A project to develop hospital clowning with a Japanese grant has been launched in Vitebsk

The first training seminar for future hospital clowns was held in Vitebsk, marking the beginning of the Red Cross project implementation in the region with the support of a Japanese foundation.

The project "Merry Doctor" by the Vitebsk regional Red Cross association, aimed at developing and disseminating methods of hospital clowning, art therapy, and play therapy in the rehabilitation and socialization of children undergoing inpatient treatment, has won a grant from the Empress Shoken Foundation (Japan). The first funds from the allocated 19,000 Swiss francs (approximately Br345 million) for the project have begun to arrive. Vitebsk already has experience in applying clown therapy methods in an inpatient medical facility. For several years, the volunteer group "Doctor NeBolit" (Doctor No-Pain) has been working at the regional children's clinical hospital, and also occasionally travels to districts.

"The head of this group, Marina Mozychuk, was the trainer at our first seminar. Here, 30 active young Red Cross volunteers from Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Gorodok gathered. Having learned the methods of clown therapy, art therapy, and play therapy, they will pass this knowledge on to other interested individuals in their cities and create their own groups for experience exchange and continuous improvement based on the "peer teaches peer" principle. It is planned that at least 80 volunteers will participate in the project in the specified cities," explained project coordinator Yulia Nasennik. The ultimate goal of the project is to form groups of hospital clowns who can operate independently of the Red Cross and independently attract funds for their activities. It is assumed that in the first stage, they will cooperate with pediatric departments in the hospitals of their cities, but other healthcare institutions can also seek clown therapy services. "Initially, agreements will be concluded with the Vitebsk Regional Organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society for this purpose. One such agreement has already been concluded with the regional specialized children's home. Next week, our trainees, along with the clowns from the "Doctor NeBolit" group, will go there to see the application of play techniques in practice," added Yulia Nasennik. The grant funds are used for the training and education of volunteers, organization of PR support in the media, as well as the purchase of consumables for training and subsequent work (paints, balloons and pumps, soap bubbles, clown accessories, white coats, sets of educational games, sports equipment). The project implementation period has been reduced to six months due to delays in fund allocation. The Empress Shoken Fund was founded in 1912 by the Empress of Japan to promote humanitarian activities in peacetime. Each year, the fund decides on awarding grants to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the implementation of various projects in areas such as enhancing emergency preparedness, healthcare, blood donation, youth support, and first aid.

Ekaterina Knyazeva, BELTA.