Social work in the ghetto’s of Bogotà

The socio political environment

Columbia lies in northwest South America and is about 12 times as big as Austria and three times as big as Germany. The country is famous for its excellent coffee but also has a reputation as the biggest drug exporter. The continuous fights between illegal armed groups and state security forces have caused the biggest number of “interior refugees” in the world. The causes of these fights are manifold.

Migration into the cities started mid 20^th century due to party conflicts between the liberals and the conservatives. On the 9th of April 1948 the day on which the freedom fighter Gaitán was murdered, the so called “Violencia” (time for political violence) began. The response to this was the empowerment of the military dictator general Gustavo Rojas Pinilla which bloodlessly ended the uprising in May of 1957. In the 60’s the first guerrilla movement began – the “revolutionary armed forces of Columbia” (FARC) and soon there after the “National freedom army” (ELN).

Thousands of families left their homes and organised themselves in the mountains. The violence now expressed itself as more than just a conflict between guerrilla groups of Marxists-Leninist alliances and the official military forces. In the governing period 1982 – 86 there arose the first peace negotiations with the guerrilla groups, which led to the demobilisation of the guerrilla organisation called “the movement of 19th April” and the “people’s freedom forces”.

At the same time, illegal troops of right political tendencies consolidated, warning the interests of large property owners and industrialists (they received no kind of support from the state and where being threatened by guerrilla groups). These troops called themselves “the united self defence groups of Columbia (AUC) and are currently known as “paras” (paramilitaries). They are among others members of the previous official military forces.

Historically seen Columbia was born out of violence, “nourishes” on violence. Even today murder and excommunication of farmers, who come into the cities to hide in the ghettoes, are at the order of the day. An atmosphere of neglect, no protection and ostracism reigns.

Columbia has about 44 million inhabitants, 45% of the population lives in poverty. Of the total amount 2.2 million of these are refugees which settled in Bogotá.

The internal armed conflict, drug dealing and organised crime are an enormous burden on the human rights situation. Added to this are restrictions of accesses to justice, inequality before the law and discrimination. Upon arrival in Bogotà the people settled on the outskirts of the city thus increasing the already existing miserable zone.

A never ending circle: unemployment and homelessness, bad diet and education, alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, abuse and neglect lead to desperation and suicide. This ghetto is a recruiting field for illegal armed militia, guerrillas, self defence groups and paramilitaries.

Ciudad Bolivar – is home to CES-Waldorf

The activities of CES Waldorf in Ciudad Bolivar (Bogotà) happen amidst the described conditions of poverty and violence. This part of the city lies on the mountains on the south west of Bogotá. Here the biggest ghetto in the country is spread out. About two million people live in this part of the city for refugees.

According to government reports 75% of the households living here lives in extreme poverty that means on 1 US Dollar a day. In the face of absent schooling, training and employment 120.000 youths are hanging around. They have no activities and are pray to violent criminals of all sorts or themselves become members of the underworld.

The absence of real survival possibilities determines the lives of the 120 of 146 families who look us up for help. Fear is their daily bread: fear to leave their homes. Fear of being kidnapped, threatened and being beaten up. Fear of not finding work. Fear for not being able to bring their children food home to eat. Fear to look one in the eye. Fear to expect, what one is rightfully entitled too. Fear of a husband of being beaten up in front of the children. Fear to say ones own name, for it might be heard by the wrong ears. Fear because of a lack of education and not being able to speak “correctly”.

In this environment a healthy development of the civil population is almost impossible where children cannot blossom believing in the future. Parents feel powerless, cannot realise their wishes for a better life. The little money they have is spent on medication, school fees for the children, paying rent and buying food to eat. The level of learning and learning a trade is low. 17% of the adults are illiterate, 42% have a visited a primary school, 34% managed a secondary school level. Half the fathers in these families are unemployed. Many are unskilled labourers.

What is CES-Waldorf?

CES-Waldorf was grounded in 2001 by among others Helmut von Loebell and is a non governmental organisation putting and educational, artistic and cultural programme into action. Children and parents get to know other possibilities of how to deal with their dramatic life situations. The educational principles applied here are inspired by Waldorf education and is continually being broadened through the work of Helmut von Loebell who is active in different Waldorf schools.

Currently CES-Waldorf is a supplementary school project, takes place out of school time and is fundamentally directed at helping pupils understand their school work. At the same time the projects aims at complementing family orientated upbringing, which is absolutely essential because most children come from “broken homes” or single parent families and those parents who are present have a minimal education and as a rule are themselves victims of violence.

The history of CES-Waldorf started in 1997 with a process of non violent reintegration of a group of 36 homeless families into the community. They lived under miserable conditions in huts along the train tracks that run through the capital of Columbia. Street workers who at that time, was already working with H.von Loebell was able to stop bulldozers from running down their huts and was able to assist in the non violent relocation of these families to Sierra Morena and help them obtain their right to have homes. They organised identification papers and bank financing for cheap prefabricated housing. These people were introduced to the fundamental preconditions of an ordered life – particularly looking at orderliness and life in the community. The children received after school help.

In 2001 a building was rented for the first kinder garden with 26 children. Malnutrition, unemployment, maltreatment and sexual abuse are the biggest problems. As of 2002 the programme has been extended into supervision of homework and family counselling. The purchase of seven small properties allowed the opening of a newly built CES-Waldorf-Centre in 2004.

The current work

Little by little more task areas were added to our growing team: workshops for art education, theatre, writing, reading, handwork, mathematics and music. The area of social work with the families and their children became the primary focus. Because of the massive health problems of the children a doctor was appointed. A community garden was created with the help of the city botanical garden and has 30 parents working in it. A speech therapists is able to recognise early learning disorders and treats it. Excursions with cultural, ecological and educational aims are made.

Since its founding CES-Waldorf has existentially helped about 400 families. The project received state support for the first time in 2008 with a small percent of its monthly budget.

The focus of the CES-Waldorf-programme

CES-Waldorf in particular cares for the consequences of violence: especially resignation, depression, social poverty, susceptibility for conflict and further violence. Cognitive and personal development is the main focus. With particular emphasis on monitoring and aiding the development of interpersonal relationships and the social condition of the children. 

The team is made up of art teachers, teachers, social workers, therapists and a physician. Artistic activities supplement the medical, educational and social work. Thus bringing ideas and feelings to expression as well as assisting, counselling and reviewing the relationship between children and their families.

The activities of CES-Waldorf has an effect on the educational, nutritional and legal knowledge of especially those families who are victims of threats, and attacks, have lost their material possessions and emotional relations and finds themselves in humanly threatening situation.

The children come to us on request of the parents or out of their own free will. Preference are given to children and youths who have been abused, abandoned or thrown out by their parents, who are restricted in their development, who lacks attention and care, who suffers physical and mental poverty, who have learning and behavioural difficulties or simply have no interest in life.

Learning for life

The art teachers apply special learning techniques. Moulding soap stone demands imagination and disciplined work. Handwork and painting gives the feeling that one is useful, develops will power and dealing with ones own mistakes. In music the children learn how to find their voice again when listening to others. Individuality as well as the ability for team work is developed. Experiencing art and artistic activity gives the tools for social change.

Reading, writing and arithmetic are powerful tools against social ostracism. These abilities enhance self confidence and the feeling of being equal with others.

In the future CES-Waldorf will intensively deal with the development processes of children who deny support and therefore are endangered. The motiviation to finish the school and further education is an essential goal. We also plan to offer vocational training (farming, handwork). 

The CES-Waldorf kindergarden

In artistic activities and games creative forces are awoken in children in both kinder gardens (in the city and the country side). Children learn to create their own world and for the first time develop trust in their environment.

It is the aim of this educational programme to strengthen the will forces of the child, to awaken interest, initiative and willingness for the offered activities. Thus the children are being prepared for their daily struggles and for the scholastic demands awaiting them in later life.

Kinder garden teachers also look at the individual life situation of each child. Abused children and children suffering from malnutrition are often ill an aggressive. They need more attention than “normal” children. A coordinator visits the families, train the kinder garden teachers and designs training programmes for the fathers of families.

The kinder garden outside of Bogota in the country side “GABENO” has working since 2007. The 15 children come from agricultural families or from single mother families in the vicinity. They and their parents get support in dealing with their health and nutritional problems. For the parents courses are offered in occupational orientation, the arts and handwork. Thus they learn to produce toys and clothing for their children.

When these children first arrived they were loners, shy and not communicative. In one and a half years they have become happy, spontaneous, settled and inquisitive children, they have learnt to trust, be calm, laugh and play. In short: for the first time in their lives they were allowed to be children – a precondition for a decent life. CES-Waldorf has the hope that in future they may be able to support and care for more children at “GABENO” in the country side.

Health care

The CES-Waldorf physician looks at the growth- and developmental processes of the children and consults with families on questions of nutrition, helps integrate them into the national health programme (EPS), advises them on health issues in community gatherings but also in home visits.

CES-Waldorf would like to offer this health service to all inhabitants living in this area. This means a preventative - and an awareness campaign to issues such as cancer of the uterus, abuse of antipsychotic drugs and cardio vascular diseases. Over and above these, to provide a service for haematological check ups, kidney and liver functions as well as other preventative check ups which most people here cannot afford.

Social work amidst misery

It is necessary to improve the living conditions of these families in material, social and inter personal relationships. Public and private programmes for the development of solidarity among families, neighbours and institutions in the area are encouraged. Protecting people against the consequences of violence, making social benefits accessible, spreading and working for human rights are core issues for CES-Waldorf, who has cared for more than 400 families.

Our programme also includes: protective measures for children in danger, preventative strategies in abuse and negligence, improving the environment and the living conditions, therapeutic treatment in crisis situations and legal advice. Strengthening neighbourly and family relations continues to be our main aim so that a solid community may develop. This means training of adults, schooling parents, occupational orientation for youths, promoting health and expanding our community garden.

What children, youths and parents say about CES-Waldorf

“Here we receive personal attention. Not like at school where we are 50 pupils in a class and we are not seen.” (Ruth)
“The teachers at CES-Waldorf have a different approach.” (Yeseni)
“We don’t fear to ask questions when the tasks are too difficult, the teachers explain it to us in a patient and peaceful manner.” (Claudia)
“The teachers do not only help us with our school work but also with our problems at home.” (Olga)
“When we make mistakes the teachers help us to understand how to improve the situation.” (Albeiro)
“They are always there for us!” (Libardo)
“At CES-Waldorf one soon learns that learning is not all that difficult.” (Argemiro)
“I have learnt that I do not always have to fight others even when they have insulted me. The teachers stand up for me and helps us to understand other children and makes us understand that we are not able to get anywhere in fighting” (Brenda)
“When my family and I have difficulties the teachers are always there for us.” (Mary).

“At CES-Waldorf the teachers help my children to understand the school work with which I am not able to help them. I have learnt to talk to my children. I don’t beat them any more and don’t have fights with them any longer,” (Julia)
“When I was ill, CES-Waldorf helped me get to a hospital, later when I was at home recuperating they helped care for my children. Thus I was able to start rebuild my home and also found work again.” (Andrea)
“When someone has a problem they are not able to solve, the teachers at CES-Waldorf are always there to help find solutions. They helped me get on with my life.” (Saulo, father).

The team at CES-Waldorf

The team consists of kinder garden teachers, art teachers, teachers of different subjects, social workers and a physician. Almost all team members are university graduates in educational fields. The kitchen and cleaning staff are given the possibility to complete their primary schooling at CES-Waldorf. All the co-workers, Helmut von Loebell excluded come from Columbia. The structural direction of the team is not built on a hierarchy rather team centred. The team has a weekly meeting. Here they do the fundamental work on Waldorf education as well as dealing with daily school and social difficulties. The team has grown together over the years and is highly motivated.

The Founder

Helmut von Loebell was born in Berlin and has lived in Columbia since 1956. Since 1979 also lives in Salzburg. As an industry sales man – and his own company in Bogotá he became co founder of different social projects.

- German-Columbian social help association SCALAS (a school with currently 860 children in a ghetto)
- Ghetto-kindergarden of the German protestant community ASM with 230 children
- 13 SOS children home projects with more than 5.000 alumni and current children and youths
- SOS children home EGA (Escuela Granja Agricola) Guayabal – a training project for ecological and agricultural students from all over Columbia
- CES-Waldorf, Sierra Morena, Bogotá
- GABENO: biodynamic gardening on the highlands of Bogotá.

Helmut von Loebell has been active in the Salzburg Waldorf School for more than 25 years and for the last 6 years chairman. Over and above this he has been working for many years as the president of the protestant-Lutheran community in Bogotá. He is also a founder member of the SOS children home organisation in Columbia.

His personal motto: “since my youth I have had an interest to help neglected and impoverished children and youths based on my experiences after the war in Berlin 1945/1916”.

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