Introduction

Ethiopia is afflicted with epidemic AIDS, as is much of Africa. It has about 1.5 million citizens living with HIV/AIDS, the 6th most of any country in the world. The median age of the surviving population is just 17.8 years.

In Bahir Dar in northwestern Ethiopia, AIDS orphans and street children train as acrobats in the Yenegew Tesfa Circus Bahir Dar under circus director Wude Zeleke and perform throughout the Amhara district. This is not about entertainment only. As part of their performances, they present crucial public health information to the crowds which gather.

They could do much more, were they better able to equip themselves. Often, they have participated in local events for free, for the sake of performance experience and to get the message of AIDS prevention out. Their equipment is mostly scrounged or home-made, and they perform barefoot. Friends of Yenegew Tesfa Circus exists to provide financial assistance to them for their work.