New partnership to connect education, physical art and social development

Birzeit University, represented by its president Abdullatif Abuhijleh and the Palestinian Circus School, represented by its chair of the board of directors Yousef Rimawi, signed a new agreement to promote circus arts as mediums for social justice through the university’s Leadership and Active Citizenship Program- Masari.

The school will help students in their community initiatives by enhancing their social and life skills and their ability to take responsibility in their communities. The school will also organize workshops in social circus, and collaborate with the Deanship of Student Affairs by participating in the Birzeit Nights Festival and the International Summer Camp. The agreement will offer training opportunities for faculty members specialized in art, education, sociology, psychology and physical education, and provide internships for the university’s graduates.

President Abuhijleh emphasized the university’s belief in the power of culture and art that contributes to nurturing a creative environment where youth can learn how to share and express their talents and skills in their own community.

Rimawi praised the long-standing ties with Birzeit University. He presented an overview of the school’s history, which was established in 2006 as a non-for-profit organization. The school, according to Rimawi, seeks to engage Palestinians in a dynamic cultural and artistic life that embraces creativity by teaching, creating, performing and programming circus arts. It seeks to engage and empower youth to become constructive actors in society, and raises local and international awareness about the positive Palestinian potential and its different challenges.

The signing ceremony was attended by Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs Mirvat Bulbul, Dean of Student Affairs Mohammad Al Ahmad, Director of the Grants and Contracts Office Amir Khalil, Manager of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Unit George Yerousis and the Voluntary Work Coordinator Ghada Omari. On behalf of the Palestinian Circus, Executive Manager Mohammad Rabah and a number of staff members attended the ceremony.