A Suitcase Full of Smiles at the FAR’s Mardigian Child Protection Center

“Our children always love having guests, but today felt different. The joy they brought was unforgettable,” said Mira Antonyan, ED of the FAR’s Mardigian Child Protection Center. She joked that if Clowns Without Borders ever opened an Armenian chapter, Astghik, one of the children at the Center, would probably be the first to volunteer.

It was easy to see why.

The Center courtyard was alive with laughter and applause as Astghik stood on stage next to circus artists Daniel, Otto, Marina, and Linda, confidently trying acrobatic tricks. Their show lasted almost an hour, but to the children, it felt much shorter.

This November, as part of the UNHCR initiative, the Spanish troupe Clowns Without Borders traveled across Armenia, performing 22 shows for displaced and vulnerable children. Their visit to the Mardigian Center became one of the warmest stops on the tour.

“When we arrived, we discovered a wonderful country with amazing people and a beautiful history,” said clown Linda. “Today is our last show, and we’re a bit sad, but we’re leaving with a suitcase full of smiles.”

Her colleague Daniel Foncovierta added that the group itself is as international as the places they visit: “Otto and I are from Spain, Marina is from Argentina, and Linda is Italian. It’s our first time in Armenia. We usually perform around Europe, but we use our vacation days to travel farther and bring a little joy to children.”

The story of Clowns Without Borders goes back to 1992, when artist Tortell Poltrona performed in a refugee camp in Sarajevo during the Balkan War. After one show, a child slipped a small note into his pocket. It said he hadn’t laughed since the war began, and asked the clown to find his relatives and make them laugh too, even though he no longer knew where they were. That moment became the start of a global movement. Since then, the group has brought hope and humor to conflict-affected areas around the world under the motto: “Laughter is a weapon of mass construction.”

For Anahit Hayrapetyan, UNHCR’s External Relations Associate, the show brought something new to the children at the center. “This place represents a new beginning, and joy plays a huge role in that. The clowns actually choose the countries themselves, study the context, and design a show that fits. This time, they created a beautiful circus performance.” She laughed as she added that the artists admitted something very familiar: “It can be hard to make an Armenian audience laugh; first, you need to become their friend.”

When the performance ended, the children had their own surprise for the artists: handwoven tricolor bracelets and bright, colorful drawings — small gifts carrying big gratitude.

For the Mardigian Child Protection Center community, it was more than entertainment. It was a reminder that joy, connection, and simple human warmth can build something meaningful, even in the most difficult times.