Hospital clowns in Lviv and Transcarpathia: supporting children in hospitals\ training new clowns
Laughter doesn't heal instead of doctors — but helps children endure treatment.
"Faini Nosy"- hospital clowns, who support children in their most vulnerable moments.
We are raising funds for training new clowns and continuing work in hospitals in Lviv and Transcarpathia.
Hospital clowns are not entertainment.
This is professional psychosocial support for children and their families in hospitals through play, contact, humor, clown art and art therapy elements.
The hospital clowning project "Faini Nosy" has existed since 2013. Then they appeared in children's hospitals in Kharkiv — funny, attentive, sensitive clowns who help children live through fear, pain and uncertainty of hospital experience.
The project is implemented by NGO "Kharkiv Psychological Research Foundation". Over years of work, "Faini Nosy" supported children in many Kharkiv hospitals, reducing stress, tension and loneliness.
After the full-scale war began, the team partially evacuated but didn't stop working.
Today "Faini Nosy":
- resumed regular visits to children's hospitals and hospice in Kharkiv;
- work with IDP children in Kharkiv region;
- support children in Lviv hospitals and in Transcarpathia.
How "Faini Nosy" ended up in Transcarpathia and Lviv
In 2022, part of the team evacuated to Transcarpathia. There, hospital clowns began working with children in hospitals, shelters and communities in Uzhhorod, Mukachevo and remote areas of the region, while adapting to the new region and finding partners.
In cooperation with international organizations, important projects were implemented, including:
CLOWN CARE — integration of IDP children into communities through hospital clowning (People in Need Slovakia);
"Hospital Clowns in Transcarpathia" — psychological and emotional support for children in hospitals.
Thanks to partnership with Latvian organization Dr. Klauns, "Faini Nosy" began working in Lviv — at St. Nicholas Children's Hospital. This is a modern medical space where children from all over Ukraine, including wounded and cancer patients, receive treatment and rehabilitation.
Within international projects with Slovak partners IPčko, the team provided psychosocial support to children in Kharkiv and Lviv hospitals for two consecutive years.
Why we are raising funds right now
Currently, most of the "Faini Nosy" team has returned to Kharkiv.
But children in hospitals in Lviv, Uzhhorod and Mukachevo equally need support.
To continue work, we need new hospital clowns on site.
"Faini Nosy" already has experience training newcomers — new clowns successfully work in hospitals and shelters in Kharkiv. So we are ready to take the next step — open a hospital clowning school in Lviv.
What the raised funds will go to
We are raising funds for:
- conducting the first training module for 10 selected future hospital clowns in Lviv;
- 8 visits by professional hospital clowns to St. Nicholas Children's Hospital in Lviv;
- mentoring and training newcomers directly in the hospital — alongside an experienced pair of clowns.
During one visit, hospital clowns interact with 15–30 children, their parents and medical staff.
Overall, within this project, about 200 children will receive support, laughter and relief.
How you can help
Your donation is:
- a trained hospital clown next to a child in hospital;
- less fear and tension during treatment;
- more contact, play and feeling of safety
- continuation and development of hospital clowning in Ukraine
Support "Faini Nosy" — and help laughter be where it's hardest right now
