A clown in Yellowknife, known as Whoopie Cushion, is seeking funding to provide support to students in the city. Antje Rilk, also known as Whoopie Cushion, previously worked as an education assistant in Yellowknife and now aims to reintegrate into the classroom as a school clown.
Rilk explained that school clowning is a branch of humanitarian clowning, commonly utilized in hospital and senior living settings for individuals facing distress or trauma. She highlighted the positive impact of bringing joy, relieving tension, and fostering laughter to help individuals cope with challenging situations.
The journey into clowning began for Rilk during her time as a director at the Snowkings’ Winter Festival when she sought a clown for daytime programming and discovered a school clowning program in Germany called True Moments. She has been actively participating in this program online, emphasizing the importance of establishing deep connections, empathy, and play in school clowning.
Describing Whoopie Cushion as a character who embodies silliness, clumsiness, and a vivid imagination, Rilk emphasized the role of the clown in providing companionship and support to students experiencing loneliness or difficulty. She believes that clowns can complement existing support systems in schools without displacing other positions.
Despite receiving interest from schools in having Whoopie Cushion engage with students, Rilk emphasized the need for external funding to facilitate her involvement. She has pursued various funding opportunities but faces challenges due to her status as an individual rather than an established organization or charity.
To address this funding gap, Rilk applied for the Field Law Community Fund Program, which allows non-charity applicants to compete for grants through public voting and local community market judging panels. She expressed optimism about the program’s inclusivity towards innovative ideas and individual initiatives like hers, hoping for success to bring the benefits of school clowning to the educational setting.