Tsunami kids laughing again

A New Zealand clown is making a big impact in Indonesia, where he is helping children to laugh - something rare for those affected by the tsunami that devastated their region two months ago.

Aaron Ward, 30, also known as Elvo the Clown, has been putting smiles on the faces of children at World Vision activity centres in Banda Aceh.

The centres are designed to help children who are grieving the loss of homes, family and friends to prevent them from being abandoned or trafficked.

"One doctor told me he was having trouble holding back the tears as he watched the children he had been dealing with for the past two months suddenly laughing and playing," Mr Ward says.

"Those sentiments have been repeated by many people who have watched the shows."

He says his role is not only to help children laugh again, but to help them through their grieving.

"It's about getting kids to realise the different stages in the grieving process - longing, anger, despair - are all okay.

"There's nothing wrong or strange about having those feelings."

It is the second time Mr Ward has used his talents to help children in need. In 1999 he entertained Albanian children living in refugee camps.

He says helping traumatised children is the most satisfying work he has done.

"Kids have forgotten how to be kids in these situations.

"They need to see the light at the end of the tunnel, they need to be able to gain some normality, they need to laugh again," he says.

The BBC, Associated Press, Reuters and Indonesian media have all shown interest in his work and some have attended his shows.

- NZPA