April 6, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
Refugee camps for people who have fled civil wars, orphanages for children who have lost parents to AIDS, and shelters for survivors of natural disasters are notfun places to be. But one charity hopes that a little clowning around — and maybe even some juggling — can lighten the atmosphere and provide a sense of normalcy, if only temporarily.
Clowns Without Borders was born after members of a Spanish circus troupe performed shows in refugee camps in Croatia and Bosnia in 1993 during the ethnic conflicts that raged in that region. Now, Clowns Without Borders also has affiliates in Belgium, Canada, France, Sweden, and the United States.
“Humor has always been present in crisis situations,” says Moshe Cohen, who directs Clowns Without Borders-USA, in San Francisco. “It’s a great way of letting the lid off the pressure cooker.”
Volunteers organized by the American branch have performed for children in South Africa who have lost their parents to AIDS, residents of villages in Guatemala devastated by mud slides, and survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to putting on shows, volunteers often hold workshops to teach circus skills, such as clowning, juggling, or stilt walking, to children, teachers, and local performers.
Each of the six national groups operates independently. Mr. Cohen says that performers who volunteer for the American branch typically raise money for their trips through house parties and benefit shows, a total of between $20,000 and $30,000 a year.
