Red noses help cheer hospital bound in Guatamala City

200 red sponge clown noses donated by Caring Clowns International were the hit of a special visit to mental facilities, pediatric hospitals, nursing homes, cancer wards and foster homes in Guatemala City in March 2016.

Anngilyn Dombrowski, a nursing student in Michigan, joined 20 other humanitarians as they learned how something as simple as laughter can provide healing powers that rival modern day drugs.

“In medical and nursing school, there’s a push about the use of meds,” said Anngilyn, “but on this mission, we learned that there are other ways to heal people — through smiles and laughter.”

The clowns from the U.S. were joined by approximately 30 clowns from the group Fabrica de Sonrisas in Guatemala as they visited and entertained patients, parents and medical staffs throughout the city.

Anngilyn, who graduates with her associate degree in nursing from Henry Ford College in December, plans to return to Guatemala City on her own again in July. She will pursue her bachelor’s degree after graduation with plans to continue clowning in her community in the mean time. “I’ve seen the power of a clown nose and the healing power of laughter.”

Caring Clowns International donates approximately 2,000 red noses a year to benevolent and nonprofits groups traveling to work with kids in developing countries.

“Most of the children who get a red nose have nothing, and the noses are a unique gift of fun for them, said Jed “Duffy” Selter President of the Board and Acting Executive Director of Caring Clowns International. The money to pay for the noses comes from various donations as well as the organization’s annual dinner-auction.

Anngilyn Dombrowski holds a bag of red noses donated by Caring Clowns International which she distributed during her recent mission to Guatemala City.