Karina Strong of VestaFire Entertainment performs Fire Dancing at Nanaimo Little Woodstock Street Festival, Summer 2011

Karina Strong, of Nanaimo’s circus troupe, VestaFire Entertainment, has been selected along with a select international team, to head to Thailand for 8 weeks in January 2012! She’ll be teaching circus and performing fire shows for children in Burmese refugee camps, orphanages and hospitals.

A good cause? Cirque du Soliel thinks so too! Strong contacted them with her intent and they have donated a large portion of the total fundraising goal. “The circus community is so supportive in giving back to our global and local communities”, says Strong. “They didn’t hesitate to commit funds to bring joy to the children of this war torn region.”

Over 200,000 refugees line the borders of Thailand and Burma, held in refugee camps that can barely manage to provide for basic necessities. Tens of thousands of these refugees are children who have been traumatized by the ongoing war waged by the Burmese military dictatorship against the regions hill-tribes.  In addition to basic necessities like shelter, clothes, food and education, children also need hope, joy and play.

The organization that hosts this volunteer excursion is SPARK! Circus (www.sparkcircus.org). SPARK! reaches over 4,000 children each year with circus-style fire shows, playshops and donations of toys, art supplies, and creative tools.  Their goal is to lighten the childrens’ days with magic, wonder, laughter and smiles.  SPARK! is completely volunteer based, and relies entirely on your generous donations and community support. SparkCircus is funded in part by Clowns without Borders.

Karina Strong’s eight year old daughter, Jenna, will also be performing with her on this adventure.  “I’m excited to share this adventure with my family.” says Strong. “Both the cultural experience of 2 months travelling and performing in another country, and bringing joy to refugee children, will be an incredible life lesson all of us!”

VestaFire Entertainment has been performing a number of family style and Adult only Burlesque with Nanaimo’s Naughty N Spice Burlesque Troupe) benefit shows over the past few months to raise money for the purchase of supplies and props for the refugee children. All VestaFire proceeds go directly to the refugee children.

The Strongs’ will be blogging their adventures on www.VestaFireEntertainment.ca, and will be making a presentation about their their incredible experiences upon their return.

They are almost at their fundraising goals! Donations for refugee children’s supplies and circus props can be made through www.VestaFireEntertainment.ca, and make a great Christmas gift- support a local initiative to bring joy to the world!