How did it all start?
Founder of GOHF Clown Eckie
Sad Clown Makes Good!
In 1995 a British professional circus and cabaret clown, Eddie Haworth (AKA Clown Eckie) was left devastated by the loss of his wife when she decided to end what had been their very happy long term marriage and go onto pastures new. His wife was also an essential partner in the double act that they had great success with while performing in theatres, circus and other popular venues all over Europe and the Middle East.
Following several years as the classic 'sad clown' and the realisation that he would never replace his much loved wife, Eddie started to look around for somewhere new to re-start his life as a 'one man band' who's still determined to let the show go-on without any further emotional distractions.
After trying to make a go of it in Europe, United Arab Emirates, China, India and Singapore. He was lucky to be invited to Bangkok for a charity performance which was being held at the British Embassy. When it became clear that the invitation was to entertain some orphans from a Bangkok city slum, he couldn't resist the offer. It didn't take long for him to decide that this may be the right place to continue doing what he does best, which is making people laugh. He also soon realised that this was probably the right place to put the past behind him and re-start his life by devoting himself to bringing a little laughter and some positive memories to people whose lives often lack these important pleasures.
Since that momentous realisation in the year 2000, he's been busy finding ways to offer this simple gift of happiness to as many poor people as possible in Thailand. By the year 2005 he had gathered a small group of friends, and together they managed to raise enough money to start the long drawn-out background checks and legal proceedings which eventually lead to the establishment of this registered charitable foundation.
Full charitable status for the Gift of happiness Foundation in Thailand was granted by the Royal Thai Government on the 15th December 2009. Membership of the League of Foundations of Thailand Under The Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was granted in March 2010. Foundation Registration number: Kor Tor 1914. VAT: 3-0337-6259-4
We have nothing to hide!
In 1995 a British professional circus and cabaret clown, Eddie Haworth (AKA Clown Eckie) was left devastated by the loss of his wife when she decided to end what had been their very happy long term marriage and go onto pastures new. His wife was also an essential partner in the double act that they had great success with while performing in theatres, circus and other popular venues all over Europe and the Middle East.
Following several years as the classic 'sad clown' and the realisation that he would never replace his much loved wife, Eddie started to look around for somewhere new to re-start his life as a 'one man band' who's still determined to let the show go-on without any further emotional distractions.
After trying to make a go of it in Europe, United Arab Emirates, China, India and Singapore. He was lucky to be invited to Bangkok for a charity performance which was being held at the British Embassy. When it became clear that the invitation was to entertain some orphans from a Bangkok city slum, he couldn't resist the offer. It didn't take long for him to decide that this may be the right place to continue doing what he does best, which is making people laugh. He also soon realised that this was probably the right place to put the past behind him and re-start his life by devoting himself to bringing a little laughter and some positive memories to people whose lives often lack these important pleasures.
Since that momentous realisation in the year 2000, he's been busy finding ways to offer this simple gift of happiness to as many poor people as possible in Thailand. By the year 2005 he had gathered a small group of friends, and together they managed to raise enough money to start the long drawn-out background checks and legal proceedings which eventually lead to the establishment of this registered charitable foundation.
Full charitable status for the Gift of happiness Foundation in Thailand was granted by the Royal Thai Government on the 15th December 2009. Membership of the League of Foundations of Thailand Under The Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was granted in March 2010. Foundation Registration number: Kor Tor 1914. VAT: 3-0337-6259-4
We have nothing to hide!
- We are a non-profit, non-religious organisation and have no affiliation with any political parties or extremist groups.
- Eddie Haworth and other volunteers having contact with vulnerable people, have verifiable police clearance certificates showing they are safe to work with children.
- New volunteers who may have contact with vulnerable people must provide such certificates from their country of origin or the Royal Thai Police.
- New volunteers into our happy organisation must also show that they are not members of any groups who's opinions may influence any of us or the people that we serve.
Not just a Clown show
 Donations of toys, educational equipment and clothing for flood victims at a school in Thailand
We also gather truck loads of useful goods to hand out at locations where we perform our shows.
We regularly deliver tons of clothing, toys, educational equipment, bedding, medical supplies, agricultural equipment and any other goods that can help poor people to survive the daily hardships that they are forced to endure. These goods are collected weekly from International Schools, friends of the foundation, small companies, social groups in Bangkok and people like YOU! |
Some children don't get much
 Used toys and clothes are vital to these children.
Some children don't get too much to hold onto in their young lives. When we finish the shows, it's often just like Christmas and birthday time all put together for the poor children. |
Remote communities get something unique People in refugee camps can also have a laugh every so often!
We also bring this unique and important gift of happiness to poor people in very remote parts of Thailand. We do this by giving them free, simple slap-stick comedy shows. Our six day long show tours are regularly given for up-to 5,000 children at refugee camps, migrant and Thai schools, as well as health centres and village locations in the remote regions of Thailand. |
Clowning around on top of a mountain
 This show was held at a very high mountain refugee camp in Thailand
We deliver the gift of happiness to thousands of people who live in the most remote parts of the country.
Just try to imagine what fun they have when some big fat clown comes along and makes a complete fool of himself in a place where there's only cold hard circumstances surrounding them day after day? |
Sustainable Projects
 A bicycle means that the parents of these children can work
We give larger size clothing, bedding and cloth off-cuts that can be altered and put to good use via vocational workshops. These
places are where many of the poor people are working hard with old
fashioned sewing machines or sewing by hand, to develop a sustainable
life and escape from the undignified need to rely on hand-outs. We also give agricultural equipment, seeds and mechanical equipment that can help people to become self sufficient.
For those who can't grow their own food. We try to give them the means to travel to somewhere where they can earn a living. |
Support for Mae Tao Clinic in north Thailand
 We regularly give to the Mae Tao Free Clinic in north Thailand
We support individual families who are in desperate situations. Those families may not have the right kind of status in Thailand, which would allow them to take advantage of assistance from the major NGO’s. But they are still human beings and in great need of help. We give as much as possible to them when we are visiting nearby locations where we are performing.
We also make regular deliveries of donated medical supplies to the free clinic's and health centres that some of those families must visit when they need treatment. |
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