KABUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Surrounded by a group of children at his makeshift circus on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, Khalilullah Habibi, a veteran stuntman, proudly spoke about his mission: to pass on his artistic skills to the younger generation of his country.
Habibi established the circus center four years ago. Having an experience of 22 years in the circus field and currently running the Afghan Parwana Circus for Children and Youth, Habibi said more than 4 million people had enjoyed his shows.
The children who attend the circus, mostly from impoverished families, receive free training in juggling, acrobatics, theater, and other performance arts. In addition, they also spend two hours each day learning English and mathematics.
"My goal is to share the art of the circus, which is a collection of various performance arts. I want these children to learn, serve the people, and bring smiles to faces by showcasing their talents while building careers," Habibi told Xinhua.
"Most of the children here come from poor families who can't afford other educational programs. We teach them free of charge, and their families are happy and satisfied," Habibi said.
Habibi described these children as future "nation builders" and lamented the lack of attention paid to children in war-torn Afghanistan. He pointed out the absence of inspiring children's programs on local television and the scarcity of entertainment activities like circus performances, galas, and theater in Afghanistan's conservative society, where traditional values remain deeply rooted, particularly in rural areas.
Twelve-year-old trainee Ali Sohrab expressed his gratitude to Habibi for starting the circus classes. He hopes to serve his community through future circus performances. "I love the circus, and I want to learn it as my art," Sohrab said.
While practicing with three juggling balls to improve his skills, Sohrab said that he has been attending circus classes for 18 months with his family's support. He aspires to become a professional stunt performer, but also dreams of becoming a doctor. "I want to continue my education and grow up to become a successful doctor," he added.
The center currently trains about four dozen children, including girls aged six to twelve, to become stunt performers. In the early days of the circus's establishment in 2020, children as young as two, three, and four years old were enrolled, according to Habibi.
"I enjoy learning circus here, and I also want to improve my English and math skills," said 10-year-old trainee Masouda, who has been receiving training at the center for two years. "In the future, I want to become a juggler." ■
