Our approach
Theory of change
Clowns Without Borders International’s work is guided by a clear Theory of Change: when children and young people are provided with safe, inclusive spaces for play, creative expression, and participation, their psychosocial well-being is strengthened, their confidence and agency increase, and communities become more resilient and cohesive. Laughter and artistic engagement are not ends in themselves, but catalysts for emotional regulation, dialogue, and empowerment.
Through participatory performances and workshops, our artists create spaces where young people are active contributors. The clown figure—empathetic, responsive, and unafraid of failure—models alternative ways of handling conflict, mistakes, and difference. By transforming vulnerability into shared creativity, we foster problem-solving skills, empathy, and collective trust across language, age, and cultural barriers.
Our methodology combines direct psychosocial engagement with capacity-building for local artists and civil society actors, ensuring that creative, rights-based approaches are embedded and sustained within communities beyond our immediate intervention.
Photo: Clowns Without Borders Germany in Cambodia 2018.
Our methodology combines direct psychosocial engagement with capacity-building for local artists and civil society actors, ensuring that creative, rights-based approaches are embedded and sustained within communities beyond our immediate intervention.
Clowns Without Borders International’s work is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 31:
- States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
- States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.
We view play, laughter, and artistic participation not as secondary luxuries, but as fundamental rights and essential components of healthy development, dignity, and peacebuilding. Our work is integrated with and contributes to the objectives of Agenda 2030, particularly Sustainable Development goal 3; Good Health and Well-being, 5; Gender Equality, and 16; Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Clowns Without Borders International operates under a formal Ethical Code, adopted in 2017, which ensures that all activities are safe, inclusive, and respectful. It guides artist conduct, safeguards children and communities, and guarantees that our work remains neutral, culturally sensitive, and rights-based.
In line with our 2021 policy on Diversity, Decoloniality, and Inclusion, Clowns Without Borders International is committed to being an inclusive and anti-racist organization. As a European-rooted network frequently working in contexts shaped by colonial histories, we critically examine power dynamics in our partnerships and methodologies. This framework prioritizes collaboration with local actors, supports locally led initiatives, and ensures our work strengthens—not replaces—local cultural ecosystems.
Our Global Impact
Reaching over 300,000 children annually through performances and workshops across 50 countries.
Since its founding in 1993, Clowns Without Borders International with 13 national chapters, has completed over 1,620 projects in approximately 124 countries. Through these projects, we have reached more than 300,000 children and their communities, delivering around 19,800 performances and 9,350 workshops.
Each year, Clowns Without Borders International continues to spread joy and hope through countless performances and workshops. In 2023 alone, we carried out 60+ projects across 36 countries, performing 870+ times and leading 2,110+ workshops, reaching over 130,400 children and adults.
Each chapter brings its unique character, but all share a passion for delivering artistic and humanitarian projects in collaboration with local and international partners. Our dedicated team of clowns, circus artists, musicians, actors, jugglers, and more spread laughter and hope in hospitals, refugee camps, schools, rural areas, and beyond.
Take a look at the map and see where we have been throughout the years!
1620
projects
19800
performances
124
countries
9350
workshops