** The Festival of Intercultural Meetings of the Circus of Abidjan: an educational initiative at the heart of socio-economic challenges **
On April 17, Côte d’Ivoire celebrated the launch of the seventh edition of the Festival of Intercultural Meetings of the Circus of Abidjan (RICA). This event, which was held at the French Institute, is distinguished not only by its circus services, but also by its vocation to tackle major social and environmental issues. This year, the offbeat Ivory Cirque troop has chosen to move to Bafrétou, in the northwest of the country, a village examined in terms of a major industrial gold mine project, the Koné project, which arouses both hope and worries.
### An enlightening show
The choice of Bafrétou for a representation on clandestine gold panning is not trivial. Far from being simply entertainment, the piece entitled “The thirsty for yellow metal” is a vector of awareness. The theme of clandestine gold panning, often associated with dangers such as mercury pollution, was highlighted by the prefect of Kani, which underlined the urgency to educate the population in the face of the risks involved. These questions resonate particularly in a context where mining can offer economic benefits while asking questions of sustainability and public health.
### A reflection on education
Pierre Nguessan, country director of the Montage Gold company, spoke of another crucial aspect of this initiative: the education of young people. The phenomenon of early dropout, affecting many children from CM2, raises questions about the opportunities offered to them and on the need to explore alternatives to gold panning. Using the circus as a lever for education, the festival aims to open up perspectives. How can these initiatives transform the perception of young people with regard to their professional future? Could the arts of the show, by their accessible and engaging nature, become powerful tools to change mentalities?
### A collaboration between culture and development
The village chief, Adama Koné, reaffirmed the importance of this artistic approach. By stressing that the show makes it possible to think about collaboration systems, it highlights the need for a collective effort to approach the issues posed by clandestine gold panning. Indeed, culture, often perceived as a simple entertainment, can play an essential role in social cohesion and awareness of critical issues. Festivals like that of the Rica offer a dialogue platform, but what about their sustainability and their ability to generate a tangible change on the field?
### to an inclusive vision
Valérie Bony, in charge of the festival communication, evokes the desire to adapt the circus to different contexts, including in places such as hospitals. This flexibility testifies to a desire to include and meet the needs of the different strata of society. But how to measure the impact of such long -term initiatives? The question of the evaluation of awareness -raising actions and their impact on population behavior is essential in the context of such dynamics.
In short, the Rica Festival appears as a space where culture and social development meet, offering a platform for reflection in the face of issues that directly affect the lives of populations. While the circus continues to conquer hearts in Abidjan and beyond, it remains to be seen how these artistic performances, allied with educational messages, will be able to contribute to transforming the socio-economic realities of regions in the grip of complex challenges. The question remains: what initiatives will be able to guarantee that the potential of the circus as an educational and awareness tool is fully exploited for the benefit of the communities concerned?