Beeeeeg city lights – Calcutta

Our project in Varanasi ended on such a high. Our circus babies (students) put on a spectacular show and we were extremely proud circus parents. The team had worked very hard. We were all energetically charged!!!

Basking in the afterglow, we packed with mixed feelings, ready to take on Calcutta. Our taxi arrived 45 minutes early! FORTY FIVE MINUTES EARLY IN INDIA!!! This should’ve been the first sign from the universe that we were in for some comedic adventures and challenges. We arrived at the train station effortlessly, despite the crazy traffic. We found our platform, carried all our gear and waited. Our train arrived exactly on time. EXACTLY ON TIME!!! The train stopped, and the door to our carriage stopped directly in front of us! WOW!!! Could it be more perfect? We all boarded the train to find our seats right next to the doors and completely empty where we could put down all our bags to prepare for the journey. Smooth as silk. The train pulled away (on time again), heading for Calcutta. After checking with a local, we discovered to our surprise, we were on the wrong train. It was all too perfect. After a completely smooth departure from Varanasi, we awoke, from this all too perfect dream, where everything runs on time and everything runs effortlessly. It was a beautiful dream and a wonderful moment where the team looked at each other and laughed, not the slightest bit of panic, fear or any emotion. “Oh well! We’re in the s@!*. We needed to get out, and we would. I couldn’t think of anyone else that I’d rather be in the s@*! with”

Mika Ji, like the true leader she is, lead and we all flocked. We got off at the next stop. Mika and Mango went to find out if we could still get on our original train. We could and it was on its way, but it was running late. AAAAAAH! This was more like it 🙂
We double checked, tripled checked, we kept looking at the LED signs for our train number and listening to every crackled announcement carefully to make sure we were on the correct platform to board the correct train. Five minutes before our train arrived, they changed the platform number and we had to run, with all our bags and gear, up and down stairs to make our train. We made it onto our train (again) and of course, we had some seating complications, but we quickly sorted in out and headed for Calcutta, now running 3 hours late.

Calcutta, we’re coming for you!!!

Arriving in Calcutta, we were picked up by the Hope Foundation, our main Partner that we would be working with. On route to our accommodation, I was amazed how big and “city like” Calcutta was. After living in Varanasi for a month, Calcutta was the polar opposite: Bright lights, billboards, highways, big buildings, and “fancy” apartment blocks. No cows stopping the traffic, in fact, no cows at all. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but my brain and senses was still processing our new environment.
We arrived at our apartment. It was amazing and spacious! We had a fridge, a communal lounge and the most awesome rooftop where we could train and hangout.

After 2 days rest, we began our work with the Hope Foundation at their numerous boys and girls homes and Nabadisha centers. Nabadisha means “new direction”. Our first stop was at the Tollygunge Nabadisha, a centre that was setup by the Hope Foundation and the Tollygunge police. Street children or children in need of care can be checked in and looked after. They provide care and activities from morning to evening. The purpose of this centre is also to build and foster better relationships between the police and the street children, instead of seeing the police as “the enemy”. Our other outreach work has been at various girls and boys homes, including Kasba and Asar Alo Girls Homes, Asirbad and Be Kind Boys homes and the Chetla slum community . At the boys and girls homes, children have been rescued from the street, sex trade syndicates, drugs and abusive/violent domestic life. My first week in Calcutta I was feeling torn between my own thoughts and emotions. “Can we do more? How can we make more of a difference?” There is so much outreach work to be done here. The city is so big and vast, which also made me feel like I was spending more time just travelling to our outreach centers, but that is the nature of this “City Beast”. However, Calcutta did have her own unique charm.

Clowns in Calcutta

My feelings were quickly put at rest when we started working with the children. One of my many realizations on this trip, is that we are doing amazing work! Whether it be four hours or one. When we’re with the children, we as teachers learn so much. It forces us to be completely present and live in the moment. We’re not thinking about anything else. We are 100% committed to the present and the service of the children. We are forced to be our best selves, role models and catalysts for change. This is truly a priceless gift to receive.

Finding the balance in life…

All the children we have taught have been incredible. They have the biggest smiles. They absolutely love the clowning games. They are all such natural clowns. The girls and boys homes set up by the Hope Foundation are beautiful. Its clean, colourful and filled with so much love.
I had a particularly heart warming moment that will live with me for a long time. At the Kasba Girls home, the girls are FULL POWER and high energy! We’ve always left there buzzing off their beautiful energy. I was teaching acro and tumbling. We were doing log rolls. There was a girl with a prosthetic leg who waited in line for her turn and when we she got to the mat, she ran away. Some of the kids in the line said: “Uncle, she cant, she has a problem”. I asked them “What problem?”, brushing off what they had said about her. I called her and told her to come back and try. With the biggest smile on her face, she laid down on the mat and I helped her roll. Seconds later, she took off her prosthetic leg and was tumbling with the rest of the class.

Kasba Girls Home

Asirbad Boys Home

Whether it be performing or teaching, we are breaking down barriers and borders, allowing both the children and us to forget about their circumstances. We get to live in the moment, play, and the children get to be “just children”. Witnessing those genuine, larger than life smiles, makes me realise how amazing it is to be part of the positive impact myself, circus and performance art and the PWB team has made…bringing so much love, joy and light where darkness once resided. I am reminded to honour ourselves; the work we do and know that what we are doing is making a difference and we are enough.

Love is our force, circus is our medium, change is our mission.

BOOM!

Shaheen