Clowning with a purpose in Lebanon

Aaron Ward aka Elvo the Clown, is in Lebanon using laughter to teach and heal.

Hawke's Bay lad, actor Aaron Ward, has just arrived in the Middle East to work in World Vision’s Child Friendly Spaces in beleagured southern Lebanon. Aaron, working as mime artist Elvo the Clown, will teach children about the dangers of cluster bomblets in the heavily mined region.

This is not the first time Aaron Ward has clowned in post-conflict situations, working in Kosovo and Montenegro after the war there in 1999, and in Aceh after the tsunami of 2004.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to be able to use my clowning and acting ability to teach children life-saving skills, and also to teach them how to laugh again,” he says.

“These children have been through really dangerous and frightening situations; they’ve had to flee their homes and everything they’re familiar with, so it’s great to be able to bring some joy into their lives.”

On the day of his first performance in Lebanon [Monday September 25], Aaron was more concerned that the children would cry rather than laugh when they saw him. “I have woken up with only one eye today. A mozzie bit me on the eye last night and now it won’t open. I shall be known in Lebanon as the Cyclops Clown!” he texted from Beirut.

Aaron will be working for several weeks in southern Lebanon. World Vision New Zealand raised over $255,000 in donations for its relief work in the Middle East during the recent crisis.