John Patrick Kavanagh (otherwise known as Johnie K) has been forced to dodge bullets, flying bricks and the odd beer bottle in his work as a clown, touring conflict zones around the world. But it hasn't dented his enthusiasm in trying to make people smile in some of the most inhospitable places on earth.
"It makes kids forget for a while. Laughter is great for people, it's beneficial for people's mental health and fantastic for someone suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. It's not so much a circus act as a psycho-social programme," jokes Kavanagh (42), who has just returned from a post-tsunami visit to Sri Lanka.
Everywhere Johnie K has travelled to, whether it's orphanages in Romania, refugee camps in Kosovo or communities in Afghanistan, the reaction is always appreciative.
"We've been up against guys with machine guns and other situations, but it has never failed once," says Kavanagh.
Kavanagh became interested in humanitarian issues after seeing pictures of Romanian orphanages. It led to a series of tours to conflict zones. Kavanagh has also established a cultural awareness programme for eight to 12-year-olds, teaching children about refugees.
