How it started
Clowns Without Borders International began in Spain in 1993 when Tortell Poltrona, a clown from Spain was asked by the children at a school in Barcelona to go to the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia to perform for refugee children.
The children in Barcelona raised the funds to send Tortell to Croatia after refugees in the Istrian Peninsula wrote them: “You know what we miss most? We miss laughter, to have fun, to enjoy ourselves.”
On that first project Tortell performed for 4.000 Children in Croatian refugee camps. It was the beginning of “Payasos Sin Fronteras” (Clowns Without Borders Spain). Now, 30 years later, the Clowns Without Borders International Federation is made up of 13 Clowns Without Borders national chapter organisations.
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Governance
Clowns Without Borders International (CWBI) is registered in Spain and adheres to Spanish non-profit sector regulations. CWBI is composed of 13 operational chapters throughout the world : Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, India, South Africa, Switzerland, UK, USA.
The CWBI board consists of representatives from each national chapter and meets every three months. Additionally, the General Assembly convenes in person once a year.
Board Members
At the General Assembly, the board elects a steering committee each year:
President: Anneli De Wahl (anneli.dewahl@clownerutangranser.se)
Secretary: Samantha Holdsworth (sam@clownswithoutborders.org.uk)
Treasurer: Meredith Gordon (mergor28@gmail.com)
CWBI’s daily activities are overseen by the International Coordinator: Valentina Bravo Jara (cwbi.coordination@gmail.com)