the stories in each performance are what make this circus troupe special. e is based on his child hood during the civil war. the children flee from falling bombs and gun fire. ♪ they're haunted by nightmares of war and violence. but the circus is their salvation. by throwing themselves into their training, they gradually free themselves from trauma. finally they have hope in the future. >> translator: the war is over and now we have peace. but the scars remain in our hearts. that is not something we could just completely rub out, like using an eraser. i don't want another generation to experience what i went through. whatever we do i think we need start by first thinking about the children's mental welfare. >> the school holds regular meetings to discuss management issues. these are the four returnees from the refugee camp who began the art lessons back in 1994. the teachers think it is important to treat each child as an individual. >> translator: one of the students was told by his parents that he had to go out to work because the family needed money. so h