Courtesy of The Nation News - Bangkok
Lots of children know Eddie Haworth - he's Eckie the Clown, who teaches refugee kids, flood victims and primary pupils about the good things in life
Eddie Haworth is a long-time street performer and circus clown who's entertained people around the world. He says Western and Thai children are different from the Burmese and ethnic children he entertains on the border.
The latter are more wary of foreigners visiting them, though. That's partly why he keeps going back to give them a laugh.
"The main difference between rich and poor kids is the poor kids lack self-confidence" he says. "They're often afraid to laugh. They're not used to a big, fat foreign bloke making a fool of himself.
"Sometimes their first thought is that we're a bunch of doctors. Then they start giggling, rather than thinking, 'When are they going to stick the needles in?' They go from being timid, frightened kids to cracking up on the floor."

Years ago Eddie was the manager of a bottle-gas company with dreams of owning a Volvo, until a bad road crash led him to clowning. Now he's hooked on entertaining disadvantaged children.
"I benefit a lot from it. It's good, honest, clean fun. That's half the reason I do this."
He didn't like it when he first got to Bangkok in the late 1990s - coming from northern England he found it too hot.
Being a professional clown in Britain had become a bit tedious at that stage - he was spending more time driving to London than anything else. The money was good, but with the end of his second marriage and his two kids grown up, it was a lonely life. So he gave Thailand another shot.
Getting established as an entertainer here was tough. He was lucky to get a contract with a big hotel. Then he found an old tuk-tuk van that had been used to deliver laundry down the narrow streets of Yaowarat, and converted it into a "clown-mobile".
It's like a three-wheeled billboard that's garnered him recognition. You can often see it in the car park outside the Dusit Thani Hotel, where he puts on shows every Sunday.
As well as working as a professional clown, Eddie spent at least five years going through the legal hoops required to register a charity in Thailand, and the expense - several hundred thousand baht. This is his Gift of Happiness Foundation.
On weekends he's Clown Eckie, hired by five-star hotels and parties for expatriate children and well-to-do Thai families. Midweek he's plain Eddie, maybe doing charity gigs on the border or at flooded-out schools in Ayutthaya.
The labour brings him and the needy kids joy, and good feelings for him and his supporters, some of them expat women who love nothing more than helping those with less.
His first trip to the border was 10 years ago, and he's returned often to give thousands of impoverished kids a laugh.
Early last month Eddie drove to Mae Sot with a van full of supporters and a load of mosquito nets, clothes and items such as wheelchairs for refugees and landmine victims at one of the main camps. They also gave money and toys to the Mae Tao Clinic run by acclaimed Karen physician Cynthia Maung.
Eddie did a range of shows over several days - a 30-minute routine packed with the usual slapstick fare - for hundreds of Karen, at a school for children who scavenge for plastic at the Mae Sot dump and at a centre for street kids.
He used to ride a big unicycle while playing the concertina, but at 59 he's jettisoned the vehicle. Still, he's got a special talent for making a fool of himself, and plenty of tricks to keep the kids amused.
"I love doing what I do," Eddie says. "It's a struggle ... sometimes hard work making a living, but I can't imagine not doing what I do."
CHEER UP
Find out more about the Gift of Happiness Foundation at www.gohappiness.org

Gift of Happiness Foundation - A non profit organisation under the Royal patronage of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
Dedicated to helping poor children in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. Registered Charity in the Kingdom of Thailand
Registration number: Kor Tor 1914 -- VAT: 3-0337-6259-4
Donate in most currencies on-line, direct transfer or cheque here: http://www.gohappiness.org/donate.html

Gift of Happiness Foundation is giving another show for the children at Pakkred home for physically challenged children on Saturday 10th March 2012. We will provide a great part of the days fun alongside other local magicians and balloon twisters. Plus loads of volunteers from the Australian/Thai Chamber of Commerce and many sponsoring companies in Bangkok.
More info: charity@gohappiness.org