Around half a month later after the visit of doctor, clown and founder of hospital clownery Patch Adams to Armenia, people are still talking about the miracles his team of clowns and he worked. The children’s homes and hospitals in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Dilijan will long remember “Doctor Laughter.”

Mediamax tried to find out what their visit gave them and what difference it made in the lives of people receiving care and treatment and working at these institutions.

Gayane Balasanyan, Defectologist at Nor Kharberd Specialized Children's Home

The visit of Patch Adams and his clowns to the children’s home was overly unexpected for the children. They were surprised and impressed. The employees had “blended” with the children forgetting their age. We had a good time and the children did not want the day to end.

Patch Adams visited children with most severe mental and physical disabilities. He had quite an interesting approach to children, and our employees were paying close attention to his way of working with them.

Photo: IDeA Foundation

At first, children were very strained but at the end, they were happy and relaxed. Children who you would not see smiling even for a second during the day were very calm. The group staff realized that in case of a proper approach to children in these groups, these children might also progress and reach a point of tranquility. Children need that love and laughter very much.

Anahit Amiryan, Methodologist-Coordinator at “Zatik” Child Support Center

We had a very pleasant day. Those two hours passed in a warm climate of joy. The children were greatly surprised – they were playing games, singing and dancing. We have six groups and they split into those groups and started entertaining the children.

Photo: IDeA Foundation

Patch Adams visited the group of children under 24-hour care. He spent much time with one of our children who had a broken leg. They were sparing no effort to deflect the attention of our inmates and rejoice them.

They employ special pedagogy in their work with children, and it’s what we should also take into account and integrate into that of ours.

Marine Davtyan, Director at Vanadzor Orphanage

Their visit was a surprise for children as we had not told them they would be meeting a group of clowns. They were very excited and enthusiastic. The “Laughter” (refers to Patch Adams – ed.) went to various groups playing individual games, singing and dancing. The entire orphanage, including the children and the staff, plunged into it. It was a short visit but it taught us to be kinder and to teach children to smile. The symbol of laughter bestowed laughter and smiles on children.

Photo: IDeA Foundation

Siranush Abovyan, Vanadzor Orphanage Inmate

We were immensely happy and everything was so beautiful. They were playing with us and making us laugh. I learned that I should always smile, rejoice others and love them. It was hard to say goodbye to them. We would like such visits to be more frequent. We will miss the laughing clowns.

Ruzanna Arzumanyan, Director at Dilijan Day Care Center of “Bridge of Hope” NGO

Our center provides care for children who appeared in difficult life situations and are in need for special education conditions. Both the children and we were impressed by the visit of Patch Adams.

This visit was a major breakthrough. We have a child with cerebral palsy who does not move her left hand at all. Nelly is 12. Patch Adams simply worked a miracle and the child raised her left hand. He was just playing with her and making her laugh. It was an achievement for us. We saw that this child has that ability and through the help of specialists we will develop that skill in her.

Photo: IDeA Foundation

We also had a separate meeting with the child psychologist and parents. The time was really short but the parents were also very impressed.

We asked Adams about his secret and how we could accomplish that miracle too and he said only one thing, “Love each other and love the surrounding world. Laugh as much as you can.” We did not even ask anything else about his medical approach. We decided to organize such a day for the children that were absent that day. We will occasionally involve children in such situations for them to unwind.

Sona Simonyan, Director at Terchoonian Home Orphanage in Gyumri

We are impressed and even shocked. We have children who I never thought would ever cut from their bitter reality and smile. Those children were dancing and playing and simply feeling happy. Over these years, I had never witnessed such a thing. The children and the staff were in high glee. There was great merriment and loud laughter in the entire building.

Photo: IDeA Foundation

We have had various events and activities, but none of them made children this happy. Particularly interesting was the way they would find the accurate approach to each child. They clearly knew what they should do to lead children out of their difficult state, and it set ground for a climate of confidence, frankness and intimacy. Also breathtaking was the fact that they spent several hours communicating with the children and although they were not speaking Armenian, there was no language barrier and the children seemed to understand them. Each child has a specific issue and this visit taught us new ways to work with them.

Patch Adams summed up his visit to Armenia in his interview to Mediamax, which is available here.

Marie Taryan