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The
CliniClowns
Click...
© Stichting CliniClowns Nederland
3800 BN Amersfoort
Telephone: 00 31 (0)33 469 90 40
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.cliniclowns.nl
Account number 6640
Seal of approval for Dutch charities
P.O. Box 1565
Everything
about ...
We are privileged
to do this very rewarding work
Acting as a source of distraction and happiness for many sick and/or disabled children, connecting
with them and making them forget their misery for a while. Allowing them to be children again.
You wish them that distraction and happiness from the bottom of your heart, particularly for those
children that are impeded in enjoying their childhood. That makes it all worthwhile.
Most people know us from the CliniClowns programme in hospitals. However, we do much more
these days, such as Neuzenroode.nl, the CliniClowns Treasure Trunk, the Theatre Tour and various
events. We are pleased to tell you more about this in this brochure.
Each day, I am aware of the fact that we can only do this work thanks to the many thousands of
people that support CliniClowns. And I think that is very special.
The
CliniClowns
Click....
Hans Geels
Director
Sometimes it is in an instant, other times it takes a little longer,
but it will come. Suddenly you can see a heart warming smile,
an expression full of attention, amazement,
sometimes a hesitant interest.
A wonderful moment, as this is the time that
children fully forget that they are ill.
That’s the CliniClowns Click.
Marcel Weijers
(better known among the children as CliniClown Moes)
The
CliniClowns
Click....
What is our
objective?
Ditte (12 years of age)
“I had to laugh a lot.”
Before I was admitted to hospital, I‘d heard about the CliniClowns. I more or less had an idea what
CliniClowns aims to bring moments of distraction and happiness to as many children as possible,
it was about, but thought it was for the little ones only. I was wrong. I got back from an examina-
who are impeded in enjoying their childhood due to illness and/or a disability. Using creativity and
tion and the clowns just got out of my room and wanted to move on because I wasn’t there. When
imagination to connect with the healthy side of the child and making it the centre of attention, so
they saw me, they went straight back in and started making jokes with the cuddly toys that were
that it can briefly escape the often harsh reality of everyday life. Making the CliniClowns Click with
on my bed. They really made me and my mother laugh. The day I left hospital, they said goodbye
them, that magnificent moment in which a child briefly forgets its predicament and is filled with
waving their scarves and putting on their “sad” faces. That was fun. I was only in hospital for a
a sense of control of its destiny. But it is also about a boost in self-esteem, being a child again and
short while. But on my ward there were children who have to stay in hospital for weeks, sometimes
creating a positive effect that often resonates with the rest of the family.
even months. I think they will have lots of fun with the CliniClowns.
CliniClowns wants to make that special Click with more and more children and their families. CurRegards Ditte.
rently we reach approximately 30% of all ill and/or disabled children in the Netherlands. In the next
five years, CliniClowns Netherlands wants to increase its radius and reach an audience of 50%. As
part thereof, our activities will be further geared to the specific situation and needs of the child.
A challenge that we can only accomplish thanks to the people who hold our work dear.
Events
Theatre Tour
CliniClowns visits
Neuzenroode.nl
Treasure Trunk
How
do we do
that?
The Small Senses
Orchestra
Each week, children get CliniClowns visits in hospitals and care institutions. This is done in close
consultation with the educationalists who know the children’s needs. During a clown’s visit, the
child is temporarily in full control. The child can of course decide whether the clowns are welcome
or not, and also what the play is about.
Marjan van der Klauw
Team manager Pedagogic team Advisium,
’s Heerenloo West
CliniClowns visits are also made to institutions for disabled children. They do that in the form of
The Small Senses Orchestra. This form of theatre has been chosen especially for children with
mental or multiple disabilities and/or behavioural problems. During the sensory performance, all
senses are stimulated allowing the children to be entirely themselves.
“Other people confront children who have mental disabilities about their limitations throughout
their lives. Until the CliniClowns arrive, because they don’t mind. “The CliniClowns always succeed
in making contact. “
The
Small Senses
Orchestra
Neuzenroode.nl
When the CliniClowns are not physically present in the hospital, children can still enter the clown’s
world by means of the CliniClowns Treasure Trunk. Each drawer of this life-size Treasure Trunk
harbours something exciting, such as an interactive distorting mirror with lots of innovative gadgets,
a clown’s orchestra which is switched on by playing a small organ, an exciting balancing game and
fun videos. A total of 80 Treasure Trunks can currently be found in the Dutch hospitals and they
prove to be a resounding success. Our objective is to install many more.
It needs to be noted that many ill and/or disabled children are not in hospital, but cared for at home.
Treasure
Trunk
And we of course want to reach these children also. These children can log on to the unique online
experience of Neuzenroode.nl for distraction and fun, whenever they want. This specially secured
and private website is here for them for when they have left the hospital again. A unique feature of
Neuzenroode.nl is live webcam contact maintained by the CliniClowns with the children at home.
The children can also watch diaries and clips of the clowns, play clownish games and make music,
chat or webcam with other children.
Families with an ill and/or disabled child cannot enjoy a day out without making the necessary
preparations. These children generally tire sooner, cannot process as many stimuli and sometimes
require medical attention during the day. Therefore CliniClowns developed various customised events.
The events are adjusted to the contents and length of the programme, travelling time and offer
Theatre
Tour
sufficient room for all visitors. It further includes a First Aid post.
This way the entire family can enjoy the day carefree.
The CliniClowns Theatre Tour has been developed especially for children with multiple disabilities
and for children with a (minor) mental disability and/or autism up to the age of 19, plus their families.
This travelling show is entirely geared to the perception of these children, with ‘hearing, sight, smell,
taste and touch’ being the central themes. This enables them to enjoy a day out with parents / carers,
supervisors, brothers and sisters, within the scope of their own abilities. A ‘normal’ day out is often not
possible for these children and their families, due to the lack of necessary provisions and facilities. The
Theatre Tour is fully geared to the wishes and needs of these children, so that everyone can enjoy
themselves without having to worry. The show has been successfully travelling through the country
for a number of years now.
Events
A common feature within all our activities is that it is aimed at a very special target audience: sick
children and/or children with a disability. Consequently, each part of our work has to meet strict
requirements. This starts with the CliniClowns that we employ.
CliniClowns are dedicated experts: professionally and specially trained clowns who often have a
medical and/or pedagogic background. Each situation and each child is unique. This requires a high
level of empathy and flexibility of the CliniClown. Therefore CliniClowns are “masters of improvisation”.
CliniClowns Netherlands trains its own clowns. The course focuses on practical situations, personal
learning curves and practising the specific CliniClowns Approach®. In addition, various refresher
courses are organised per year to guarantee that the CliniClowns continue to meet the high-quality
requirements.
Children
deserve
attention...
...of the
highest
level
Shows for children with multiple disabilities require additional measures. These children can enjoy
themselves intensely, yet can also become upset when given slightly too many stimuli. These shows
are partly developed and guided by specialists. The accommodation must cater for the different needs
of the children, as well as include dedicated rooms for changing children bound to a wheelchair or for
Mirjam
resting.
“I can see what it means to the children.”
Our virtual world Neuzenroode.nl also requires considerable investments in view of the vulnerable
Nop and Neel are CliniClowns from the very beginning. Without their red noses they are called
children, now and in the future. The safety and privacy of the growing group of members of the web-
Mirjam and Annelie. Mirjam: “Each day I can see what distraction and fun means to these children.
site must be one hundred per cent guaranteed. And since Neuzenroode.nl is sometimes the only
I feel privileged, as being a CliniClown is the best job you can have. Sometimes you visit children
daily source of distraction and fun, the website is continuously updated and expanded.
who are long-term or terminally ill. You enter an environment that you’re not at all familiar with.
We don’t work on the basis of a predefined scenario. We work with whatever we come across.
Sometimes it’s a scarf, sometimes it’s a chair.
Carefully checking the needs of the child is the basis. Recently a mum told us when we left:
“You’re the only ones giving here, rather than taking.” I was touched by that, as it is the very
essence of our work”.
Dr. Max Visser
Paediatrician at Maasland Hospital in Sittard
“Many countries have experience in deploying CliniClowns. The effects and influence of
CliniClowns have been the subject of many studies. A CliniClown is extremely well-trained and, as
such, well-prepared for his task. He is more than able to empathise with children, especially sick
children. It has become clear that children experience less pain and feel less sick when they are in
contact with the CliniClowns. There are even indications of effects on the recovery process.
A paediatrics department, stronger still, each child is entitled to meet a CliniClown!”
Further
information?
Would you like to receive further information about CliniClowns? Please feel free to contact us. You
can either call us on 00 31 (0)33 469 90 40 or send an email to: [email protected]. You can of course
also visit our website www.cliniclowns.nl