Project title
Description of initiative
In multi-week missions, professionally trained clown artists support children and their families living in crisis situations to develop strategies to cope with their challenging situation. These are people who have lost almost everything, who have witnessed and survived conflicts or natural disasters, who were forced to flee, and who live in dire and stressful situations.
With our artistic and interactive clown interventions, the children are given the possibility to express their feelings in a playful manner. The clowns can trigger a shift of focus, concentrating on the positive, the strength and the abilities of the children. The reconnection to positive feelings helps to regain resilience and hope.
The programme is implemented on a regular and on-going basis since 2013.
Themes: Culture and...
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Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Emergency Smile raises the emotional wellbeing of children in crisis settings, as evidenced by increased laughter, connection and engagement. The programme has improved access to quality humorous play, creativity, and the arts for many children living in crisis environments. In 2021 12 Missions were implemented reaching 3000 children and youth affected by crisis and 150 Aid workers and Caregivers supporting those children.
Through activities specially designed to address their needs, children engage with very valuable playful interactions, imagination and learning processes that counteract the hardships of crisis. This allows them to develop positive memories that remain with them in the long term.
Aid workers and Caregivers benefit from the activities of Emergency Smile by experiencing humour and stress relief through Workshops designed for them. They acquire new methods to better connect and work with children. During the Humour Workshops, aid workers also strengthen their connections to one another and learn new ways to facilitate humorous play that can make a difference in crisis situations. Important lessons have been identified around strategically planning a mission to create impact in the community, working with cycles of empowerment and supporting the community to become the protagonists of the activity. The team of ES works with the community in different phases introducing processes of connection achieved through community sharings and celebrations, which result in a continued legacy of joy. A legacy that Emergency Smile continues to expand to other crisis settings.