RED NOSES now also in Croatia!

A press conference held on 18 February at the University Clinic Rebro brought about the start of operations for CRVENI NOSEVI KLAUNOVIDOKTORI (RED NOSES Clowndoctors in Croatia).  Amongst the many VIPs present were the Austrian Ambassador to Croatia, H.E. Jan Rickert, Ron Given, Country Manager of Wolf Theiss in Croatia and board member of CRVENI NOSEVI, Lidija Hrastiv Novack, City of Zagreb, Sonja Redavec, Ministry of Health, Don Markusic, President of the American Chamber of Commerce and Prof. Ivan Malcic, Head of the children’s ward at the University Clinic Rebro.

Nine clowndoctors now bring music, magic, and lots of fantasy to many long-term sick children.  These specially trained professional artists are able to motivate the children with compassionate moments of happiness and a new sense of well-being.

Laughter is by far the best gift one can give a sick child in hospital.  The appearance of the clown with his red nose epitomizes the joy of life.  Humour is transmitted as a positive force and a powerful source of energy, which are important elements that support the healing process.

Zoran Vukić, Artistic Director and himself a clown (Dr. Ludek), has been tirelessly working on the start up of the new organization since April 2010.  After intense medical, psychological and artistic training had taken place, his team conducted a trial run in the paediatric ward in October 2010.

New plans have already been put into place as Zoran would like to be more present in clinics around the country, such as in the Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak, Zagreb.

RED NOSES International (RNI)
CRVENI NOSEVI KLAUNOVIDOKTORI is therefore the 8th partner organization in the RED NOSES network, the largest group of professional hospital clowns in Europe.

RNI was founded in 2003 by the Austrian organisation ROTE NASEN Clowndoctors.  It develops new partner organizations and provides them with sustainable support.  A total of 262 hospitals in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and New Zealand were visited by 244 clowns in the year 2010.

A strange environment, fear of operations, unpleasant examinations or long hospital stays – these can all frighten children and even adults too.  This is exactly where the work of the RED NOSES clowndoctors becomes a valuable asset, as they visit sick children and suffering people in hospitals.

In such situations RED NOSES clowns use music, magic or simply a bit of affection to bring light heartedness and moments of joy to their audience.  They aren’t doctors, but specially trained artists who improvise instead of operate.  They don’t prescribe medicine – their humour IS the medicine.  Fear and pain are then often quickly forgotten as sparkling eyes and beaming faces appear instead!

For further information please contact:

ROTE NASEN Clowndoctors International

Eva Primavesi
Wattgasse 48, A – 1170 Vienna
T: 318 03 13-31
M: 0699-192 55 169
E: eva.primavesi@rotenasen.at

CRVENI NOSEVI KLAUNOVIDOKTORI

Mladenka Majerić                                        
RED NOSES – Clowndoctors                             
T: 091/1250-512                                        
E: mladenka.majeric@crveninosevi.hr              petra.gelb@grayling.com

Petra Gelb
Grayling
T: 099/4882 863
E:petra.gelb@grayling.com