‘I’m a clown in a war zone – I never thought my work would be so important’ Mohammed Nayef Salem tells Maira Butt how an unlikely vocation came to be a lifeline for hundreds of children.
I wear bright red overalls with huge coloured spots on them, a black top hat with colourful flowers and, of course, the white face paint and bright red nose.
My daily routine consists of waking up like usual – it’s very difficult to get food and water – and then getting myself ready to travel with my group to various centres in the north.
Sometimes I wear red and white pinstripes, or other colours like my bright blue, yellow, and green jacket.
He’s since moved abroad to Germany to continue developing his skills, but he picked my performing name, Uncle Tito, which the kids love.
