Mission Trip to Greece w CircusAid

My name is Aneya Marie and I am a Brooklyn based performance artist. I have been performing for over a decade producing and touring shows. My main passions are in Mime and Circus performance. I am a part time stilt walker, children's party entertainer, circus, ballet and gymnastics teacher.

Along with being a performance artist I am an artistic activist. I find myself donating a lot of my time using my talents to serve others in my community. I have volunteered my mime at children hospitals and brain trauma centers to help bring a smile to someone who deserves some laughter. I was recently featured on the Seth Meyers Late Night Show for protesting against bigotry as a mime. I take part in fundraiser shows for organizations such as Planned Parenthood, local art festivals, and church charities. I also work with kids will special needs putting on shows, performing for them or giving classes on circus/movement theatre.

I have been thinking recently of how to extend my activism outside of my local community and more on a world wide scale, thinking of how I can make more of an impact for people outside of America. What is a political stance I could make for those who have been shunned by others. A political and social issue that has hit my heart, that has been ongoing for a few years, is the Syrian war crisis. The resettlement crisis 

After researching and understanding the effects of war which has caused over 2 million to be displaced I had begun to make small monetary donations to multiple organizations that provided Syrians relief. But I know its not enough and I know that my time would be more important to this cause then any donation I can make with money. 

With that being said an exciting opportunity has become available to me this coming summer. I am joining a social circus program known as CircusAid.

Click this link: What is CircusAid

CircusAid is a circus relief effort that sends volunteers into areas with a high influx of refugees camps. This summer I will be traveling to Athens Greece to provide and assist up to 6 refugee camps. The social aid that I will be providing to refugees will use my skill sets as a circus performer to provide workshops, day camps, presentations, and performance art. 

To participate in this program I am required to work 6 hours a day and 5 days out of the week teaching circus skills, as well as organizing group/camp activities for the day. 

I will be working primarily with adults and children from Syria, Afghanistan, and Africa. My passions for miming and movement theatre, juggling, acrobatics, tumbling, stilt walking and more will be a great asset to this campaign. I hope to help relieve people from their anxieties caused by their current situation of displacement.

The purpose of this fundraiser is to help me raise my basic housing costs and transportation needs during my stay in Athens (3,000). I have already pledged my plane ticket and food costs. Any extra amount raised will be donated to the CircusAid relief efforts.

**This information is needed by Gofundme. Please read**

1) My name is Aneya Marie and I am currently a resident of Brooklyn NY
2) I discovered the owner of CircusAid through the Muse Circus School, who hosted a workshop based on social circus/ occupational therapies geared toward humanitarian relief.
3) The first 2000 raised in funds will be spent: 500 for travel to and from the refugee camps, 500 on supplies to build the circus tent, 500 on housing for 3 months in Greece, 500 for supplies to run and host circus and performance workshops in refugee camps. The rest of the funds will be spent on continuing the relief effort of CircusAid in the ways that the nonprofit sees fit.
4) Funds raised will be withdrawn by Jill Maglio the owner of CircusAid. She is the organizer of the relief effort in Greece and will directly draw the funds from this account.


Please visit the following links for more information about CircusAid and their efforts with Circus relief:

1) https://www.circusaid.com
2)https://www.facebook.com/CircusAid/
3)https://www.instagram.com/circusaid/


Direct donations can be made through:
https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/profile?id=15659