RED NOSES Palestine Expands the Number of Qualified Healthcare Clowns to Deliver the “Intensive Smile” Programme

Today, RED NOSES Palestine (RNPS) organised a specialised training workshop on the “Intensive Smile” Programme for a group of our healthcare clowns, to strengthen their skills and increase the number of qualified clowns able to work within this specialised programme in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The workshop was led by our Artistic Director, Daoud Totah.

 The workshop covered the concept and objectives of the “Intensive Smile” Programme, as well as the role of healthcare clowns in accompanying children through various medical procedures. It also focused on building professional relationships with children, their families, and medical staff. In addition, the clowns received practical training on effective communication skills, emotional management in healthcare settings, and the use of humour and play as supportive tools to reduce children’s stress, anxiety, and fear before and during medical procedures.

The programme is based on one-on-one interactions between the healthcare clown and the child before and after going to a medical procedure, allowing for the development of a supportive relationship built on trust and tailored to each child’s individual needs. This approach helps children feel safer and more in control of their situation, while also providing support to parents and caregivers throughout the treatment journey. Furthermore, healthcare clowns develop close working relationships with medical teams, becoming valuable partners in delivering more humane and holistic care.

 This workshop is part of “Humour gives hope: Strengthening the mental health of vulnerable children & adolescents in Palestine through health clowning” project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK).