Japanese volunteers to work as Clown Doctors in Vitebsk

VITEBSK, 7 September (BelTA) – Japanese volunteers will hold a master class in clown care in the Vitebsk Regional Children’s Teaching Hospital, BelTA learnt from the Vitebsk office of the Belarusian Red Cross Society (BRCS). A group of 15 Japanese volunteers came to Vitebsk on 6 September to meet with and share best practices in clown care with volunteers of the Vitebsk office of the BRCS. The day before the Japanese volunteers had shared their expertise and knowledge in clown care with Vitebsk partners from the Doctor Nebolit group and held video presentations of their activities. On 7 September the Japanese Clown Doctors will hold a three-hour clown care session in the Vitebsk Regional Children’s Teaching Hospital. Vitebsk volunteers will attend the session in a bid to enhance their clown care skills. The Belarusian Red Cross Society informed that the idea to start providing clown care was born several years ago. The Doctor Nebolit group was set up with this purpose last year. Now the group includes 15 active members, mainly students and employed young people. Every day the group gives one or two performances for children in hospitals and social care institutions. All the volunteers completed special training at seminars and educational sessions. The training included acting skills, juggling, making illusory or magical feats, and calisthenics. This summer the volunteers attended a training seminar in Moscow where they shared best practices with Clown Doctors from Russia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. Young people from several districts of Vitebsk Oblast got interested in the project. Initiative groups are to be set up in Orsha, Polotsk District and Miory District.

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