Doktor Kloun

Founded in 2006, Doktor Kloun is a non-profit association based in Tallinn, Estonia working on health, children & youth, arts & culture.

Doktor Kloun is an Estonian non-profit association (MTÜ) founded in December 2006 that brings hospital clowns to children in hospital. Its trained clowns visit paediatric wards weekly at Tallinn Children's Hospital, the Tartu University Hospital children's clinic, Maarjamõisa Hospital and Narva Hospital, aiming to reduce stress, lift spirits and support children's recovery. The organisation trains new hospital clowns through twice-yearly workshops and practical mentoring, and is funded entirely by individual and corporate donations rather than hospital or health insurance budgets. It is listed by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board as a non-profit eligible for income tax benefits for donors. The initiative was inspired by a 2005 Belgian hospital clowning visit and draws on the Dutch Cliniclowns Nederland model.