A cry for help from Palestine

[July 2009]
RED NOSES Clowndoctors International has been in contact with Palestinian artists since 2005 with the common mission to extend clown care to suffering children in Palestinian hospitals. Under the auspices of the Al Kasaba Theater in Ramallah first talks, auditions and workshops took place in Vienna and in Palestine. Eight artists were professionally trained and prepared for the sensitive task of bringing joy and hope to ailing children.

Unfortunately the project could not be continued due to the political situation and the lack of sponsors. RED NOSES Clowndoctors International is trying to take up the project again. Only with your help will we be able to continue the noble task of implementing a clown project in Palestine and alleviate the situation of sick children in hospital.

For approximately 300,000 children four years or younger in the Bethlehem/Hebron region, basic health services are not easily available. A high number of children are suffering from severe post-trauma stress disorders and other mood and anxiety disorders resulting from many years of war, economic sanctions and displacement from their homes and familiar surroundings. Besides the emotional stress, the general population faces very challenging health and living conditions. Typical illnesses the children suffer from are malnutrition, metabolism disorders, intestinal diseases, respiratory problems, congenital malformations, hypothermia and leukemia.

Due to the dreary circumstances, children in hospitals are often alone, their families unable to visit and stay with them, or they torn apart from their relatives and have to endure their treatment isolated, scared, depressed uncertain and not comprehending the adult world around them. This causes critical problems for the sick child and can even inhibit the healing process of the little patients.

The focus of our attention lies on the following two hospitals:
The Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem, the only paediatric hospital in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the Al Hussein Government Hospital in Beit Jala, one of only two hospitals in the West Bank which specializes in children's oncology.

RED NOSES Clowndoctors International can and wants to help. Besides scientific proof, we have successful results of humour in therapy and its effectiveness across borders.

Info:
Tamara Seeliger
E: tamara.seeliger@rednoses.eu
T: +43 1 318 03 13 - 28