Jake and Jess drop in on our twin (From Swindon Advertiser)

Jake and Jess drop in on twin town of Ocotal

7:00pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

A PAIR of circus performers have visited Ocotal, Swindon’s twin town in Nicaragua.

Jacob Hirsch-Holland, better known as Jake the Juggler, has travelled to Central America with charity Performers Without Borders to teach orphaned youngsters circus skills.

He also went to Ocotal to see the help given by Swindon Ocotal Link in areas such as healthcare.

He was joined by travelling partner Jess Herman.

The 25-year-old, whose highlining stunts across the town hit the headlines last year, said: “My mission was to seek out Ocotal and at the last minute Jess decided to join me. And with neither of us having any idea what to expect but packing plenty of circus kit, we set off from León on a 5.20am bus to Ocotal.

“What awaited us was a surprise and a delight. It turns out that over the last few years the town has been visited numerous times by a group of circus volunteers from Germany and in their wake was a hive of skill and equipment.

“The project, called Biblioteca de Las Abejitas (Library of the Little Bees) initiated by the German volunteers, included a library and study space, and a circus prop room full of amazing circus kit with training space.

“It is a place for any child or teenager in Ocotal to study and practice circus.

“Apart from the wealth of circus Ocotal presented us with, we were also welcomed open-armed by the local SOL ‘family’.”

Jess said: “SOL is a great project that helps with humanitarian aid in Ocotal. We visited a local health centre in the community which provides a great deal of care to over 5500 patients.

“As well as helping children and families, SOL also helps older members of the community with much needed care.”