This describes various projects undertaken by
World Wide Smiles in Holland from 1999
World Wide Smiles performs at Borculo
Borculo 2016
For our 15th consecutive annual Show in association with PaxKinder, Masjolie, Ben, Conk and Bluey travelled to Borculo to perform for sick Polish children being hosted by PaxKinder for a three week holiday in Holland. It was great to see old friends again, Henk still in charge, although he threatens each year that it will be his last!
Once again, we picked up ‘Marco’ to assist us, and he was gratified to receive from Masjolie his own clown costume to keep. Although Marco has learning difficulties, he enjoys working with us and we are always happy for him to come along and join in with the fun.
As always, we tend to present a similar programme each year, as there are always a new group of children who have never seen the show before. Ben once again came out of retirement to capably MC the event. We did have a few technical hiccups with our new sound set-up and a few other unexpected errors, but the show mainly went OK and was well received by the Polish children and staff.
It has been some time since we wrote about our show contents, so here’s a quick resume:
We all marched on singing for our opening with Bluey accompanying on his Banjo.
Conk opened with his ‘dressing act’, always a good warm-up for the children who may not have seen clowns before! This was followed by Bluey’s act which included his shorts gag, balloon sculpturing and musical saw. Masjolie followed with her ‘boxing act’ and Conk brought the first half to an end with a magic set.
As always, the children went off to have their blood tests and injections while we prepared for the second half.
Bluey and Conk opened with “The Parcel” and Masjolie followed with her ‘Hairdressing’ act. Conk and Bluey then entertained with the ‘Tippy Stool’ act, rounding off this with ‘The Giggle’. Bluey performed “The Seagull”, later joined by Conk, Masjolie, Ben and Marco with Balloon Seagulls to finish this amusing act.
Masjolie then began ‘The Red Nose”, joined by Bluey on Banjo, Conk and Marco. This became our ‘Finale’ for the Show as we were all on stage. After bows we marched off to Bluey’s Banjo.
We were called back and presented by home-made cards made by the Polish boys and girls.
Another lovely show for some lovely people.
No doubt we will go back again in 2017!
Borculo 2015
In 2015, World Wide Smiles performed again for the sick Polish children generously hosted by our friends, PaxKinder, in the lovely Borculo. A lack of funding for Pax Kinder had resulted in only 22 children able to be accommodated this year – such a shame as this charity does tremendous work in helping sick children have a decent holiday with lots of clean fresh air and lots of entertainment of various kinds. Our show was well received, as per usual, and lovely for us to meet up with old friends and make new ones with the travelling carers. We plan to return in 2016, funds permitting.
Borculo 2014
This year, Conk and I almost had to walk through the Channel Tunnel! A train came to a halt near the French end due to an overhead electrical fault in the tunnel, and the passengers had to leave the train and walk to France! Luckily, it wasn’t us, thank heavens as we had the WWS stage set and all our performing gear aboard my car! It resulted in a 6 hour delay for some, whilst we were lucky in only having to endure a 3 hour delay. Our show was well received by the group of sick Polish children in Borculo, who were highly enthusiastic the whole way through. We were assisted by resident and long- time friend Michal, who acted as our ‘techie’ for the night (thanks Michal!). We even managed to catch the second half of the Germany/Brazil World Cup game – wow, what a surprise! They tell us Brazil have banned the drink ‘7-up’ (joke!).
We hope to return in 2015, funds permitting.
Borculo 2013
Once again, WWS performed for 44 sick children from Poland, our 12th consecutive year we have performed at Borculo in Holland. PaxKinder, a charity now in it’s 27th year, obtain grants and sponsorship to enable them to transport up to 40 sick children into Borculo for a free three week holiday, where they are given days out, good food and entertainment such as our WWS Show. They are accompanied by carers and nurses as every child has to be administered medication at various times during the day and evening.
This year, Conk and Masjolie, assisted by our special needs friend, Marco, performed the show as Clown Bluey was unable to attend this year due to professional commitments on a cruise ship. Conk travelled by car, so was able to transport our new WWS stage set, and for the first time, the show was held outside in the sunshine, instead of the barn. See photographs below. The show went very well and the children from Poland thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Sad to report though, that ongoing difficulties with sponsorship and grants may mean only 22 sick children will have the opportunity for a free holiday in 2014. Let’s hope more sponsorship can be found for this worthwhile project! Meanwhile, WWS has committed to another show in 2014, providing we too have sufficient funds!
Borculo 2012
Once again, WWS performed for 44 sick children from Poland, our 11th consecutive year we have performed at Borculo in Holland. PaxKinder, a charity now in it’s 26th year, obtain grants and sponsorship to enable them to transport up to 40 sick children into Borculo for a free three week holiday, where they are given days out, good food and entertainment such as our WWS Show. They are accompanied by carers and nurses as every child has to be administered medication at various times during the day and evening. Conk and I travelled through the Channel Tunnel and arrived at our colleague’s Masjolie and Ben’s house in Ulft, Holland, after a 5 hour drive. Ben once again stoically came out of retirement for the show and we also had ‘Marco’ to help us again. The show was well received and it was great to meet old friends and make new ones. Pax Kinder themselves have monetary problems and find it more and more difficult every year to find the sponsorship and grants needed to continue this wonderful effort, and it is hoped that they are able to find the funds required to once again launch this project in 2013. WWS would love to continue to support them as we too have to raise funds to cover the costs of travelling to Holland.
2011
Once again, WWS performed for the sick children from Poland, given a free holiday in Holland by the PaxKinder Charity. Conk and I travelled over by Ferry this year and drove to Holland from France. It was an interesting drive and took just on 4 1/2 hours. Masjolie and Ben joined us for the show (it was good to have Ben with us even though he has officially ‘retired’ from our little group!) and we also had ‘Marco’ to help us again. The show was well received and it was great to meet old friends and make new ones. Needless to say, we have been invited back to perform again in 2012!
Project 2010 PaxKinder Aid For Children
WWS were once again delighted to provide a clown show for sick children from Poland in Borculo on Tuesday 6th July, 2010. Thirty-eight Polish boys and girls, mainly suffering from Diabetes, were in Borculo on holiday sponsored by Pax Kinder Aid. Originally numbering 40, two children had been unfortunately returned to Poland because of illness. This year was a particularly special occasion, it being World Wide Smile’s 10th consecutive year we had performed a show, whilst it was PaxKinder’s 25th Anniversary! As usual, we all, including our wannabe clown, Marco, had a great evening and a lot of fun. We had altered some of our sketches to reflect the 25th anniversary, including a very messy but enjoyable slosh act as our Finale: Henk, the head man of PaxKinder was invited onstage to ‘receive’ our gift of not one, but three huge ‘special’ cakes! Each decorated with cherries and cake decorations. One cake had one candle which refused to be blown out by Henk, no matter how hard he and the audience blew! Finally, of course, the children all helping by ‘counting down’ in Polish, Dutch and English, all three cakes were ceremoniously slapped – but crafty Henk ducked, and it was Bluey, Conk and Masjolie who managed to slap the cakes into each other’s faces! Oh, what a mess – but the kids really enjoyed the sketch and the whole show was very successful.
WWS have already been invited to return in 2011!
2009 Centrum Festival, Ulft
World Wide Smiles team once again performed at the Centrum Party Festival in Ulft, Holland, on Sunday, September 13th, both to publicise WWS and, most importantly, to collect much-needed funds for future Tours in 2010. Over Euro 200 was made on the day made by shaking our collecting buckets after short performances by Masjolie, Conk & Bluey and selling balloon models by Bluey & Conk. We are extremely grateful to all those who supported us in any way and particularly to all those people who donated towards our future projects. Our grateful thanks also to Heyerman de Bakker who once again generously donated a number of delicious boxed cakes for us to sell.
A Balloon Bouquet for Heyerman de Bakker
Project 2009 PaxKinder Aid For Children
WWS were again delighted to provide a clown show for sick children from Poland in Borculo on Tuesday 7th July, 2009. Thirty-nine Polish boys and girls, mainly suffering from Diabetes, were in Borculo on holiday sponsored by Pax Kinder Aid. As usual, Conk, Bluey, Masjolie & Ben ‘had a ball’ with the children, who were really ‘up’ for the show and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the evening, including our wannabe clown, Marco, who helped us throughout the performance. We all look forward to being invited back in 2010 – which will be very special as it will be World Wide Smile’s 10th consecutive year performing for Pax Kinder!
Project 2008 Pax Aid For Children
WWS were delighted to once again perform for sick children from Poland in Borculo on Tuesday 8th July. Forty Polish boys and girls, mainly suffering from Diabetes, were in Borculo on holiday sponsored by Pax Kinder Aid.
Our show, which starred Masjolie, Bluey and Conk with Ben as Ringmaster, and special guest ‘Marco the Clown’ was very well received by the children and adults alike and there were some very happy smiling faces at the end of the two hour show, despite a huge and deafening thunderstorm during the Finale! The WWS Team would like to thank Pax Kinder Aid for their kind and generous hospitality and we all look forward to returning to Borculo in 2009!
See the photos in our Pax Aid 2008 gallery.
Project 2007: Attendance of World Wide Smiles to the Dutch Redline Cup, Doetinchem 8-9 September
The Redline Cup Programme Cover, September 2007
Masjolie, Ben and Clown Bluey represented World Wide Smiles at the Redline Cup Cross Country Bicycle Championships. This was a ‘first’ for WWS, and a very satisfying event it turned out to be. Saturday 8th was only during the afternoon whilst riders registered, and children were given the opportunity to attend workshops and experience riding the very bumpy ‘cross-country’ track. Sunday was the actual racing day and we were “on duty” performing from 9.30 a.m. until 6.00 p.m. The event was packed with people on the Sunday, and so it was a good and valuable opportunity for us to gain some excellent PR and also an opportunity to accept some donations towards our funds. Although we put our stage set up, it was only to frame the selection of large photographs from past Romanian and Sri Lanka tours – there wasn’t room to perform shows, so whilst Ben manned our ‘stand’, Masjolie and Bluey entertained with mix and mingling and walkabout, although Bluey found himself continuously producing balloon models for eager children.
It was surprising that local T.V. (and even national T.V.) did not make an appearance as this Cup competition is part of the ongoing build-up for the Dutch national team to be selected for the Olympics.
We were publicly thanked at the end of Sunday’s programme, and Bluey presented the organiser with a large balloon BMX-style cycle which was much appreciated and promptly hung in the Clubhouse.
It was a successful weekend for World Wide Smiles and nearly 200 Euros were donated to our funds.
Project 2007 Pax Aid For Children
WWS were delighted to be invited by Pax Aid to once again perform for sick children from Poland in Borculo on Tuesday 10th July. Forty Polish boys and girls, mainly suffering from Diabetes, were in Borculo on holiday sponsored by Pax Aid. Our show, which starred Masjolie, Bluey and Conk with Ben as Ringmaster, and special guest ‘Marco the Clown’ was very well received by the children and adults alike and there were some very happy smiling faces at the end of the two hour show! We were also very pleased to meet with our friends from Poland, Ewa and Bokdan Tabot who had so happily and successfully organised/hosted our itinerary and tour to Katowice in Poland in 2006.
We look forward to returning to Borculo in 2008!
Project 2006 Centrum Festival
To raise funds for World Wide Smile’s Tour to Romania in 2007. Masjolie, Clown Bluey and Ben participated on this occasion and collected some much needed Funds as well as raising the profile of World Wide Smiles. The Theme of the Centrum Festival this year centred on three countries and so the WWS Team picked Austria, hence clowning around on skis during the day, despite there being a distinct lack of snow!
Project 2006 Pax Aid for Children
Performance for sick Polish Children in Borculo
See photo presentation of this performance in our photo gallery.
Project 2005 Centrum Festival
To raise funds for World Wide Smiles for the Sri Lanka Tour in 2005 for children affected by the tsunami tragedy – see separate report.
Projects from 2003 onward
Each year we have had the great privilege of continuing to perform for sick children mainly from Poland through the generous invitation of the Pax Christi Aid for Children.
Project 2002 by Masjolie
On 23rd March, we brought a smile to the children of asylum seekers in Hardenberg and Nijverdal with a performance and the clowns personally handed out gifts to all the children.
July: Because of the enormous success of the Polish Tour in June, Pax Christi Aid for Children, Borculo, invited World Wide Smiles to entertain a new group of sick children from Poland and this took place successfully in July.
Project 2001 by Masjolie
In the summer and autumn we took part in a programme for Polish children (asthmatic and diabetic) and children from White Russia, who again had been invited by Pax Christi Aid for Children from Borculo, Westervoort and Arnhem. This consisted of an evening event, the performance concluded by clowns handing out gifts for all the children.
Project 1999 by Masjolie
As our 2000 Millennium project in St Petersburg had had to be cancelled because of the political and economic climate there at the time, instead clowns and Father Christmas from World Wide Smiles were able to perform and hand out gifts in December to a group of children from Armenia, Poland, Bosnia, White Russia and Ireland. These children had been invited by the Pax Christi Aid for Children for their Millennium project in Apeldoorn, Holland.