HCIM 2026 Scholarships

Shaping the future of healthcare clowning together

The Healthcare Clowning International Meeting 2026 launched a scholarship program to ensure that voices from every region can be part of the global conversation. The HCIM 2026 Scholarship removes financial barriers and opens doors to practitioners who are shaping care with creativity, empathy and courage.

Why the scholarship matters

Healthcare clowning is growing worldwide, yet many professionals working in low-resource contexts cannot access international gatherings. The HCIM 2026 Scholarship was created to change this reality.

It enables emerging and established practitioners to:

  • participate in the congress regardless of financial means,

  • share experiences across cultures and generations,

  • build partnerships that continue long after the event,

  • strengthen healthcare clowning in new countries and communities.

This program reflects the core spirit of HCIM: learning from one another to shape the future of healthcare together.

 

HCIM 2026 scholarship - key figures

This edition has already demonstrated a strong global interest:

  • 31 applications received

  • 24 scholarships granted (full and partial)

  • 16 countries represented

  • EUR 35,250 awarded

Each scholarship is granted based on motivation, relevance to the congress themes, and commitment to creating impact beyond HCIM 2026.

 

Spotlight

Doctor Parrots – India

The journey of Doctor Parrots illustrates the transformative power of the program. Thanks to the scholarship, their team will attend HCIM 2026 to:

  • strengthen artistic practice and quality of care in hospitals,

  • develop a best-practice guide for artists and administrators,

  • build international partnerships,

  • advocate for healthcare clowning as a recognized profession in India.

Their participation will translate congress learnings into concrete action for thousands of patients, caregivers and hospital staff at home—showing how one opportunity can benefit an entire community.

 

Partners in impact – EFHCO

The scholarship program is supported by the European Federation of Healthcare Clown Organizations (EFHCO), which has contributed both financially and strategically.

By investing in the program, EFHCO helps practitioners from under-resourced contexts access international exchange and strengthens the global professionalization of healthcare clowning. This collaboration bridges European expertise with emerging initiatives worldwide and turns scholarships into lasting development.

 

Creating lasting impact

The HCIM 2026 Scholarship is more than financial aid. It is:

  • an investment in people and ideas,

  • a driver of innovation and quality in care,

  • a catalyst for new collaborations across borders.

When participants return home, they carry new skills, confidence and networks—creating ripples that reach far beyond the congress.