Laughter knows no boundaries
Countries may have borders, but laughter? It doesn't. Clowns all over the world know this. Among other things, because they are involved in several international organisations.
The Czech Health Clown is an active member of two health clown families, Red Noses International (RNI) and theEuropean Federation of Healthcare Clown Organisations (EFHCO).
Why, you ask? Being a healthcare clown is a profession, an artistic profession that has its own specific criteria, even though it is an art of improvisation. If someone wants to be a successful and honest Healthcare Clown, it takes a lot of time and diligence. They must be willing not only to go to people and bring laughter where it is lacking, but they must also constantly work on themselves, educate themselves and learn.
Of course, they learn here at home in the Czech Republic, but every now and then they also go out into the world to gain experience, or, conversely, to pass on their experience to other clowns. This gives all Health Clowns around the world, including those in the Czech Republic, the opportunity to become even better.
And one more thing – membership is also a guarantee that local clowns honour the demanding international ethical principles of their mission. In today's world, this is as difficult as it is unusual.
RED NOSES INTERNATIONAL (RNI)
The unifying theme of the organisations affiliated with RNI is sharing values and visions – bringing humour and laughter to people who need joy.
How does it work?
RNI is currently the largest organisation of professional healthcare clowns in the world, with partner organisations in 11 countries. Its mission is to build, monitor and support international partner organisations while developing and maintaining high ethical and artistic standards for the entire group.
Each member contributes to its activities financially, with experience and by passing on know-how, thus supporting not only education in this profession, but also fledgling healthcare clown organisations.
What does Red Noses International offer?
- Educational and exchange programmes for Health Clowns from member organisations. You can find out more about Health Clown training and international certification in Czech HERE or in English HERE.
- Workshops, seminars and other programmes for communication and fundraising staff of member organisations.
- Participation, support and cooperation in professional studies and research focusing on the effect of clown interventions, and subsequent sharing of the results of these studies within the entire international group.
- Support and events for the exchange of experience and know-how for newly established health clown organisations and for organisations with the same or similar goals or missions, whether at national or international level.
- The Emergency Smile programme, which sends Health Clowns from member organisations on missions to crisis areas around the world. For example, to places affected by war or natural disasters, where they help children and their loved ones cope with this difficult life situation.
You can read more about Red Noses International HERE.
EMERGENCY SMILE
One of RNI's current programmes, launched in 2014 in collaboration with other international charities, is Emergency Smile. Thanks to this programme, teams of clowns bring laughter and joy to crisis areas around the world.
During missions lasting several days, the clowns encourage children and their families to cope with very stressful life situations. These people have usually lost almost everything, witnessed violence, survived war conflicts or natural disasters, and in many cases have been forced to flee their homes.
Thanks to artistic and interactive clown performances, children have the opportunity to express their feelings in a playful way. Health Clowns thus help children focus on positive thoughts and hope, which are often hidden deep within us due to difficult situations.
It is the shared concept of education and quality assurance of clowns in the RNI group that allows Health Clowns to go out into the world to fulfil their mission regardless of where they come from, always working together as a perfectly coordinated orchestra of entertainment and help.
Czech participation
Health Clowns from the Czech Republic have participated in missions in Cameroon and Greece, for example, and since 2015 also regularly in Ukraine.
European Federation of Healthcare Clown Organisations (EFHCO)
We are also a proud member of the European Federation of Health Clowns, which currently comprises 20 organisations from all corners of the world. Its role is to monitor and evaluate the quality of health clown organisations.
Through the Quality Label Audit, it assesses their transparency, management, organisational structure and functioning. Members of the federation can be proud to display the EFHCO label!
The federation plays a significant role in the good reputation of our profession, and thanks to its cross-border activities, more experienced and older organisations can positively influence younger and less experienced members.
Shared joy
EFHCO organises regular meetings of leaders of healthcare clown organisations, where they share results and news from their work. Our organisation, Zdravotní klaun, recently presented its Dítě programme, which focuses on individual care for young patients undergoing long-term treatment.
Clowns under the microscope
EFHCO also conducts research! Its research has long focused on the effects of health clown visits in healthcare facilities. The federation monitors and evaluates the working methods of health clowns. The results of the research serve as the building blocks of the profession. Their other goal is to show the medical and lay public hard data on the positive effects of health clown programmes on patients, not only in healthcare facilities.
You can read more about the EFHCO organisation HERE.