By Natalie Lazaris | Head of Business
Established in 2007 by the Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD), Laughter Heroes (formerly Jabulani Kingdom) is a unique initiative that brings therapeutic entertainment to vulnerable children across public hospitals in South Africa.
Grounded in clinical research, findings indicate “laughter” and “fun” can minimise anxiety levels, decrease medical procedure-related pain and improve psychological well-being.
The Laughter Heroes initiative is centred around bringing therapeutic entertainers into the hospital wards, and through using arts-based activities such as comedy, juggling, magic, mime and storytelling, to help restore and improve the mental, physical and emotional well-being of the children and their caregivers.
Since its inception, we have been able to bring therapeutic care to approximately 234,955 children across South Africa. Of the children we reach, over 80% of them are African, and the majority would be within the oncology wards and/or children fighting life threatening illnesses.
Those children admitted to hospital for long periods of time, are prohibited from having “normal” experiences that contribute to their social and emotional development. They are usually under extreme pressure and in desperate need of encouragement, as well as a magical moment to regain their childhood that is being lost to an illness.
Laughter is the best medicine- Mark Twain
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