Associazione Veronica Sacchi ODV

Associazione Veronica Sacchi ODV (AVS) is an independent association for the promotion of youth activities and training of volunteer groups. AVS trains young volunteers in clowntherapy, proper hygiene and hospital procedures. AVS' professional Clown Doctors perform in all the major children’s hospitals in the Lombardy region and some general hospitals. They interact positively with patients throughout all wards, including Intensive Care, the Burn Unit, Oncology and the ER.

AVS programs are also established in institutes for people with disabilities, hospices and prisons, where fun and laughter are shared with the whole prison community – prisoners, families and staff.

Over the past five years, AVS volunteer clowns have been entertaining and making little patients laugh at numerous hospitals and other institutions all around the world. From the children of gypsy camps in Albania, to favelas in Argentina, low caste dalits (“untouchables") villages in India, the Kiev Children’s Cancer Hospital (Ukraine), the urban slums in Nairobi (Kenya), a Romanian orphanage, and all the places where a big red nose can bring smiles.