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On this page we would like to inform you about important events. Here you may find messages which are already on our homepage.
Overview
18.01.10: Earthquake in Haiti - Emergency help planned
09.12.09: This is your chance to actively participate in creating a just society!
04.12.09: "First Aid for the Soul" - Emergency help in Sumatra
03.11.09: Educational emergency aid for traumatised children in Indonesia
06.08.09: The second mission for emergency help in Gaza successfully completed
20.07.09: ‘”The Friends” organise UNESCO world youth festival with Waldorf schools from all over the world
07.07.09: Federal cross of merit for the founder of “Nadeshda” in Kyrgyzstan
24.04.09: “The world moved closer together”
08.04.09: Monte Azul needs help for of a new building for a Crèche
30.03.09: WOW – Day 2009 – helping communally!
29.03.09: “Friends of Waldorf Education” invite for “weltwärts” partner conference in Karlsruhe
10.03.09: Connect 2009 – international conference for class 12 pupils
12.02.09: Educational emergency help in Gaza
21.01.09: Projects which need your support…
22 12.08: First kindergarden in Bulgaria
06.11.08: First Waldorf initiative in Turkey
17.10.08: signatures for a free future!
05.09.08: New reports – New cries for help!
14.07.08: Emergency Education: “Friends” team in China
18.01.10: Earthquake in Haiti - Emergency help planned
The Friends of Waldorf Education are arranging for a pedagogic emergency intervention in Haiti, which was destroyed by a disastrous earthquake on 13th of January.
In order to help, support and stabilize traumatized children, the Friends of Waldorf Education are planning to dispatch a team composed of pedagogues, psychologists, therapists, doctors and translators to the crisis region by mid of February.
Looking at the dramatic situation in the completely destroyed Caribbean state Haiti, it is even hard to imagine what the local people are currently experiencing. It is nearly impossible to understand the fear, desperation and pain of the three million people concerned by the earthquake. Due to the prevailing situation in Haiti, about two million children are exposed to acute danger. As a result of the separation and loss of their family members, physically injuries and the omnipresent confrontation with death and destruction, most of the children sustain psychological traumas, which will have an immense impact on their future lives. Furthermore, among all natural disasters, earthquakes have an even worse impact, since the normally life-giving and save earth turns into a life-threatening danger.
Because of the positive experiences of the previous pedagogic emergency interventions in Lebanon (2006), China (2008) and Gaza (January and July 2009) the Friends of Waldorf Education are reinforced in their desire to offer Waldorf-based education to the traumatized children in Haiti. The latest intervention took place in November 2009 in west Sumatra, Indonesia, after an earthquake caused serious damages on 13th of September.
The total costs of a pedagogic emergency intervention are amounting to about 30.000 Euros. Even though the team of the Friends of Waldorf Education works on a volunteer level, the organization cannot bear the total costs itself. Please donate now for our current project in Haiti! Your donation helps us offering help to those in need! Thank you very much!
>> Donate now.
09.12.09: This is your chance to actively participate in creating a just society!
A report from the colloquium of the “weltwärts”-returnees (27.11 – 29.11 2009)
A colloquium presented the closing event of the “weltwärts” programme. It is the beginning of the work with the returnees after they finished their voluntary service abroad. It contributes to applying the aims of the BMZ in the frame of the “weltwärts” programme. This voluntary service is aimed at encouraging young people living in Germany to do civil service abroad. A special aim is that the volunteers during their stay, develop a consciousness for development politics and upon returning to Germany apply it to their social commitments.
The weekend atmosphere was dominated by the lively 150 returnees. Every one was happy to meet with each other again and there was a vivid exchange of information from the experiences made in the year abroad.
In the frame of the colloquium the participants listened to varied lectures. Heidjer Reetz began the opening lecture with the theme: “Ownership of nature, work and capital as the core issues in social questions”. It then continued with the theme of the event “commitment” with introductory lectures from: Friedwart Fahlbusch, a voluntary co-worker of “The Friends“ who gave a fascinating report of a development political project he accompanied. Götz Feeser, a former voluntary co-worker of “The Friends” gave a report of his work at the Triodos bank. He explained how assistance of social projects through the Triodos bank can be seen as a social “heart”. Moritz Darmstadt another voluntary worker at “The Friends” gave the closing report about his drinking water project in the Transkei in South Africa.
04.12.09: "First Aid for the Soul" - Emergency help in Sumatra
On the 30th of September 2009 in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia, the earth shook. The earthquake registered 7,6 on the Richter scale and caused serious damage, mainly in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra. In the province’s capital, Padang, roughly 50% of all houses were destroyed. According to official statistics, 1115 people lost their lives and 2200 were injured.
At a plea from the Indonesian department of health and with the support of the foreign office, the “Friends of Waldorf Education – Disaster Pedagogy” sent an eleven-man crisis intervention team into the catastrophe zone. The team, consisting of pedagogues, therapists, psychologists and a doctor, was to help psycho traumatized children to process their experiences, using the methods of Waldorf Education. The locations allocated to our team by the disaster management in Padang and Agam were the mountain villages Sungghais Batang on the Maninjau volcanic lake and Malalak.
>> read more.
03.11.09: Educational emergency aid for traumatised children in Indonesia
On the 30.09.09 an earth quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, hundreds of people died and even more fled from their demolished cities and towns.
Countless of children who survived the quake were witness to the death of family members and the massive destruction of their environment and as a result are psycho traumatised. They are in urgent need of therapeutic help to work through their experiences.
A Karlsruher association’s (Friends of Waldorf Education – emergency educational assistance) team of experts consisting of 11 teachers, therapists and doctors thus travelled to the central quake region of Pandang from the 11.11. to the 25.11.09 to work with the affected children.
With such traumatic experiences the first weeks are decisive in whether the experiences lived through can be processed by those who went through it or if the clinical condition of “posttraumatic stress disorder” develops, with the possibility of accompanied long term personality disorders. As a preventative measure the experts sent by “The Friends” will be working intensively on the basis of Waldorf education with affected children. The focus will be on movement, games, rhythms, and artistic activities to counteract disorders of perception and memory processes, eating – or sleeping disorders which may result because of the catastrophe.
In Pandang the emergency team will be working with the Indonesian ministry’s department for mental health. This assignment is supported by the German department of foreign affairs.
The cost of approximately 30.000 euro cannot be carried by the association “The Friends of Waldorf Education – emergency educational assistance” alone, even though they are doing the work voluntarily. The association is therefore dependent on donations in order to continue their work in crisis areas.
06.08.09: The second mission for emergency help in Gaza successfully completed
At the end of January “The friends of Waldorf Education” had to prematurely stop their work because of the closing of the Egyptian border while in Gaza on a crisis intervention operation doing emergency education. A team of ten psychologist, educators and therapists, with the help of the department of foreign affairs were now, once again able to get to Gaza via the Israeli border of Erez and continue their emergency educational work on the basis of Waldorf education. The work was continued there, where it was stopped in February: in an orphanage in Gaza city.
Many children are unable to leave their homes because of the severity of their injuries. Others are so traumatised that they hide and react with panic attacks when they have to leave their homes, others because of the psychopathological changes caused by the trauma are simply hidden away or locked up by desperate parents.
>> Read more.
20.07.09: ‘”The Friends” organise UNESCO world youth festival with Waldorf schools from all over the world
After the successful event in 2006 the city of Stuttgart once again organised a UNESCO-World-Youth Festival. 500 young people from across the world were invited to attend the festival from the 13th to the 19th of July. This time the presence of 80 Waldorf school pupils from eight countries: Columbia, The Philippines, Thailand, Egypt, India, Lithuania, Argentina and Spain, once again gave the event a special note.
The Karlsruhe office for “The Friends” organised the arrival of the international Waldorf students.
In a short space of time many details had to be dealt with, from official invitations for the visas to the booking of flights and medical insurance for the stay in Germany.
The international guests were accommodated by the Waldorf school communities in and around the city of Stuttgart. Every guest got a Stuttgart Waldorf school pupil as partner who was also host. Thus various intercultural meetings and experiences enriched the host and guests which, as was the case in 2006, lead to lasting friendships being made.
The theme of this year’s festival focused on environmental protection and future energy sources. This relevant theme for the future generation was discussed in workshops at the world youth climate congress.
The second focus was on meetings and dialogue between the cultures. A special contribution was given at the international monthly festival hosted by the Waldorf School Uhlandshöhe on the 15th of July – a meaningful location for Waldorf education as it has its origins here as well as being host to Waldorf educations 90th anniversary this year.
At the opening greeting Bernhard Kübler the district representative for the eastern part of Stuttgart emphasised, which later also convinced the audience: that the Waldorf groups from all across the world made an essential contribution to the UNESCO festival in the exchange between the cultures, and gave the festival a colourful and cheerful atmosphere. Heard and seen were melodies and rhythms from Egypt and Lithuania, costumes and dances from South America, Thailand and India and a demonstration of Arnis, stick fighting from The Philippines. The international guest’s performances were enthusiastically received by a thrilled audience.
After the UNESCO week the youths were invited to an international Waldorf student’s conference at the Überlingen Waldorf School.
“The Friends” are sure that all who participated in this conference took good memories and lasting impressions back home.
07.07.09: Federal cross of merit for the founder of “Nadeshda” in Kyrgyzstan
In recognition of her long standing work with disabled children in Kyrgyzstan the German president Horst Köhler awarded Karla Maria Schälike, founder of the children rehabilitation centre “Nadeshda”, the Federal cross of merit on ribbon.
At a festive celebration on the 9th of June the Germany ambassador in Kyrgyzstan Holger Green decorated Karla Maria Schälike with the merit.
The Federal cross of merit on ribbon is a high honour allocated annually to only a few selected personalities.
Mrs Schälike has been living in Kyrgyzstan for more than 30 years and founded the children’s rehabilitation centre “Umüt-Nadjeshda” in 1989. Currently “Nadjeshda” cares for about 60 children and youths, some with multiple or severe disabilities. It has an integrated kindergarden, a school with four classes, therapeutic workshops, a curative training seminar and much more. This important institution is almost completely financed from small private donations mostly from Germany. Tschyngys Aitmatow have for many years been the overseer of this project.
In his speech the ambassador Mr Green praised Mrs Schälike for her life’s work and voiced his hope that this merit awarded her, would contribute to more recognition of the children’s rehabilitation centre “Nadjeshda”.
>> More: Report from Kyrgyzstan.
24.04.09: “The world moved closer together”
More than 100 people from anthroposophic-pedagogical institutions from more than 25 countries came together for a conference on the 4th to 9th April in Karlsruhe. A report about the “partner conference” for and with partner institutions of the voluntary service „weltwärts“, organised by “Friends of Waldorf Education”.
In the week before Easter more than 100 people from just about as many institutions (social projects, Waldorf schools and kindergardens, curative educational institutions etc.), came together at the partner conference “weltwärts” hosted by the “Friends of Waldorf Education” in Karlsruhe. More than 30 countries and four continents were the home all these people came from: Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Columbia, Mexico, Uruguay, El Salvador, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Lebanon, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, India, Pakistan, China, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.
>> Read more.
08.04.09: Monte Azul needs help for of a new building for a Crèche
In order for this initiative to continue receiving its state subsidy it needs to have a kind of health certificate. The fact that this institution is in the middle of Brazilian Favela’s creates an enormous problem, however a compromise could be found: if, in a space of two years a new building is erected, the institution may remain in Monte Azul. The funds that are needed comprise an amount of 147.621 Euro!!!
>> Read more.
30.03.09: WOW-Day 2009 – helping together!
Our answer to the financial crisis is: Brotherliness.
What we are wishing in the big scale can be realised in the small manner.
Another world is possible – decisive, is our contributions.
All funds raised on this communal WOW-Day 2009 will go to projects in developing countries.
These Schools and social projects which work under the most difficult circumstances place the child in the centre of its focus through Waldorf Education (you may find a small selection >> here).
>> Read more and find all important information.
29.03.09: “Friends of Waldorf Education” invite for “weltwärts” partner conference in Karlsruhe
“Going into the future together” – that is the Motto of the international conference which was held in Karlsruhe from the 4th to the 9th of April. This conference will be attended by all the Anthroposophical institutions where “weltwärts” volunteer services can be done.
Expected are more than 100 representatives from Waldorf Schools, kinder gardens, remedial institutions and other projects from Middle - and South America, Africa and Asia.
An essential part of the support we give come from the growing number of volunteer workers (in 2008 it amounted to 550 volunteers) we send to these institutions, in more than 50 countries.
The core theme of the “weltwärts” conference was voluntary services. This service which came into existence through the German ministry for economic and developmental cooperation is directed at young Germans who would like to become involved in international volunteer work. We have actively been carrying the implementation of this idea since its initiation. Up until now we have participated with 170 volunteers being sent out by us through “weltwärts”.
Through this conference we havev the possibility to strengthen the base of the “weltwärts” voluntary services. We have lively personal experiences and information exchanges with the responsible partner projects overseas. At the same time the international guests are able to give closer presentation of their work as well as networking among each other. The closing of the conference will have a colourful cultural programme.
We are happy to hear that the patronage of this initiative is taken on by the federal minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and the mayor of Karlsruhe Klaus Stapf and we are looking forward to lively and fruitful meetings and conversations.
10.03.09: Connect 2009 – international conference for class 12 pupils
More than 500 class 12 pupils from Waldorf Schools all across the world has been invited by the Goetheanum youth section from the 19th to the 23rd of April. The conference would be co-organised with helpers, conversational group leaders, artists and artisans. The theme: what would society look like if each individual carried responsibility?
Young people from South Africa to New Zealand will be attending. Many classes have been working for months toward their travelling costs. The youth section needs a total amount of 100.000 € – every donation helps to make the conference happen.
“The Friends of Waldorf Education” would gladly direct donations to them as well as gives donation receipts.
More information at: www.connectconference.org
12.02.09: Educational emergency help in Gaza
The work with traumatised children in the Gaza strip has started…
Among others we are working in an area on the periphery of Gaza city. After a massive military attack prior to our arrival, it was completely isolated from humanitarian help. We were faced with an unimaginable picture of total destruction: completely destroyed houses, streets, olive groves and mostly we met people many of whom were children, with deep physical and emotional wounds. We started the work with these children, for example Abdallah (10), who saw the killing of his father and other family members. He saw how, his four year old brother who was begging the dead father to come back got shot and died.
>> Read more and make a donation!
21.01.09: Projects which need your support…
We know of many projects which are doing admirable work and yet need your support. We would gladly like to help them continue their work; however do not have the means. Your donations are the means to securing the future of these initiatives!
On this site you can get to know these many wonderful initiatives, which one cannot help enough as they contribute directly to a better world, through their dedicated work in caring for the disadvantaged children.
22 12.08: First Waldorf kindergarden in Bulgaria
On the 22nd of December the first kindergarden in the city of Sofia in Bulgaria was officially inaugurated.
Since 1990 there have been open lectures and courses for the public on Waldorf education. In 2000 there was then a general conference about independent education. A first attempt at starting a Waldorf kinder garden failed. In 2002 an association “the friends of Waldorf Education in Bulgaria” was founded which unfortunately had to withstand many conflicts. In 2003 a three year training course was started in Sofia - there are currently 14 children being cared for in the Waldorf kinder garden “the golden corn”.
>> Read more.
06.11.08: First Waldorf initiative in Turkey
Although the wish to find a home for Waldorf education in Turkey has been living with many people, a break trough in this direction has up until now been unsuccessful. One of the essential reasons has been the intellectualised centrally run education system. Its detailed prescriptions on learning content and its rigid examination regulations make the chances for alternative school models impossible. Another reason is the distrustful public view on Waldorf schools in Turkey. Except for some original texts there are no other translations of Rudolf Steiners work in Turkish.
Since the 18th of October a Waldorf – initiative committee with more than 15 dedicated people has been founded. A Waldorf symposium has been planned in cooperation with Marie-Luise Sparka at the Rudolf Steiner School in Hamburg and Peter Lang of the kinder garden association in Stuttgart for the end of March 2009. In autumn of 2009 or 2010 a two year teachers training seminar is to be started and thereafter a Waldorf kinder garden will be initiated.
>> Read more.
17.10.08: Signatures for a free future!
Give your signature for Anthroposophical medicine, agriculture and other initiatives to have a future!
ELIANT – The European alliance of initiatives with applied Anthroposophy – have been fighting for legal conditions in Europe, which would support and allow development for diverse approaches in institutions. ELIANT demands a legal frame in European politics which not only allows freedom of choice but also the possibility to choose quality of life and cultural diversity in decision making.
For this cause ELIANT needs to collect one million signatures. This would prepare the ground for future EU decisions, which would take into consideration and support the diverse approaches in agriculture, the food industry, medicine, health care as well as education and social therapy. Thus creating a humane Europe.
>> More information on the situation in agriculture, medicine, education, etc.
>> Sign here!
>> Print a signature list
05.09.08: New reports – New cries for help!
Emergency situations know no holiday... In the last few weeks we got more reports from all over the world – reports on initiatives that are doing admirable work. We gladly invite you to get to know them! Maybe you would like to help the work to continue in the one or the other place.
In August of 2007 a strong earthquake destroyed one of the poorest areas in Peru. Immediate help was slow in reaching their aim as the isolated nature of these villages made it difficult to reach, and people were once again left to fend for themselves. Only one of a few organisations, like the one founded by the Waldorf teacher Bettina Vielmetter “Pro Humanus” continued to care for the people still around and especially the children – they try to motivate own initiative through educational and social work. This work is only possible with the help of donations!
>> Read the report.
To the North of Ethiopia there is a Waldorf kinder garden initiative in Hawzien. It was initiated by a couple from northern Germany who has had lots of experience in Ethiopia and Ethiopians themselves. The committed kinder garden teachers still need lots of training. They are looking for experienced kinder garden teachers who are prepared to do three weeks voluntary work / training with them and exchange experiences as well as donations to pay their travelling costs.
>> Read the report.
From South Africa we have a report on an Educare Centre. These are the simplest Waldorf kinder gardens where children are able to make the most important experiences that children could ever make. That they are loved and cared for. Mostly life in the townships around Cape Town teaches differently. Parents or single mothers are busy all day in finding means to earn money. The children are either locked up in their shanties (if they are still very small) or are in the street all day long – where everyday life is filled with violence. And so many children at a very early age have lost their trust - in the world, in the future, in other people and in themselves. Educare Centres give these children another kind of experience – and most probably another kind of future.
>> Read the report.
At another school in South Africa, more to the north there is the Lesedi Waldorf Centre – a Waldorf School in Madietane that can only be reached by means of a dirt road. Two years ago the founder and administrator of this school was killed in a motor car accident. The loss was a great shock to the school as well as the fact that the state has withdrawn its subsidy and the school has since then been fighting for survival. The committed teachers have not yet given up. Any kind of help or partnership is welcomed!
>> Read the report.
Nepal has for many years now had a truly admirably social project. “Shanti Sewa Griha” has been founded by a mother from a Waldorf School to give people with leprosy humane care. For a long time now it has also been caring for other disabled people. More than 1000 people have found their home in Shanti. Two reports are given from a previous Waldorf pupil and a trained Waldorf School teacher and tell of the kind of work that is being done here. (You may also read a detailed report by the founder of the school Marianne Großpietsch)
Help is also needed by a social project in Brazil (Salvador de Bahia) and the remedial Michael school in Georgia (Tiflis).
We are happy for your interest and thank you for your help!
14.07.08: Emergency Education: “Friends” team in China
In May of 2008 an earth quake claimed 90.000 lives in China and made millions of people homeless – many of them experienced heavy trauma.
On an invitation from the Chengdu Waldorf School a volunteer team from “The friends of Waldorf education” under the leadership of Bernd Ruf went into the earth quake area and worked with many children, youths, parents and teachers.
At the end of the two week assignment they received high recognition from the Chinese authorities.
Bernd Ruf reports on the devastating experiences.
>> Read more.