WDSD 2018 “My contribution to community” – Netherlands

All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.
For World Down Syndrome Day 2018, EDSA has asked their members all over Europe to submit personal statements to tell the world what people with Down syndrome bring to their communities. Starting 1 March we bring 21 examples explaining how people with Down syndrome can and do make meaningful contributions whether in schools, workplaces, in social, political and public life, culture, media, leisure and sport.


De nu dertienjarige Luc van Lieshout kwam bij toeval bij Circus Caps terecht. Daar worden kinderen actief betrokken, mogen zelf kunstjes doen en meedoen met de voorstelling. Luc was niet van het podium af te slaan en wilde overal aan meedoen!
Oprichter René Hildesheim werd door zijn enthousiasme gegrepen. Luc is daarna een paar keer naar circusles geweest en draait nu gewoon mee in het clubje. Het circus is niet meer uit het leven van Luc weg te denken.

Luc van Lieshout, age thirteen, only by chance met with Circus Caps. It involves children actively, let them do tricks on their own, and participate in the show. Luc wasn‘t willing to get off the stage anymore and wanted to take part in everything!
Founder René Hildesheim was caught by Luc’s eagerness. Subsequently, Luc went to a circus course a few times and now is a normal member of the club. It has become impossible to think of Luc‘s life without the circus.

You would like to read more reports from other European countries? Click here.