Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe Executive Director Cheryl Lekousi, recently joined 12 students from Spain at Suffolk University in Boston, to share her experience and insight on medical clowning. The experience was made possible by the Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation and the program took place as a part of the Richi Foundation Innovation Camp.
The Camp is an initiative of the Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation and the National Foundation for Cancer Research. The Camp’s objective is to foster student talent and excellence during the pre-university years through a 3-week international immersion campus experience in Boston. This year the students were from Spain.
Lekousi spoke about public service and what it brings to children in hospitals, particularly through hospital clowning. As a part of the Troupe’s mission to teach about medical clowning and to train new hospital clowns, the Troupe was delighted to be a part of the Camp.
While learning about medical clowning, the teens became interested in how clowns play in the hospital and were asked by Lekousi to participate in some role play. The students shared about experiences they or people they knew had in hospitals. Many of the participating students are planning to go in to medicine and were interested to understand how the medical environment affects children. Lekousi gave examples of how play and empowerment can change the hospital environment. The time came to change the student’s environment and Lekousi asked the students to move away from the classroom workspace to try some clowning. The students participated in some simple improvisation and clowning exercises which quickly resulted in a lighter atmosphere of play, engagement and silliness. The workshop ended with lots of laughter and red noses for all.
To learn more about the work of the Richi Foundation click here.