, we support 38 male and female youth team leaders across 17 provinces, who run weekly social circus activities for over 2,000 girls and boys, along with events and performances for their communities.
Ethiopia
We support three social circus teams in Ethiopia’s Chencha region in collaboration with our partner NGO, Bright Star. Launched in 2002, this initiative has been steadily expanding ever since.
Bangladesh
We are strengthening our three social circus teams in Rohingya refugee camps and expanding into host communities, bringing more fun and educational entertainment to a wider audience.
Future Regions
Leveraging our experience, expertise, and established expansion network, we are now seeking additional partner NGOs to help extend our impact and reach more children globally.
Afghanistan
As of 2024, we support 38 male and female youth team leaders across 17 provinces, who run weekly social circus activities for over 2,000 girls and boys, along with events and performances for their communities.
Ethiopia
We support three social circus teams in Ethiopia’s Chencha region in collaboration with our partner NGO, Bright Star. Launched in 2002, this initiative has been steadily expanding ever since.
Bangladesh
We are strengthening our three social circus teams in Rohingya refugee camps and three social circus teams in the host communities, bringing more fun and educational entertainment to a wider audience.
Future Regions
Leveraging our experience, expertise, and established expansion network, we are now seeking additional partner NGOs to help extend our impact and reach more children globally.
Social Circus & Pedagogy
Social circus uses circus arts to empower individuals, build confidence, and foster community, especially among marginalized groups. It promotes inclusion, teamwork, and resilience through creative and physical skill-building.MMCC’s Social Circus Pedagogy is co-created with children in war and conflict zones, primarily in Afghanistan. Its key characteristics include:
- Psychosocial Support: Combines circus arts with play and storytelling to help children process trauma in a safe, supportive environment.
- Education and Life Skills: Teaches cooperation, resilience, and problem-solving through circus activities, often integrated with educational content.
- Community Healing: Builds trust and unity among children from diverse or divided communities in conflict zones.
- Adaptability: Operates in challenging environments, bringing mobile performances and workshops directly to affected areas.
Our numbers that speak
Since 2002, we have delivered educational entertainment shows, workshops, and events to over 4 million children, primarily in Afghanistan, as well as in Bangladesh and Ethiopia. As of 2024, we operate 38 teams across 17 provinces in Afghanistan, 3 in Ethiopia, and 6 in Rohingya camps and host communities in Bangladesh. Each team engages a minimum of 35 children in weekly activities, performances, and community events, reaching a larger audience and benefiting entire communities.
Our approach
Our Mission
- Provide tools, methods, and opportunities for children and youth to develop social skills, a healthy identity, a sense of belonging, and their full potential.
- Advocate for and promote environments that enable children and youth to thrive.
- Collaborate with national and international communities to expand and enhance social circus pedagogy globally.
Our Vision
A cheerful world where children and youth grow happily to their full potential.
Our Approach
- Children’s participation
- Reaching large numbers
- Social inclusion
- Improvisation and creativity
- Multiplication
- Local ownership
- Sustainability
- Cost efficiency
- Impact driven
History
MMCC was founded in 2002 in Afghanistan and gradually expanded since then to a leading global Social Circus organization with its main expertise in conflict zones.
What sets MMCC apart is its grassroots approach: children and youth from war zones, alongside local volunteers and staff, have played a central role in designing and implementing its activities. Berit Muhlhausen and David Mason, the main architects and facilitators of MMCC, have lived at the MMCC Center in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, developing its activities and systems.
Mie Clemens
Pieter van der Gaag
Alexandra Strand Holm
Annika Schmeding
Zach Warren
Berit Muhlhausen
David Mason
