New Board Member for the Friends of Waldorf Education: introducing Johannes Prahl

At the end of November 2020, during the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Waldorf Education, a Supervisory Board was elected for the first time. It consists of Fiona Jaffke, Constanza Kaliks and Michael Zech, as well as Florian Osswald, Andreas Schubert and Henning Kullak-Ublick, the latter three as "born" members according to the statutes. On 21st December 2020, at the Supervisory Board meeting, Nana Göbel and Bernd Ruf were confirmed as Executive Board members and a new Executive Board member was appointed: Johannes Prahl. Johannes works in staff development at GLS Bank and now brings his expertise to the board of the Friends of Waldorf Education. In the interview he tells us a bit about himself.

Mr Prahl, what connects you to the Friends of Waldorf Education?
I have known the Friends of Waldorf Education for a long time and I think the work is excellent, whether it is supporting Waldorf institutions, voluntary services or emergency education, and all of this worldwide! I know of no other organisation with which donors can support Waldorf schools and Waldorf kindergartens so effectively, and usually, precisely where they would not exist at all without financial support. Through the Friends of Waldorf Education, every year many hundreds of young people have the opportunity to get to know anthroposophical institutions all over the world and to support them through their on -the-spot help. The resulting connections often last a lifetime. And - if you will – I do have a personal connection to the Friends: I used to be a Waldorf student myself and my school days have had a great impact on me for the rest of my life.

It sounds as if you remember your Waldorf school years as positive.
Yes, I had a wonderful time at school, I can really say that altogether and I am grateful for it. Especially with the benefit of hindsight, I appreciate many things, especially the many opportunities to develop my individuality. I have never been someone who thinks in black and white, who thinks Waldorf schools are only good and the state school system only bad. But for me, the robust liberal philosophy of Waldorf education, which one can experience so wonderfully in that that the development of the child is always at the centre, is extraordinarily special and unique. I am convinced that the world needs much more of this! In addition, I have always been impressed - even as a pupil - by the unbelievably great personal commitment of the Waldorf teachers. As a son, I sometimes had to experience this a little painfully, as my father was a Waldorf teacher himself.

You are an honorary board member. What do you do in your main job?
I head the human resources department of GLS Bank, which we call employee development. I have been associated with GLS Bank, the largest social-ecological bank in Germany, since my training as a bank clerk, which I did there over 20 years ago. At that time, GLS Bank was quite a small bank with just 50 employees and hardly anyone knew anything about it. I found it because I was interested in economic connections and necessary social change, especially in environmental policy. At GLS Bank I was able to combine both fields of interest. After studying economics and politics, I returned to GLS Bank 11 years ago. Today, as Head of Human Resources, my main focus is to find the right employees and create the best possible framework for over 700 people to work together.

Where are the points of connection between the work at GLS Bank and the work at the Friends?
Both organisations were founded by people who want to change and shape the world in a positive way, and both have a clear mission. This still carries them forward today and so many committed people work together in both organisations who want to make a difference - and it’s only through their cooperation that good things can come about. In this respect, it is particularly important to find the right people and to shape the framework in such a way that everyone can be effective and implement their ideas. I think this is an aspect that applies equally to the Friends of Waldorf Education and to GLS Bank. Another point: in a bank you deal a lot with financial and economic issues, which is equally true for a solidly established association like the Friends of Waldorf Education.

What aspect of the board’s work are you particularly looking forward to?
I am very much looking forward to my new task and am first and foremost curious to see where I can meaningfully contribute to the association as a volunteer board member alongside my two executive and very experienced board colleagues, Nana Göbel and Bernd Ruf. My focus will certainly be on certain tasks in the organisation, as I have expertise and experience in this area as a human resources manager and banker. And I particularly enjoy these tasks. But what really makes the work of the Friends of Waldorf Education special is its worldwide work for the Waldorf movement. I still know just a little about that and would like to learn and get to know a lot more.

Interview: Christina Reinthal