Arca Mundial – Curative education in Columbia
A curative education initiative in a country formed by guerilla warfare and drugs
In 1997, a group of friends in Medellin took on the task of helping children, teenagers and adults with difficulties in their mental and physical development and who were prevented by their situation and the inability of their families to support them financially from being accepted by the state institutions.
In this founding year the second ibero-american seminar on curative education and social therapy took place, in which the pedagogue Frank Lehnert also took part. His contribution on curative education was the reason why Anthroposophy became the guiding idea behind the work which had begun in Medellin. A circle of friend around the married couple Juan Guillermo Restrepo Florez and Sandra Domínguez Redón founded the anthroposophical centre Micael and started an afternoon project for and with handicapped people.
At roughly the same time the Columbian authorities decided to close down the schools for the handicapped integrate them into the ordinary schools. The schools couldn’t or wouldn’t accept the seriously handicapped people, leaving them with no place to go……
The project is born
And so the initiative boldly decided to extend their work and found their own home in order to offer these handicapped people a holistic education.
Four years later, with the support of the Friends of Waldorf Education and a foundation which was brought into being by the late Frank Lehnert, a property was bought. A single house without garden is now in use. A small courtyard is surrounded by the classrooms, carpentry, weaving room, bakery, kitchen, an eating area and the garage.
Today 38 people from 1½ to 28 years old with diseases and handicaps such as autism, trisomy 21, microcephaly, hyperactivity and concentration deficit, attend the Fundación. There are four different groups: The youngest children until the age of 7, the older children until 12 -13, the teenagers and the adults. The latter group weaves or works in the carpentry. Ten pedagogues work with the children, three of which concentrate on one-on-one or group therapy.
In addition to the craft work there are also artistic activities, for instance dance lessons twice a week and a choir for the teenagers and adults.
“Everyone is welcome”
This is the principal of the Fundación – whether someone is able to pay or not. So we now have almost 40 people in our care, from all social classes. This fact, however, has serious consequences for the financial situation at Arca Mundial. As less than half the people are able to pay the necessary fees and we receive no support from the state, money is lacking everywhere.
And Arca Mundial also has a vision. In the not too far distant future we want to found a Camphill institution outside the city of Medellín - a place where handicapped adults can be guaranteed a life in dignity as long as they live, regardless of their background. Such an institution would include a farm, a bakery, various workshops and houses.
Now Arca Mundial is searching for donors for the purchase of a property, as well as a financial plan, which would – in the long term - allow us to function independent of donations from overseas.
Jonas Bothe
To top Stand / Update: 12/2009