Contactclowns Talking Stick

Founded in 2005, Contactclowns Talking Stick is a non-profit association based in Heverlee, Leuven, Belgium working on health, elderly care, disability.

Contactclowns Talking Stick is a Flemish non-profit association (vzw), recognised by the Flemish government, based in Heverlee, Leuven. A volunteer team of contact clowns, an accordion player and a photographer visits people in care facilities such as residential care centres, medical pedagogical centres, day-care centres and palliative care settings, including people with dementia, intellectual or physical disabilities, and people who are ill. The visits follow the needs and wishes of each facility and aim to bring a warm, respectful, playful encounter through humour, music and near-wordless contact. After the visit, a photographer gives residents a personal photo keepsake. The organisation also provides training and internal exchange for its volunteers, and it offers tax-deductible donations for gifts of at least 40 euro per year. It operates in Belgium.