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No clowning around for Galway man bringing laughter to children in crisis E-mail
Written by Avril Horan   
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
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No clowning around for Galway man bringing laughter to children in crisis
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A Galway man is bringing laughter to children in crisis around the world as part of the Clowns without Borders programme.

Inspired by a tour of South Africa in 2004, and again two years later with the US performers, Renmore actor Jonathan Gunning set up the Irish branch of Clowns without Borders last year.

Clowns without Borders was first established in Barcelona by a group of professional performers who wanted to bring laughter and healing to children affected by the war in Bosnia. The voluntary organisation grew rapidly and expanded around the world with artists from the USA, France, Sweden and Belgium coming on board.

Not only have they performed to children from disadvantaged and war torn areas, but also to those affected by natural disasters, including the Asian tsunami in 2004.

Jonathan was able to bring his experience to the organisation. In 2004, he joined the US branch as they performed 22 times to over 3,500 orphans affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. They worked with 16 different community organisations, travelling over 5,000 miles.

In 2006, they performed to over 3,000 children at the Amazing Grace Children's Home on the outskirts of South Africa, and the Makaputo Children's Village in Kwazulu/Natal.

Finally, Jonathan took the bull by the horns and, accompanied by Sam Meyler from Salthill and Colm O'Grady, formerly of Abbeygate Street now living in Belfast, they performed to over 18,000 children throughout Nepal last October.

This year Jonathan travelled to Lesotho in South Africa - again to provide support through humour and laughter to children affected by poverty and AIDS.

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