Check out what the Krnov hospital has to say about C4C’s visiting hospital clowns. Spoiler: It’s heart-warming…
Author: František Kuba, Krnov hospital
“Laughter therapy” is essential to the Dr. Klaun project of the non-profit organization Chance 4 Children (C4C). As part of this project, clowns are trained and prepared to be able to offer young patients a customized performance. For the first time, hospital clowns Arneek and Chuchululek showed their talents and gifts to the hospitalized children in our Krnov hospital.
“Our organization brings together dozens of trained hospital clowns for children and seniors across the country. It’s a varied group. Our ranks include a number of nurses, psychologists and social workers, but we also have magicians and actors with experience in public performing. If you know of someone who has the prerequisites to be a hospital clown and would like to try it, we will be happy to train them,” J. Rafał Wojas from Chance 4 Children says, introducing the concept which can make children laugh like clown Chuchululek. Together with fellow clown Arneek, they performed their wide repertoire at the children’s ward of the Krnov hospital. They dance, sing, play games, make animals out of balloons, or just chat with the little patients. Their magical trunk is full of crazy clown props and toys.
For hospital clowns the most important thing is to carefully look into the room at the beginning of each visit and watch the reactions of the child patients for a while. In this initial phase, they will evaluate the current emotions and mental state of the children in order to tailor the program to them. “Crazy clowning with songs makes some children laugh out loud, but others like quiet talking, whispering or even silence with elements of pantomime,” J. Rafał Wojas described his profession as a hospital clown. He masters the art of improvisation, so his ukulele can turn from a musical instrument into an umbrella, a paddle, a tennis racket or anything else that comes to mind in a second.
His fellow clown Arneek comes from Krnov. “It’s been a long-time dream of mine to entertain sick children in a hospital clown costume. I am 65 years old, so some health problems are slowly showing up. I got to know the environment of the Krnov hospital from the patient’s point of view and I have many friends here. So the idea was born that I could improve the mood of sick children in the guise of a hospital clown. It was an honor for me to be part of the Dr. Klaun project and I am glad that I could take the training to understand the specifics of this field. It is based on empathy, improvisation and a sense of humor,” hospital clown Arneek from Krnov introduced himself.
Not only illness or injury, but also the very stay in an unfamiliar hospital environment can cause anxiety and homesickness in children. Hospital clowns already know how to bring children to more cheerful thoughts. “Do you brush your teeth once a year or every day? Do you use powdered water or liquid water?”, clowns Arneek and Chuchululek started the conversation in the children’s ward of the Krnov hospital. They entertained patients from preschoolers to teenagers. Parents of young patients and medical professionals also laughed heartily thanks to the clowns. Each performance is unique, so everyone is curious to see what the hospital clowns will come up with next.
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We here at C4C would like to thank the hospital for the kind and thoughtful response to our clown visits. It’s reactions like this that inspire us to keep going and giving!
