ABOUT PROJECT
Project "Doctor Clown"
Doctor Clown Dnipro is a project of the Ukrainian Charity Foundation POMOGAEM. Our mission is to bring laughter, joy, and meaningful moments of escape to children in hospitals and care institutions. Guided by a shared belief in the healing power of imagination, hope and positive energy, we are dedicated to supporting the wellbeing and development of children in medical and care environments.
During daily hospital visits, the Clown Doctors create a world of imagination for young patients, responding with sensitivity and spontaneity to their individual needs. Through playful interaction, children are encouraged to reconnect with laughter, creativity, and a sense of normal childhood.
At the heart of our work is the personal connection between each child and the Clown Doctor. Every interaction is carefully adapted to the child's emotional state, circumstances, and medical condition, creating a safe, supportive, and uplifting experience tailored to their needs.
For many children, a hospital stay can feel overwhelming. They must cope with unfamiliar surroundings, separation from family and friends, and the challenges of illness. Clown Doctors help children momentarily step beyond the hospital environment by opening the door to a playful world of fantasy, where laughter, imagination, and emotional relief can flourish once again.
Our Objectives:
Stress and Pain Reduction: Distraction and laughter help lower anxiety, which can reduce the perception of pain and decrease stress hormone levels.
Support During Medical Procedures: Clowns use interactive play to help children relax before, during, and after invasive procedures. Through empathy and creativity, they transform the medical journey into an imaginative adventure, helping to ease fear, reduce anxiety, and create moments of comfort and calm.
Strengthening Emotional and Physical Well-Being: Laughter and positive emotional experiences can stimulate endorphin production and may contribute to faster physical and emotional recovery.
Support for Families and Medical Staff: A positive and hopeful atmosphere helps lift the spirits of exhausted parents, caregivers, and medical personnel working in stressful hospital environments.
What are we striving for:
Professional development of our team of artists through diverse workshops, training programs, and exchange opportunities.
Expanding the number of medical institutions and care facilities for children with disabilities regularly visited in the city of Dnipro.
Developing work with elderly people through regular visits to nursing homes.
Cooperating with other organizations across Ukraine through the All-Ukrainian Association of Hospital Clowns, of which we are one of the founding members.
Attracting new volunteers and professionals to our Hospital Clown Training Program.
Who helps hospital clowns:
Children in hospitals
children on undergoing treatment in departments of children's hospitals and children with disabilities
Support
Kids in DLC
children in difficult life circumstances, orphans and children deprived of parental care
Support
People with disabilities
elderly people and people with disabilities living in boarding schools and nursing homes
Support
History of hospital clowns
Hospital clowning, also known as medical clowning or clown care, evolved from historical traditions into a formalized global healthcare profession in 1986. While the intentional use of humor in healing environments dates back thousands of years, contemporary hospital clowning relies on trained professional performers who work alongside medical teams to reduce patient anxiety, distress, and pain.
Hospital clowning was introduced to Dnipro in 2006 by Jan Tomasz Rogala. Since then, he and his team have regularly visited numerous children's hospitals and care institutions. In 2012, a hospital clown training program was established and continues to offer free training for volunteers.
Since the very first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, our hospital clown team has taken an active role in supporting war-displaced people, especially families with children and elderly. We visited shelters for evacuees on a daily basis. Through laughter therapy and moments of relief from stress and tension, we helped create opportunities for wholehearted laughter, emotional release, and human connection. These experiences play an important role in healing war-related trauma for both children and adults.
2025 in stats
Laughter has healing effect at any age and condition
Clowns provide not only liberating moments, but also companionship, a listening ear, and assistance in caring for elderly people. Wherever our team went, hurting and traumatized individuals were drawn to — and found comfort in — the atmosphere of happiness and hope that the clowns brought with them.
hospital visits
during which we reached individually almost over 6,500 little patients.
clown programs for children in frontline regions
performing in bomb shelters and basements, from Kherson to Kupiansk Raion.
group and individual Hibuki therapy sessions
plus 6 laughter therapy sessions for children with special needs.
Our team of hospital clowns
Hospital clowns of the city Dnipro
Fonarik
Nafania
Mandarinka
Peppi
Kroshka
Fantik
Romashka
Margosha
Nezabudka
Mafka
Toshka
Pomidorka
Bublik
Kaliaka
Malinka
Shurik
Gosha
Pusichka
Truslik
Miatka
Iasha
Dzy`n`ka
Our team of hospital clowns
OUR TEAM IN DNIPRO
Unfortunately, because of the war, most of them eventually left to seek safety for their children and loved ones.
Fonarik
Nafania
Mandarinka
Peppi
Kroshka
Fantik
Romashka
Margosha
Nezabudka
Mafka
Toshka
Pomidorka
Bublik
Kaliaka
Malinka
Shurik
Gosha
Pusichka
Truslik
Miatka
Iasha
Dzynka
Doctor Clown Gallery
Dr. Clown at work
exists in Ukraine in Dnipro since 2012.
Hospital Clown School
Hospital Clown Training Program
Our artists receive specialised training to work within healthcare settings and to provide meaningful emotional support through loving interaction, play and creativity. The program covers the basics of psychology, child behavior in hospital environments, improvisation, acting, mime, balloon modelling, magic tricks, and partner work — as well as helping each participant find their own inner clown character. After completing core training, volunteers begin a supervised internship in hospital departments alongside experienced Clown Doctors. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate in Hospital Clowning.
School Schedule
Recruitment to the School of Hospital Clowns is carried out 2 times a year for those who want to try themselves in this profession. Classes are held once a week.
Support Hospital Clowns
Doctor clown needs your help
Raised funds will be spent to: buying props, costumes, fuel, rental premises for the School of Clowns
Получатель: rogala1967@gmail.com
DONATE wia Paypal
DONATE by card
The bank account of the company: 26008050237033
Name of the bank: PJSC CB "PRIVATBANK", 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE
SWIFT Code банка/Bank SWIFT Code: PBANUA2X
Company address: UA 52043 Днiпропетровська Днiпропетровський с Волоське вул Поштова д.8 DNEPROPETROVSK AREA, DNEPROPETROVSK DISTRICT, VOLOSKOE SAT
DOWN, POCHTOVAYA STREET 8 IBAN Code: UA043052990000026008050237033
correspondent banks:
Account in the correspondent bank: 001-1-000080
correspondent bank: JP Morgan Chase Bank,New York ,USA
SWIFT-code of the correspondent bank: CHASUS33
(or) Account: in the correspondent bank 890-0085-754
correspondent bank: The Bank of New York Mellon, New York, USA
SWIFT Code банка-корреспондента/SWIFT-code of the correspondent bank: IRVT US 3N
The bank account of the company: 26007050302066
Name of the bank: PJSC CB "PRIVATBANK", 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE
Bank SWIFT Code: PBANUA2X
Company address: DNEPROPETROVSK AREA, DNEPROPETROVSK DISTRICT, VOLOSKOE SAT DOWN, POCHTOVAYA STREET 8
IBAN Code: UA523052990000026007050302066
Account in the correspondent bank: 400886700401
Correspondent bank: Commerzbank AG ,Frankfurt am Main, Germany
SWIFT-code of the correspondent bank: COBADEFF
