Clown therapy is a popular art therapy in the world that is gaining popularity in Lithuania as well. Clown therapy is based on the visits of clowns in hospitals, orphanages, and other children’s foster facilities. Here clowns interact with children who:
- are ill or in physical pain,
- have emotional, behavioral, psychological, psychiatric disorders,
- experience social isolation,
- have special needs.
Clowns through juggling tricks, music, various mime expressions and other elements of entertainment talk about childish playful things and in this way distract children’s attention – at least briefly – from the disease, pain and their problems. Laughter and smiles help the little patients to recover faster, because laughter lowers stress levels and encourages optimism, helps to relax and reduce anxiety.
About the project: In Lithuania, the social clowns started their activity in September 2010. Professional Lithuanian actors learned social clowning art from German social clowning experts, who have been engaged in such activity for over ten years. After intensive training twenty social clowns regularly visit Vilnius University Children’s Hospital and the Child’s Development Center. Every month social clowns visit around 300 children. Numerous invitations are extended from other cities, and the organization seeks to expand its activity.
Funds will be allocated for the clown activities implements (costumes, musical instruments, balloons, soap bubbles, etc.), training of new social clowns, visits to children’s care and foster homes in other cities of Lithuania and to provide information about social clowning.