Our Story
"When people step outside their comfort zones, they become magical."
- Pınar Demiral, co-founder
The Genesis and Mission of Sirkhane
Sirkhane was created in 2012 by the two young idealists children, Pınar Demiral and Serdal Adam who founded the Art Anywhere Association (Her Yerde Sanat Derneği) in Turkey’s southeastern Mardin province, a culturally rich yet highly volatile region situated along the Syrian border. The organization was born out of an urgent, empathetic response to the massive influx of displaced families escaping devastating conflicts in Syria and Iraq. Recognizing that local and refugee children alike were being stripped of their safety and innocence, a collective of passionate artists and activists came together to build a non-political, inclusive sanctuary. Their core objective was to create an environment where children could transcend deep-seated social, cultural, and linguistic barriers, substituting the heavy psychological toll of war and poverty with laughter, mutual trust, and a newfound sense of belonging.
Pedagogy and Expanding the Legacy
The Sirkhane Social Circus School is built on a child‑centered and trauma‑sensitive approach that uses circus arts to support children’s emotional well‑being, creativity, and confidence. In our safe and joyful spaces, children explore juggling, balance, acrobatics, clowning, and movement—not to compete or perform perfectly, but to discover their own strengths. Every session is designed to help them express themselves freely, build trust, and reconnect with a sense of play, especially for those who have experienced conflict, displacement, or hardship.
Our circus school brings together children from different languages and cultures, creating a shared space where cooperation and friendship grow naturally. Long‑term participants can become “Circus Heroes,” taking on leadership roles and supporting younger children in their learning. Through years of practice, community engagement, and international collaboration, Sirkhane has developed a living pedagogy that adapts to children’s needs while nurturing joy, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging.
Where We Are
Mardin, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia, is one of the world’s oldest settled areas, with a history involving the Hurrians, Hittites, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. During the Roman era, it was known as Marida, a fortress town in the Byzantine era, and later became a trade and cultural hub under the Ottomans.
The Syrian civil war has displaced millions, with Turkey hosting over four million refugees, the most globally. More than 3.6 million are Syrians, alongside nearly 400,000 from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Somalia, including over 1.7 million children. Mardin, near the Syrian border, has become a key refuge due to its diversity and hospitality. Initially housed in camps, many refugees moved to urban areas for better conditions, bringing challenges and opportunities to the local community. Syrian children face trauma, PTSD, child labor, early marriages, and abuse, lacking official recognition and work authorization. Despite these challenges, they contribute to the economy by starting businesses and filling labor gaps, leading to job competition and tensions with locals. Integration is complex, aided by shared linguistic and cultural ties with the local Arab population, but hindered by dialect and custom differences. Local schools struggle to accommodate the influx, with one-third of Syrian children out of school, often working full-time with limited access to education and cultural opportunities.
Meet the Team
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![Pinar Demiral]()
Pinar Demiral
Director & Leader/Co-Founder/Clown
Pinar Demiral is a Turkish artist, videographer, and social worker who co-founded Sirkhane Social Circus School in 2012 in Mardin, Turkey. Driven by a deep commitment to supporting children affected by war, displacement, and social trauma near the Syrian border, she established Sirkhane as a safe, transformative haven for local and refugee youth. Under her leadership, the organization utilizes social circus pedagogy—teaching acrobatics, juggling, music, and clowning—to help vulnerable children heal, build confidence, and express themselves creatively. Demiral's dedication to replacing the harsh realities of conflict with joy also led her to co-creating the Flying Carpet Children Festival, creating a magical space where international artists and musicians come together to nurture the imagination of underserved children.
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![A man with dark hair, wearing a light pink shirt, has a red clown nose on his face and is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile.]()
Serdal Adam
Co-Founder/Clown
Serdal Adam is a dedicated social entrepreneur, project director, and the co-founder of the Sirkhane Social Circus School (and its parent organization, the Art Anywhere Association), which he established alongside Pinar Demiral in Mardin, Turkey. Motivated by a profound desire to protect and restore the rights of children living in conflict-affected regions near the Syrian border, Adam has spent years creating safe, playful environments where local and displaced youth can heal. Under his leadership as a primary project manager, Sirkhane utilizes social circus pedagogy—such as acrobatics, juggling, and music—to help vulnerable children overcome trauma, dismantle cultural prejudices, and build lasting cross-cultural friendships. Through his enduring commitment to art-based social inclusion, Adam has been instrumental in scaling Sirkhane's mobile and stationary units, successfully bringing joy, laughter, and a sense of normalcy to hundreds of thousands of underserved children.
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![A man wearing a colorful, patterned hat is playing a trumpet against a backdrop of abstract light patterns projected on a wall.]()
Sahba Aminikia
Music Director/Festival Director/Ring Leader
Sahba Aminikia is an Iranian-American composer, pianist, TED Fellow, and laureate of the 2025 Aga Khan Music Award who serves as the founder and Artistic Director of the Flying Carpet Children Festival and the Music Director for Sirkhane. Working in close partnership with Sirkhane's co-founder, Pinar Demiral, Aminikia established the festival and Müzikhane (House of Music) in Mardin, Turkey, to utilize the transformative power of sound as a catalyst for social healing. His initiatives bring together an international collective of volunteer musicians, circus performers, and storytellers to conduct mobile performances and creative workshops for vulnerable local and refugee children living near the Turkish-Syrian border. By pairing musical education with social circus pedagogy, Aminikia provides these underserved youth with a safe, imaginative platform to process trauma, build self-confidence, and reclaim their childhood through cross-cultural collaboration.
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![Person dressed as a clown with a red tutu, Santa hat, glasses, white shirt, and red shorts, standing in front of a puppet in a dark outdoor setting.]()
Halit Kasim
Coordinator/Trainer/Alchemist/Clown
Originally from Damascus, Syria, Halit Kasim is a vital team member, trainer, and center manager at the Sirkhane Social Circus School—operated by the Art Anywhere Association (Her Yerde Sanat Derneği) in Mardin, Turkey. Working directly on the front lines of the organization's mission, Kasim plays a pivotal role in sustaining a safe, inclusive, and joyful environment for vulnerable local and refugee children who have been affected by conflict and social trauma. In his dual capacity as an educator and center manager, he oversees daily operations and helps implement Sirkhane’s social circus pedagogy, guiding youth through empowering activities like juggling, acrobatics, and performance arts. Through his hands-on leadership and dedication to mentorship, Kasim ensures that the center remains a transformative haven where underserved children can heal, build resilience, and freely reclaim their fundamental right to play.
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![A woman in a white and red costume holding a glowing light-up hula hoop at a colorful indoor event. Other people in costumes are visible in the background.]()
Sevin İsmail
Trainer/Queen of Hoola Hoops
Born in 2006 and living in Turkey since 2013, Sevin İsmail represents the beautiful, transformative power of social circus at Flying Carpet 2026. Her journey with Her Yerde Sanat Derneği (Art Anywhere Association / Sirkhane) began in 2015 as a young student, and over the last decade, her passion flourished into a vital role as a social circus trainer and dedicated volunteer who shares her skills, joy, and hope with communities in need. Beyond her impactful work as a teacher and a powerhouse performer in professional circus shows, Sevin is also fiercely pursuing her education in Fashion Design, aiming to beautifully weave her eye for style with her love for performance. A dynamic and brilliant force both on and off the stage, Sevin perfectly blends creativity with social impact, and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome her inspiring presence back to the festival!
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![A man wearing a straw hat with a black ribbon, a fake red clown nose, and a black jacket standing outdoors with desert-like landscape and a building in the background.]()
Hamit Samsa
Logistics Magician
Hamit Samsa serves as the dedicated Logistics and Purchasing Officer for Sirkhane Social Circus School (Her Yerde Sanat Derneği), bringing specialized expertise in procurement and supply chain coordination to the organization. Born and raised in the ancient village of Dara in Mardin, Samsa holds a degree in Computer Programming from Sinop University and continues to advance his technical skill set by studying Logistics Management. His deep commitment to civil society began in 2012, leading him to volunteer with Sirkhane from 2013 to 2016 before transitioning into his long-term professional role, a journey that also included a year of volunteering for European civil society projects in Poland. A remarkable polyglot, Samsa utilizes his fluency in Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, English, and Polish to seamlessly manage complex logistical operations, famously viewing Sirkhane not merely as a conventional workplace, but as a vital living space for his own personal growth and self-discovery.
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İbrahim Dağduran
Photographer & Clown
Known and celebrated across social media as “İbo Hoca,” İbrahim Dağduran (@ibohoca) is a founding pillar of the Sirkhane family and a brilliant, self-taught tech expert from the heart of Mardin. Serving as Sirkhane's fiercely loyal "true protector" and steady shield since its inception in 2012, he has masterfully blended technical genius with artistic vision for 14 incredible years. Through his lens, İbrahim has captured the very soul and magic of the Flying Carpet Festival since its very first edition, preserving the pure joy of the children and the history of the circus arts. Driven by a deep love for his roots, he continues to use his talent to inspire local youth toward creative paths and share Mardin’s rich, breathtaking cultural heritage with the world.
Not Just A Children Organization.
We Are Cultural Alchemists!
We Are Cultural Alchemists!
Sirkhane, beyond being a children’s organization, actively connects and collaborates with visionary cultural leaders from across the globe. Our mission is to create transformative cultural opportunities for youth in a region where such opportunities are scarce. The Flying Carpet Festival serves as a platform that reaches out to individuals of all ages, including young adults. We organize concerts, recording sessions, and JAM nights in various parts of the region. By incorporating both local and international artists, we strive to foster meaningful collaborations through these projects. Our ultimate goal is to bring the world’s diverse skills, courage, and love to our local community, providing invaluable opportunities for youth who may not have ventured beyond their comfort zones.
Sirkhane is more than just a children’s organization; it is a global network of visionary cultural leaders who come together to create unparalleled cultural experiences for the youth in a region where such opportunities are rare and precious. the flying carpet festival is a major platform that engages people of all ages, including young adults, through a variety of events. we host concerts, recording sessions, and jam nights in different areas of the region, aiming to enrich the cultural landscape. by involving both local and international artists, we foster deep and meaningful collaborations that benefit all participants. our ultimate objective is to import the world’s diverse skills, courage, and love into our local community, offering youth the chance to explore new horizons and grow in ways they never imagined possible.
Who are the Circus Heroes?
The Circus Heroes, the backbone and heartbeat of Sirkhane, are a dedicated group of young Syrian, Iraqi, Kurdish, and Turkish performers. Originally, they entered the program as vulnerable children seeking refuge from the severe traumas of war, poverty, and displacement. Despite facing incredibly difficult lives, they emerge as heroes and role models for our children of their age. The Circus Heroes are integral to the shows and collaborate with international artists every year as a key component of the Flying Carpet Festival and Sirkhane.
Having grown up within the circus, these remarkable youth have transitioned from students to certified trainers, mentors, and the primary stars of Sirkhane’s mobile caravans. Today, they employ social circus pedagogy—such as acrobatics, juggling, and clowning—as tools for social change. By creating safe spaces and providing psychological healing, they offer hope and support to the next generation of at-risk children in their communities.
Zehra
Beshir
Mohamed
Ali
Rodi
Helin
Defying the heavy gravity of conflict and displacement, the Circus Heroes of Sirkhane are architects of hope who weaponize laughter against trauma. Where war once threatened to steal their youth, these extraordinary young mentors now stand tall on stilts and build human pyramids grounded in absolute, radical trust. They do not merely perform acrobatics; they perform daily acts of profound defiance, transforming dusty border camps and public squares into vibrant sanctuaries where cultural boundaries completely dissolve. Through every juggling ball caught and every shared smile, they prove that a fractured childhood can be stitched back together with threads of pure wonder, guiding thousands of vulnerable children toward a future illuminated by empathy, healing, and peace.
Big Ideas, Real Impact
Sirkhane is not just a school—it is a living platform where visionary artists from around the world bring their ideas to the children who deserve them the most. Every major project we have ever created began with an artist who was already making a difference somewhere else in the world, someone with a bold idea and a deep belief in children’s creative power. When these artists arrive in Mardin, they find a place where their imagination is not only welcomed but expanded. We provide the space, the materials, the outreach, and the community connections that allow them to build the kind of projects they could only dream of elsewhere—projects that feel a little bit like utopias, where art becomes a language of healing, joy, and possibility.
What makes Sirkhane unique is that we don’t just host these artists—we join them. As a team made up of people who still carry the curiosity and excitement of childhood, we throw ourselves into each new idea with genuine enthusiasm. Together with the artists, we co‑create programs that feel magical, playful, and deeply human. The children feel this energy immediately: they sense that the adults around them are not simply teaching, but imagining alongside them. This spirit of shared creation is what turns every Sirkhane project into something larger than a workshop or a class. It becomes a world of its own—a place where children and artists meet as equals, dream together, and build something unforgettable.