Funny women have played starring roles as catalysts in the transformation.

Clowns Without Borders (CWB)-USA has had all-women teams before. But we’ve only begun to explore how audiences respond to shows directed, produced, and performed entirely by women.

This post introduces you to the women who shared laughter with people of all ages in southern Turkey (May 2024) and gives you a front-row seat to the best audience reactions from the tour.

Does an All-Woman Laughter Team Matter?

We think women-led laughter matters and this blog post shares stories to underscore that idea.

Meet the Team

Five women made CWB’s Turkey Tour 2024 a smashing success. Four of them were no strangers to Turkey, and all five were familiar with clowning in areas of crisis.

Anchoring the team were Yasemin Ertorun and Çağdaş Ekin Şişman, talented performers from Istanbul’s SOS clown group. Their familiarity with the Turkish language and culture was invaluable. Gamze Akça Özcan, also of SOS, served as the tour manager, ensuring smooth operations and building on existing connections with NGOs and civil society groups in southern Turkey.

Sabine Choucair, a powerhouse Lebanese-American performer, joined from her base in Turkey. Sabine is a co-founder of Clown Me In, a community-based organization in Lebanon. Completing the team was Luz Gaxiola, who has been on CWB tours in Lebanon, Greece, and Mexico. Luz arrived from Olympia, Washington, with her accordion and clown props ready.

In just ten days, CWB’s all-female team brought laughter and joy to over 2,200 people, including roughly 1,800 children, across Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Islahiye, Turkey (May 8th-17th, 2024).

Now that you’ve met the team, let’s meet the audience.

Touching Hearts in Southern Turkey

Of the three million people displaced by the 2023 earthquakes, over 600,000 are still in temporary housing. Usually, that looks like rows and rows of converted metal shipping containers.

The containers are vulnerable to the cold and heat. However, a move to permanent housing is cost-prohibitive due to a shortage of safe property and the inflated cost of rent.

You love to laugh — and you know how much laughter has helped you through difficult moments.

You can give the gift of laughter to a child in crisis every month with a donation of just $11 monthly.

Unexpected Guests

Clowns from Turkey and elsewhere have spent time in Hatay and nearby regions that were hardest hit by the earthquake. So some people have met clowns, while others haven’t.

“We surprised many people going about their day. They seemed shocked and amazed to find a parade of clowns and children playing music and blowing bubbles in the streets. Some people just shared a silly moment with us, and others gathered their friends and family, followed the parade, and joined us for the show.”

“One kid came at the end of the show to take a photo with Sabouny (Sabine’s clown character). She was 5 years old and didn’t want to look at the camera at all. She just wanted to be near the clown and looked at her in awe for a long moment.”

– Luz Gaxiola

“Nobody Cared Anymore” was the Transformation

CWB’s impact goes beyond eliciting laughs. We aim to transform.

“[The audience sees] four women onstage being ridiculous and being happy about how ridiculous we are, enjoying the failures and enjoying every part of the show and what we were doing…[The show] was like a celebration. We got to a point where nobody cared anymore. We were all just there, together.” 

– Sabine Choucair

“Nobody cared anymore” isn’t negative. It signifies a beautiful moment of transformation in which audience members felt liberated from societal pressures and self-consciousness. Men, women, and children alike could simply be themselves, united in a celebration of uninhibited joy.

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“There was this teenage girl who was so grumpy. From the beginning of the show, she was like, ‘Who are these clowns?’ ‘Why are there clowns coming here?’ Then, at one point, we were dancing with the girls. We were getting girls from the audience to come and do a silly dance. Then [the grumpy teenager] just decided to come onstage, take my jacket, and put the jacket on and dance with us. [There was] a shift from, ‘Who are these clowns?’ and ‘I’m not going to laugh,’ to being part of the game onstage. 

– Sabine Choucair

Seeing women of their background and identity leading in this way validates and normalizes these experiences, inspiring girls and women to embrace their unique talents and reject limitations imposed by patriarchal structures.

From Shy to “Busting Out” a Melody

Women-led play plants a seed: breaking barriers can be a positive and healthy process. Consider this story from Luz:

“After the show, this little girl showed up holding a box with a melodica in it. She was kind of shy, but she was holding it. So we started encouraging her by saying, ‘Okay, great, let’s see the melodica.’ So then she took it out, but she wasn’t playing it. She needed a few more minutes to be okay with that. So then we were like, ‘Play it!’ So she started playing it, but she was just doing little random sounds. 

“Then I, with my accordion, just started copying her. But she was a little shy, so she did that for a few minutes…and then she busted out this melody. [And we realized,] ‘Oh, you actually play this thing.’ So she started playing this melody, Bella Ciao. And I know Bella Ciao, so it was great because she was playing the melody on the melodica, and I was able to chime in here and there on the accordion. And we ended up having this really sweet duet.”

– Luz Gaxiola

The connection was between two musicians, but also between two women. Inspired by seeing a woman confidently lead and perform, the girl found the courage to express herself. The rarity of this kind of moment highlights the need for more opportunities where girls can see themselves reflected in strong, talented women, and feel empowered to pursue their dreams.

Women Calling the Shots

Sabine has an act where she playfully challenges a man who comes on stage, asking him to demonstrate both masculine and feminine moves. If he refuses, she humorously dismisses him and finds another volunteer.

“I was like, ‘Okay, you’re not going to do that? I’m not interested in you.’ So he left, and I picked somebody else and he was adorable. It was great to have him onstage. He really played along and was so happy to do that.

“Clowns are about, ‘let’s connect on a more deeper level’ and ‘Ya, I’m a woman onstage assuming my role and kicking whoever I want to kick out.’”

– Sabine Choucair

Sabine’s act is a playful yet powerful critique of rigid societal expectations of masculinity. The audience isn’t just passively entertained; they become active participants in questioning these norms. Those who embrace the challenge, like the “adorable” volunteer, demonstrate a willingness to break free from stereotypes.

Conclusion

As we reflect on CWB’s all-women team in Turkey, we see that their impact goes far beyond laughter. In a world where men have traditionally dominated clowning, CWB is flipping the script. Women-led performances challenged societal norms, proving that humor can be a powerful tool for dismantling gender stereotypes.

This is the true magic of CWB-USA: creating spaces where laughter breaks down barriers and brings people together.

For adult and child immigrants, often journeying the rooftop of the train, La Bestia symbolizes risk and determination, two necessary companions for the journey north.

In this post, you’ll witness the transformative power of humor in the face of adversity through audience participation, shared fears, and moments of pure joy.

Let’s jump in!

(Quotes throughout the post are from Molly Shannon.)

A Clown Show Next to La Bestia

Our story begins at a shelter beside the tracks, a temporary haven for those traveling north. The audience was mostly men in their late teens and twenties, with some kids and a few women present. Most of the audience was from Honduras and Venezuela. 

Here, the weight of migration — the dangers faced, the loved ones left behind — hung heavy.

You love to laugh — and you know how much laughter has helped you through difficult moments.

You can give the gift of laughter to a child in crisis every month with a donation of just $11 monthly.

“There was a worn-to-the-bone energy of many men there, a tautness, a closed-offness, which we were told to expect. Many are fleeing from violence, as well as encountering it along the way.”

But amidst the survival energy, there was also hope — a group of young men, eager and ready to engage, sat off to the side, ready for whatever the performance had in store.

“In the show, we are clowns journeying on La Bestia: boarding the train, jumping off the train, stopping temporarily to camp, eat, sleep, jumping back on the train at the end, all while experiencing extreme weather.”

The artists improvised, incorporating real-life sounds into their show.

“We played it that we were doing a theatrical production, with stuff going wrong with the sound: actual heavy rain, thunder, and, most notably, the actual train, La Bestia, passing by during the show. With tons and tons of weight, it made deep booming and wavy-sounding noises as it passed by.”

Because the audience was living the experience presented, their response to the show was immediate and positive. For example, the show created moments for the clowns to share their fears and invited the audience to do the same.

“We arrived at the point in the show where we talked about things that scared us in the night. After we went through our fears of spiders and bears, the audience started shouting, ‘Coyotes!,’ ‘La Migra!,’ (smugglers and immigration authorities in English) to laughs of acknowledgment and understanding.”

In another moment during the skit, a helpful shout from the audience, “You’ve just gotta jump!” underscored the dangerous reality of people’s journeys. But it also revealed the care and camaraderie toward those with shared experience.

Clowns in Mexico Make Inclusion Center Stage Two Boys Steal the Show

Emiliano Shines in the Spotlight

Emiliano, a 9-year-old deaf audience member, caught our attention.

He didn’t know how to use sign language or read, but he could engage with the show — and he did so with enthusiasm.

Prompted by the clowns to mimic rain and wind sounds, he eagerly participated and made sure he stayed in sync. His smile radiated with delight the whole time!

After the performance, Molly and Thom approached him for fashion advice, communicating visually. While Molly received a thumbs-up for her attire, Thom’s fashion sense didn’t quite get the same approval.

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Carlos Leads “Dead or Alive” Game

Carlos, another boy who was about 7 years old, eagerly joined the clowns on stage during the classic CWB skit, “Dead or Alive.”

When Carmelita (Molly) “died” and required resurrection, Carlos, brimming with excitement, eagerly led a group of children onstage.

“With the energy of everyone united and at that moment, Carlos and the other children contributed all their energy and enthusiasm to revive Carmelita.”

Death is a complex and frightening concept, especially for children. Taking part in a scenario where they can “fix” death, children gain a sense of control over a situation that feels out of control. They become the agent of change, reversing a scary outcome.

In Mexico, the Audience Carries The Clown Magic

As the performance continued, moments of magic unfolded. One instance occurred when an audience member transformed a simple prop into a whimsical adventure.

Molly took on the role of a guard, embodying a strict military demeanor as she marched around. She invited another member of the audience to join her, but the drill quickly transformed into a playful dance.

“[Then] he noticed the pile of brooms, slipped his arm gallantly through mine, and led me over to them. He picked up a broom, and I thought maybe he was going to dance with it, but then he hopped aboard it, a la witch on a broomstick style, and beckoned me to join him.”

Embracing the moment, Molly jumped on the broomstick.

“I had a real fun time playing up that I was working, on duty, I cannot, but wait, [the other performers] are sleeping, maybe just a short flight on the broomstick. So I hopped on and he took us on a swooping circle around the sleeping Thom and Vane, and I made a big deal of keeping quiet to not wake them. He dropped me back off, put the broomstick away, and sat down laughing.”

The transformative power of play is on full display in this story, with an audience member elevating the story beyond the artists’ expectations, and to the sheer delight of the audience.

Reflecting on the experience, Molly notes,

“There was something magical in him choosing to fly on a broomstick, something that I am sure he wishes was possible in his situation: a magical, easy, quick journey to wherever you are going.”

The Team

This tour had a three-person performing team and a non-performing team member.

Vanessa Nieto (Mexico) and Molly Shannon (US) most recently toured with CWB in Mexico in 2022. This was Thom Wall’s first CWB tour. Thom is a featured performer in CWB’s 25th Annual Portland Benefit Show (March 30, 2024). Majo Diaz de Riviera was indispensable in organizing the team’s logistics.

The November 7-15, 2023 tour reached 312 adults and 1,060 kids.

Conclusion

La Bestia may symbolize risk and determination, but CWB’s presence offered a flicker of light — a reminder that even on the darkest path, a moment of human connection and a shared laugh can spark healing and glimmers of hope.

In our universe, imaginative play is a tool — a bridge for people experiencing displacement caused by conflict, political turbulence, economic struggle, and environmental crisis.

El Salvador, where people face multiple causes of displacement, found itself in the spotlight of a tour in November 2023.

Join us under the big top to learn how clown energy brought play, laughter, and relief to people in El Salvador.

Families Face Multiple Causes of Displacement in El Salvador

For decades, deadly gang violence has shaped life in El Salvador. To find safety, many young people left their homes and family members to migrate north. El Salvador has also become a destination for Venezuelans escaping dangerous political and economic conditions.

Even as deaths and migration continue, arbitrary arrests of men suspected of gang activity have added to the heartache.

You love to laugh — and you know how much laughter has helped you through difficult moments.

You can give the gift of laughter to a child in crisis every month with a donation of just $11 monthly.

For these reasons, CWB-USA planned a tour for November 2023.

No one anticipated that the stage was also set for another cause of displacement: Tropical Storm Pilar.

Navigating a Red Alert: Tropical Storm Pilar

Clowns Without Borders performances aren’t just fun, they’re strategic endeavors. 

When Tropical Storm Pilar hit, the red alert prompted even more caution than we’d already applied and anticipated.

Hundreds of people left their homes to seek safety from the storm.

Bringing laughter must never jeopardize people’s safety, both the journey to the performance and the gathering itself, nor inadvertently divert vital resources.

Fortunately, adapting to fresh traumas of already vulnerable groups isn’t a new dynamic for CWB. We’ve been here before. Just weeks before the El Salvador tour, we redirected a tour in Guatemala to assure audience safety during political protests.

After the storm subsided, CWB-USA artists were ready to bring the transformative power of laughter.

Sharing the Vibe: Clown Energy and Laughter

So what happened when our artists could safely gather children and families for clown shows in El Salvador?

Here are stories from the events:

Our first show was intimate, with only 32 people in attendance. All were migrant adults and children seeking refugee status and asylum.

There were lots of excited parents who were thankful to see their children so happy and taking part. A group of kids, 8 to 11 years old, said they’d, “never seen magic before.”

Aileen, 6 years old, volunteered to come on stage. With assistance, she made an egg appear out of thin air. When asked to throw the egg into a basket, she said she couldn’t do it.

CWB artists offered her space to leave the stage but also offered encouragement. She compromised by saying, “I’m going to throw it as well as I can.”

As the audience cheered her on, Aileen threw her egg.

She got it in the basket on the first try and left the stage with a huge smile on her face!

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At a school in the town of Santa Maria, Edwin, who’s 9 years old, asked where Josie was from. She said the US.

Josie asked Edwin if he had ever visited the US and he said, “No.” And added that he wasn’t able to get a visa.

Then she asked him if he’d ever seen a clown before. Edwin said, “Yes. But they weren’t as great as you and you made us laugh a lot more.”

In Panchimalco, a town that’s considered one of the most dangerous in the country, there was a special older participant named Marcerito. On stage, she shared her huge smile and youthful energy. Audience and artists alike delighted in her joy.

Clown Energy for the Back Pocket: A Special Abracadabra

You know the word “abracadabra” makes magic happen. But the clown energy on this tour intended for people to recognize the ever-present source of magic within themselves.

During each show, the audience shouted, “Mi vida es magica!” (“My life is magic.”) to conjure enchantment.

After the show, audience members would approach artists and repeat the phrase, “Mi vida es magica.” It became the anthem of the tour.

Now it’s your turn! Say it with us: “Mi vida es magica.” “Mi vida es magica!”

Jed Doherty, a CWB artist who performed in El Salvador, shares a story of a child who made the magic his own:

Conclusion

CWB-USA holds clown energy for crowd after crowd after crowd, making laughter happen amid complex realities of displacement.

Our El Salvador tour was planned in collaboration with our local partner ACNUR and Tour Leader Ricardo Bamaca (Guatemala) and featured artists Josie Mae (United States), Jed Doherty (United States), and Val Juarez (El Salvador).

Check out this Instagram reel from the El Salvador tour:

You Can Help CWB Plan the Next Tour

A gift to CWB-USA is a gift of laughter to children and families who are experiencing crisis. The laughter becomes a moment of shared joy by which children and community members build resilience.

Will you join us in spreading joy and laughter?

This post covers the benefits of clown classes, clowning techniques, how to choose the right class for you, and particular studios you’ll want to check out.

Are you ready?

It’s show time!

Reasons to Take a Clowning Class in NYC (or Anywhere)

Beyond learning how to make people laugh, clowning classes are a safe and encouraging space for expression and creativity.

Through clowning, you’ll…

1. Become a better communicator. As a clown, your ability to connect with your audience relies heavily on effective communication. Through improv exercises and character development, you’ll learn non-verbal ways of engaging with others.
2. Develop personal growth and self-confidence. Stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing your inner clown can be a transformative experience. Let go of those inhibitions and embrace vulnerability!
3. Relieve stress. Laughter has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, boost mood, and improve overall well-being. By immersing yourself in the world of clowning, you’ll bring joy to others and experience the positive effects firsthand.
4. Open doors to a supportive community who share your passion for laughter and performance. Building relationships with students and instructors is priceless and can pave the way for future support and collaborations.
5. Expand your horizons. Each artist-instructor has a different way of teaching. Sometimes the hardest — and most exciting — part of a clown class is feeling like a beginner (whether you’re new to clowning or a mirthful master).

Are you new to clowning? The next sections should help you understand the art form and identify the type of class that’s right for you.

Clowning Techniques that Tickle Funny Bones

Clowning techniques cover a range of fun skills like making stuff up on the spot, using your body to get a laugh, and creating unique clown characters!

Improvisation is the secret sauce of clowning. It’s all about thinking on your feet, being spontaneous, and finding the funny in unexpected situations. Clowning classes will help you trust your instincts and dive headfirst into the world of hilarious moments.

Physical comedy tells a story with your body. From pratfalls and slapstick to intricate movements and acrobatics, it’s all about perfect timing and control.

Clown character development is where the real fun begins. It’s about crafting your clown persona that’s a perfect match for your unique comedic style and personality. Imagine creating a look, nailing quirky mannerisms, and finding your clown’s voice.

Hunting for Hilarious: Your NYC Clown Class Quest

With the abundance of clowning classes available in NYC, you may feel overwhelmed. Here are a few questions to ask yourself. And, really, these apply to wherever you’re taking a class.

• Are you looking for an intensive or for a place for ongoing practice?
• Are you looking for a teacher who will help you build on your existing style, or who is going to shake it up with something completely different?
• Do you have a goal for a desired outcome? This could be anything from developing your existing act to getting new ideas for performing or teaching. 

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You’ll also want to consider

• Your experience level. Are you looking to dip your toe into the world of clowning, or are you seeking to refine your skills? 
• Instructors and their backgrounds. Look for instructors with extensive experience in a style that resonates with you. Student reviews give insight into the instructor’s teaching methods and the overall quality of the class.
• Class size and the atmosphere of the studio. Do you thrive in larger groups with a bustling energy or prefer smaller, more intimate settings? To peek behind the curtain, swing by the studio for a trial class. It’s your chance to get a feel for the place and see if it’s a clown-tastic fit for you!

Juggle these considerations and you’ll find a clowning class that meets your needs and delivers a delightful experience.

From Jitters to Jollies: What Happens in Clown Class?

Entering a clowning class for the first time can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. However, knowing what to expect can bring ease to your experience.

Classes typically begin with icebreaker activities and warm-up exercises to help you loosen up and get into the clowning mindset. Picture physical warm-ups, vocal exercises, and improv games designed to get your creative juices flowing.

As the class progresses, you might explore different clown archetypes, learn how to develop a clown character, or practice physical comedy routines. The instructors will guide you through each step, providing feedback and encouragement along the way.

Most clowning classes also involve group activities and collaborations, which build relationships and provide opportunities for learning and feedback.

In addition to in-class activities, you may also participate in clowning performances or showcases. These events allow you to showcase your progress and gain real-world performance experience. They also offer the opportunity to connect with the larger clowning community.

Finding Your Clown Tribe: NYC’s Clown Class Destinations

If you’re an aspiring clown in (or arriving to) NYC, the city offers a wealth of resources to support your journey. From specialized clowning schools to comedy workshops, NYC has everything you need to take your clowning skills to new heights.

At Clowns Without Borders (CWB), we LOVE  Clown Gym for their ongoing Tuesday night drop-ins, and intensives, such as “Building an Act” and “Building a Character.” Our own Naomi Shafer has taught classes here and many CWB Artists have trained here.

Is Clown Gym a gym?

Why, yes! Just like athletes need weight training, clowns need clown training! Clown Gym is an awesome place to keep your silly juices flowing. They invite you to get out of your head and into your body!

You love to laugh — and you know how much laughter has helped you through difficult moments.

You can give the gift of laughter to a child in crisis every month with a donation of just $11 monthly.

Other good NYC clowning class options include: 

• The People’s Improv Theater (PIT)
  • Improv classes
  • Drop-in classes
  • Youth classes
  • Leveled classes
• Brooklyn Comedy Collective (BCC)
  • Drop-in classes
  • Full-length classes
  • Improv classes
  • Leveled classes
• Terry Knickerbocker Studio
  • Leveled clowning classes
  • Acting intensives
  • Voice intensives
  • Movement intensives
• The Barrow Group
  • Theatrical clown classes
  • Weekend clowning workshops
  • Leveled acting classes
• The Pandemonium Studio
  • Clown for All Weekends
  • Drop-in classes
  • Clown “Warm-Ups”

Do you know another great place to take clowning classes in New York City? Please let us know in the comments below!

If you’re looking for clown schools outside of NYC, be sure to check out our post: Top Clown Schools in the US.

Conclusion

What are you waiting for? Take that leap and pursue your passion for clowning!

NYC offers a treasure trove of resources for aspiring clowns. With each class, you’ll gain new insights and refine your skills — and laugh a lot along the way!

Happy clowning!

You’re in luck, because you’ve just stumbled upon a troupe of professional clowns (yes, real-life clowns) who are ready to guide you to joy.

Humor isn’t just about belly laughs; it’s a powerful tool to ease stress, lift spirits, and connect with others. Our clowns have witnessed these benefits firsthand for people in crisis.

This post explores the effectiveness of humor as a coping mechanism. You’ll also learn how to make humor a priority in your life.

Hop in the clown car — it’s time to get this show on the road!

We’ll make the following pit stops:

• Humor: How Does the Funniest Coping Mechanism Measure Up?
• Cruising to Well-Being: Humor’s Astonishing Gifts
• Stress and Anxiety Take a Comedic Detour
• Humor Habits to Avoid Potholes In Your Daily Commute
  • Take The Laughter Challenge
• Using Humor to Cope with Trauma: A CWB Example

Humor: How Does the Funniest Coping Mechanism Measure Up?

Coping mechanisms are as numerous as the number of oversized shoes at a clown convention: there are hundreds of options. But how does humor measure up?

According to Positive Psychology, the literature has identified five coping strategies:

1. Emotion-focused
2. Problem-focused
3. Meaning-focused
4. Social
5. Avoidance-focused

Within each of these strategies, you can tap into mechanisms that are either healthy or unhealthy. Unhealthy coping mechanisms may avoid stress, but the results are harmful. Healthy coping mechanisms provide benefits without harm. 

Can you find the funny in this table of coping mechanisms?

Information in the table sourced from Positive Psychology

Did you see it?

Laughter is listed under the Healthy/Emotion-focused strategy.

However, this list of coping mechanisms is not exhaustive. Can you imagine where else laughter might fit in on the chart?

What‌ does humor as a coping mechanism actually look like in practice?

Humor can shift emotions by changing our body chemistry and reframing situations. It can shift meaning by allowing an optimistic view to emerge. Socially, humor can connect us with others and nurture feelings of acceptance.

You love to laugh — and you know how much laughter has helped you through difficult moments.

You can give the gift of laughter to a child in crisis every month with a donation of just $11 monthly.

Cruising to Well-being: Humor’s Astonishing Gifts

Light-hearted, jolly humor and positive, re-framing humor are our favorite coping mechanisms.

Yes, we’re totally biased. But humor’s benefits are mostly attributed to these types of positive humor.

What are humor’s benefits? Buckle up because this is a long list:

• Physical benefits
  • Produces beta-endorphins (to replace cortisol), dopamine (to feel pleasure and relax), and oxytocin (to feel warm and fuzzy toward others)
  • Fun Fact: Researchers at Oxford have found that our pain threshold actually increases about 10% after laughing for 15 minutes.
  • Fills lungs with oxygen-rich air, energizing the body and improving blood flow, vascular function, and flexibility
  • Circulates more blood, stimulating and protecting blood vessels and heart muscles
  • Relaxes muscles and eases tension
  • Stabilizes blood-pressure
  • Brings a sense of calm
• Psychological benefits
  • Reduces anxiety and increase psychological resilience
  • Shifts perspective
  • Counteracts depression
  • Fun Fact: Carl Jung used jokes to bring patients back from psychotic states.

• Cognitive benefits
  • Improves
    • Brain function
    • Memory
    • Alertness
    • Problem-solving ability
  • Breaks down mental barriers and fosters an openness
  • Increased creativity
• Emotional benefits
  • Intrapersonal:
    • Replaces despair with hope
    • Neutralizes negative emotions
    • Gives courage and strength to persevere
    • Lightens burdens
    • Adds joy and enthusiasm to life
    • Helps us find new meaning
  • Interpersonal:
    • Defuses conflict 
    • Enhances teamwork and bonding
    • Subordinate job satisfaction and commitment
    • Enhances personal attractiveness
    • Enhances feelings of safety

Humor certainly can’t do it all.

As I shared in a post last year, I leaned on humor through cancer treatment and recovery. But my treatment also required analyzing information and taking a thoughtful approach to solve problems (the realm of Problem-focused coping).

Stress and Anxiety Take a Comedic Detour

Feeling tempted to indulge in a comedy binge to ease stress or alleviate anxiety?

Embrace it!

If you’re craving laughter, take it as your body’s way of signaling — in bright red flashing lights — the need for an emotional release, a disruption of stress hormones, or a break in a negative thought cycle.

Do you want laughter updates from around the world?
We’ll send them directly to your inbox.
Join the CWB fam.

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Hit the Humor Gas Pedal with This Clown Pro Tip

Tip: Give humor a starring role in your life.

Professional clowns prioritize humor by planning for it. Case in point: They spend hours planning performances. To get the maximum amount of laughs at a show, they plan the who (casting), what (rehearsal), where + when (venue selection + dates), and why (learning about their audience).

So, go on and plan that funny movie, comedy show, or Humor Professional Certificate class (no joke). Bonus tip: half the fun is anticipating fun.

With more humor in your life, you’ll get calmer, more relaxed, and even sleep better.

Want to really kick up your laugh life? Incorporate humor into your every day.

Humor Habits to Avoid Potholes In Your Daily Commute

Add a pinch of humor to your daily routine.

What Will You Play Today?

Clowns bloom amidst play, spontaneity, and connection with others.

What tickles your funny bone? Consider engaging in a creative project, declaring a board game night (my family’s go-to lately), or playing an epic match of Capture the Flag.

At work, can you pose a fun activity to get people to think about a recurring challenge in a new way?

Embrace the Unexpected Like a Clown

Clowns approach new challenges with creativity, adaptability, and a fearlessness — to absurdity and to the delight of their audiences.

Welcome the unexpected like a clown. Turn mishaps into moments of laughter and practice saying “yes” to spontaneous activities (like unplanned road trips ).

Embracing the unexpected can lead to personal growth and fresh perspectives as you navigate the unexpected twists and turns of life.

Are You Up for the Challenge?

Take CWB’s laughter challenge and learn how to steer into humor as a habit — one that makes life a lot of fun.

Using Humor to Cope with Trauma: A CWB Example

Clowns Without Borders (CWB) uses humor to bring joy to children and communities in crisis. Our work shows the power of humor as a coping mechanism in even the most traumatic situations.

By providing laughter and moments of respite, we help individuals find strength in the face of adversity. We call it resilience through laughter.

Anya’s Story

Anya, age 8, left her hometown in Ukraine after the war started in early 2022. She resettled in Poland, but life continued to be stressful and scary. Plus, she missed her home, school, and friends.

In November 2022, Clowns Without Borders-USA arrived at Anya’s resettlement center in Brasov and she attended a clown show. Anya played, lept in the air, and laughed. She said,

For $11 a month, you can bring a new child to a clown show every month of the year.

I Want to Give Laughter Every Month

Clowns Without Borders is a registered 501(c)(3) and our Tax ID is 20-4102508. Check donations may be mailed to 645 Queen St. SW; Atlanta, GA 30310. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Conclusion

Humor is a powerful coping mechanism that can transform our perspective and elevate our well-being.

By incorporating humor into your life every day, you can find joy and connection even in the toughest of times.

In the colorful journey of life, may laughter be your constant companion.

And why does play need to be defended in areas of crisis?

Clowns who have witnessed the transformative power of play help me answer these questions in this second post of three in a series about the right to play.

Why Does Protecting Play as a Human Right Matter?

You may have heard that play is helpful for brain development. We’re going to talk about that, and we’re going to talk about a few less conventional ideas of why play matters.

Ready? Game on!

Your Brain is a Fantastic Playground

Albert Einstein said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” But how does your brain become adaptable?

Play.

You love to laugh — and you know how much laughter has helped you through difficult moments.

You can give the gift of laughter to a child in crisis every month with a donation of just $11 monthly.

Imagine your brain as a fantastic playground. The more you play on the playground, the more moves and tricks you learn. In the same way, play helps your brain respond with more nuance to situations that arise.

It’s all about the prefrontal cortex, a recently evolved (just 30 to 19 million years ago ) area at the front of your brain that serves your most complex thinking.

When you play, your brain’s prefrontal cortex refines its ability to regulate thoughts, actions, and emotions. That means that you’ll be able to handle tricky situations with greater ease.

Play-based brain development is especially important for those who have experienced a crisis, as we’ll talk about later.

Clowns’ Warning: Don’t Corrupt Play

Clowns will be the first to tell you that play’s worth extends far beyond brain development (and related discussions of educational gains). To limit play’s value in this way is to degrade it. Let’s flip that, and unearth play’s multifaceted and expansive qualities.

Conversations about play often overlook the social-emotional ways that play matters.

According to a 2019 study of humanitarian clowning, clown performance and post-performance play

• Treats failure as a right, and shows that it’s necessary for learning
• Strips away social roles and norms
• Exposes the audience to their self, free from normative social roles
• Increases self-awareness
• Acts as an interlude from real life
• Encourages a sense of community
• Facilitates relief of stress and anxiety 
• Provides human connection
• Gives people lasting memories of joy

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We don’t have a joy-o-meter. Rather, we have records of personal communication that describe the joy and relief children and adults feel after attending a CWB event.

“I’ve never had this joy before. I am very happy!”

– A young boy at the Center for Sudanese Migrants, Egypt

“It’s so good that you’re here because there’s nothing for the kids in Islote. Not even a park. So they’re happy you’re here. Before you even start, it’s golden just to be here. It brings the community together.”

– A young mother, Puerto Rico

“In Karantina, one child found us wherever we were performing in the area. He told one clown that he’d been seeing the show in his dreams every night.”

– Sabine Choucair, Lebanon

“Before the clowns came, the children played war. Now they play clown.”

Jordan, Feedback given to CWB–Sweden following a tour

Can Play be ‘Purposeless’?

When the outcome doesn’t matter as much as the play itself, we call this play for play’s sake (a super technical term). CWB celebrates this kind of play, because it is about the processes, experiences, and feelings that occur during play — not the results.

During play for play’s sake, imagination and curiosity lead exploration. Children (and adults) are free to create as they wish.

Play for play’s sake builds confidence, agency, and a sense of ‘I am worthy.’

Experiencing displacement can feel like the world doesn’t care about your ideas, instincts, or interests. And even as you’re forced to adapt to a different lifestyle, community spaces rarely feel welcoming and loving.

‘Not Even a Park’: Defending The Right to Play for Children in Crisis

To recap, play is fundamental to childhood because

• It’s key to healthy brain development
• It supports a range of social-emotional outcomes, including the experience of joy
• We want children to love themselves

CWB defends the right to play for children who experience displacement because they are both uniquely in need of play and uniquely distant from play opportunities.

Play Matters in Humanitarian Settings

Children experiencing displacement have lost their homes and may have witnessed violence or death. On top of these traumas, their current living situation may be dangerous or exploitative. 

Disruptions to education, lack of nurturing spaces, and psychological neglect complicate survivors’ lives.

And these children still want to play and will play, given the time and a safe space.

Not only are these children capable of quality play experiences, but play may be their only available path to recovery from their experiences.

The Play Opportunity Gap

Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child protects all children’s optimum development through play.

However, a consistent problem found in humanitarian settings is a lack of play-friendly spaces. 

When CWB clowns arrived in Turkey following the 2023 earthquake, the clowns worked among tents because play areas had yet to be established. In community after community, children were ready to play and laugh after six weeks of rubble, food lines, and mourning. 

At Maras Avşar, an earthquake survivors camp in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, CWB clowns heard kids explaining to one another that we were foreigners coming from very far away — for them.

When it was time to leave, they didn’t want us to go.

Conclusion

The right to play matters because play is fundamental to childhood.

Remembering that at least 40% of the (official) 108 million refugees are under the age of 18, the enormity of ensuring that every child plays can feel overwhelming.

How can you help?

In the last post of the series, we’ll share ways you can help protect the right to play. Spoiler alert: One thing you can do right now is to make a donation to Clowns Without Borders. Just $11 can change a child’s life forever as they find themselves at their first clown show.