Disaster Preparedness
Disaster preparedness aims to better prepare people in at-risk regions for a rapid emergency pedagogy crisis intervention and for the work with traumatised children and adolescents after natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, mud slides, floods, or droughts and in the case of armed conflicts, so that the effects can be dealt with.
The Friends of Waldorf Education have been training regional emergency teams for several years, with a focus on South America but also for example in India or Kenya. At lectures and workshops, emergency teams are trained in emergency and trauma pedagogical methods.
The goal is to be able to react quickly in case of a catastrophe, because the first window of time after a catastrophe, during which self-healing powers and resources can be especially sustainably strengthened and trauma related disorders lessened, is relatively short. Qualified personal is necessary here. With the help of regular trainings, the Friends of Waldorf Education want to create a worldwide network of emergency pedagogues, who are quickly ready to act on location.
The disaster preparedness work is supported by “Aktion Deutschland hilft”, the coalition of German aid organisations.
For the acute mission after the devastating earthquake in Ecuador in May 2016, a mission team could be put together consisting mostly of volunteers from South America for the first time.
Current dates of seminars and lectures can be found here.
Colombia and Oakland July 2018
From July 7-20, 2018 an emergency pedagogic team worked in Colombia and Oakland/USA. They supported the work of local specialists and the local people. Read more here.
Mexico 2017
During the mission in November 2017, a successful cooperation between Emergency Pedagogy and the Mexican Ministry of Education could be started.
Colombia & Oakland October 2017
In autumn, seminars and further training courses on emergency pedagogy were again held in Colombia and Oakland. Among others, Bernd Ruf and Dr. Christian Schopper were there.
Slovenia October 2017
Bernd Ruf travelled to Slovenia for a two-day seminar of the ISA Institute, which was aimed at teachers. He also met with members of the Ministry of Education to plan future cooperation.
Southafrica July 2017
Emergency education seminars were offered for one week in South Africa. At the same time, a South African emergency education team was set up.
Madrid February 2017
In February Bernd Ruf took part in an emergency pedagogy confernce in Madrid. Around 110 participants from various professions attended. continue.
Italy January 2017
In January a team from emergency pedagogy with Bernd Ruf was in Italy to run trainings. In three projects aid workers are supporting children, who had to be evacuated from the earthquake region, in processing their experiences. continue.
Antwerp January 2017
In Antwerp, a team from emergency pedagogy designed a day for techers from Belgian Waldorf schools with title "prevent and heal". After the terror attacks in 2016, an acute mission was carried out in Brussels, which now served as the foundation for this short conference. About 70-80 pedagogues took part. continue.
South America 2016
In October and November, Bernd Ruf travelled with other colleagues from the emergency pedagogy department once again to South America to give seminars. This is a continuation of the Friends' professional development work in South America. continue.
