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Day 24

One minute of hospital clowns for sick children in Germany

Laughing children in the Balthasar children's and youth hospice Laughing children in the Balthasar children's and youth hospice

One minute of hospital clowns for sick children in Germany
Day 24
Accompanying terminally ill children and adolescents

Laughter and a babble of voices fill the hallway of the children's hospice. Something falls to the floor with a clatter, children scream, someone starts singing a song. A small group of visitors stands in the hallway and looks at each other in amazement. What's going on here? The hospital clowns are on the loose! Once a week, clown Micha and his colleague Lulu come to the Balthasar children's hospice and give the terminally ill children and their siblings and parents a few hours of happiness. Balthasar was the first children's hospice to employ professional hospital clowns. Professional means that Micha and Lulu have learned their trade in many seminars. They don't just have a red nose, although this nose is often the "door opener" for initial, trusting contact with the children. Before each visit, they find out exactly about the children and their illnesses. Can it be wild and loud or would you prefer something a little quieter?

Accompanying terminally ill children and adolescents
need
Hospital clowns for terminally ill children and young people in children’s hospices.
activity
Professionally trained hospital clowns make terminally ill children and young people laugh for a few hours a week.
Measurable performance
Number of children who can be visited by a hospital clown.
Result
Children and young people with terminal illnesses experience happy hours, can laugh and have their self-esteem strengthened.
Systemically relevant impact
The family structure of affected families with a terminally ill child is strengthened because all family members benefit.
background

Due to the incurable diseases, the children often lose more and more abilities. Realizing that they can no longer do many things makes the children feel insecure, scared or even really angry. With the clowns, they can enter a fantasy world in which the illness no longer plays a role. When Micha and Lulu are there, the big ones become the little ones and that gives the children and young people comfort and hope.

A mother from the children's hospice says, "Suddenly there is someone, an adult, who is anxious and clumsy. He jumps to the side in horror when my son's electric wheelchair moves as if by magic. And my son laughs. Otherwise he is the clumsy one who doesn't always manage every curve with his wheelchair straight away."

Micha has hidden behind the red armchair, his teeth chattering. "A magic chair! The invisible spirit moves the magic chair!" he yells, while Lulu crouches down next to him. Lukas is clearly enjoying chasing the two of them a little further before he waves them off with a patronizing smile: "It's just my wheelchair." First Micha, then Lulu, timidly emerge from their hiding place and let Lukas explain how the wheelchair works. In this way, the guests at the hospice not only experience a fun morning with happy hours, but also gain courage to face life.

Day 24 Day 24
The good deed

The hospital clowns' services are only possible through donations. The families affected always benefit from the mornings with the two clowns. Because when everyday life is dominated by strenuous care and worries about the future, the happy moments are often the first to fall by the wayside. The hospital clowns try to bring out the little moments of happiness again. The children's happiness is what rewards them most. Through their good deeds, the families learn that they can still laugh despite the diagnosis of "incurable illness" and that it is possible to experience positive moments. This strengthens the family structure and the sick children gain new strength and self-confidence. They can forget their difficult everyday life for a few hours.

AboutGermany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
82 667 700
82 667 700
Population
41 902
41 902
Gross domestic product per capita per year
4
4
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Measured by gross domestic product, Germany is the largest economy in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Despite this, there is no cost-covering funding for children's hospices in Germany.
About the organization and further information

organization

Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice Foundation

website

www.kinderhospiz-balthasar.de/stiftung.html

DZI donation seal

Further links