The FLYING CIRCUS ACADEMY project is intended as a comprehensive vocational training-of-trainers (ToT) programme for acrobat trainers and creative youth workers. It aims to professionalise circus’ work and learning by bundling existing »good practice« which stems from the experiences of the multi-continental consortium. The partners draw on solid circus performance expertise and international cooperation. The joint objective is to harness circus performance practices in order to foster capacity for meaningful social participation of disadvantaged young people. To this end, artistic circus practices intends to promote and stimulate both further individual development and better inclusion through physical and mental training methods. In doing so, the project responds to the emerging threats of social disintegration and aggravated living conditions under which migrants and refugees in the EU are vulnerable and who make up a part of the final beneficiary groups. A key target is the professionalisation of trainers’ training in order to ensure sustainable development of expertise and practices in EU and beyond. Approach and Activities16 acrobat trainers and circus youth workers from Cambodia, Tanzania, Germany and France will implement an exchange and training programme for 32 involved local acrobat trainers and youth workers in order to deliver local training for 60 young people per country. This international FLYING CIRCUS TEAM will perform the ToT, ensuring cross-cultural expertise, diversity and exchange. Three overarching activities comprise the approach: 1- production of a video-tutorial based on a curricular framework, 2 - network and management competence training, 3 - joint assessments of the training concept and didactic approach by the ToT. The assessments’ outcomes will optimise the quality of the intercultural training and the countries’ ToT concepts will be substantiated, the repertoire of methods enriched and harmonized.Methodological AspectsThe diverse means of circus expression and the vast range of powerful bodily performance, often combined with high physical risks, demand that acrobats act with the highest concentration vis-a-vis their partners. This non-verbal dimension of communication, didactic and teaching is also reflected in the ToT materials. The video tutorial as a core product of the project, will be based to a great extent on »body language communication«, which by definition has an intercultural as well as social integrative character. Expected resultsA set of curricular cornerstones about circus’ work and learning will be provided. An ongoing international forum (on- and offline) will be established by the production of an exemplary video tutorial and its integration into an internet platform, both tailored to trainers as well as trainees. Furthermore circus vocational training and working with marginalised people will be strengthened by intercultural and international exchange and further joint development.