Laughter as Healing in Times of Crisis

This is Sabine Choucair, founder of Clown Me In lebanon.

It's Monday the 30th of september and in the past week only, 2000 people have been killed, 9000 wounded and hundreds of thousands were displaced with many families forced to live in precarious conditions, including sleeping on the streets in Beirut. This is further exacerbated by Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis, which limits access to basic services like food, water, and healthcare.

Children and other vulnerable groups are particularly affected by the ongoing instability​ and we have been getting requests to offer clown shows and psycho-social support in many shelters.

Clowning and similar interventions provide a unique form of therapy. They remind people, especially children, that it's okay to experience moments of joy, even in crisis. This doesn’t negate the need for essentials but complements them by addressing the psychological impact of displacement and war. It allows people to release tension, bond, and regain a sense of normalcy, however fleeting. When faced with the unimaginable, laughter is sometimes all we can do.

Laughter and love help people feel human again, a critical need when everything else feels out of control.

Please help us do more of that.