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Nr. 25 – June 28th, 2018

Published by European Co-operation in Anthroposophical Curative Education and Social Therapy

Hasenöhrlstraße 12, 1100 Vienna, Austria tel. +31 6 5020 4989; info@ecce.eu;

Editors: B. Heldt, T. Kraus, R. Chwatal

Content

1. ECCE General Meeting 2018 in France

2. “7th European Congress Living in the Encounter”, Belgrade, Serbia

3. Information about Conferences in October and projects from the Council

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1. ECCE General Meeting 2018 in France

The ECCE General Meeting has been held in France, May 10th

– 13th

2018, hosted by “Domaine du Beubois”, Orbey, France. ‘This year I could participate for the first time in an ECCE General Meeting. So far my husband Michael had told me about his meetings from time to time.

The first encounter was with the landscape and the “Domaine du Beubois” in the French Alsace.

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After climbing the steep slope, we have a wonderful view of the wide landscape with its interplay of valleys and moun-tains.

And then the members, who gather, meet again – joy, exchange! 10 nations are here in the room and just as many peculi-arities in the system and work-ing methods of the different people and institutions.

We intensively visit the places in this area where people live and work, whether children's or adult institutions: warm commitment, pioneering spir-it, enthusiasm, willingness to make sacrifices.

Towards the end of the meeting, a small, committed community had gathered to courageously tackle and master the numerous tasks. I am grateful to see in these days how, in many places, the well-being and rights of the people entrusted to us are being fought for, over again and again.’ Carolin Dackweiler, Dorfgemeinschaft Tennental, Deutschland Translation by Renate Chwatal

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The „Association of the Atre de la Vallée“ is a general non-profit association whose purpose is to promote the access to work of disabled persons and to offer to its beneficiaries any solution of accommodation and services, social and cultural support, in the spirit of social therapy. Domaine du Beubois consists of a large piece of land where agricultural work for disabled people is offered, as well as a social structure welcoming young people with disabilities, had identified a need for housing for its residents. The aim was to work to persons with disabilities (workshops for gardening, handcraft, pottery, bakery). Now 35 residents live and work there, some live in the village and come to work. It was necessary to create a company which hires handicapped workers and to find money for this project.

Since the renovation of the place the beloved bakers work directly at the Domaine du Beubois in a new bakery, better equipped thanks to the support of many donors. The aim of the bakery is to produce quality products using organic and local components but also to provide workers with disabilities with rewarding work and recognition through employment. The project was born in 2011 thanks to the association of the "Heart of the Valley".

The menu offered in the restaurant “Auberge du Beubois”, which was opened in 2017, is prepared accord-ing to the traditional cuisine of the mountains. It is gourmet and com-plete, all dishes are homemade with local products and with passion by the chef and his team.

The former summer camp on the place has been converted into functional and modern apartments in which the ECCE members also were accommodated. Many families and guests from Switzerland, Germany and France spend their holidays in this beautiful area, which are mediated by word of mouth.

Renate Chwatal

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The General Meeting from May 10

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th was embedded in a cultural atmosphere.

The Isenheimer Altarpiece Friday May 11

th we visited the Unterlinden

Museum in Colmar. Bernadette Bernier had organized an excellent guide, Mr. Stéphane Reitter, a Waldorfschool teacher who told us in front of the Isenheimer Altar-piece very interesting issues about the painted scenes and the religious background of the scenes, the magic of the colours, the expression of the faces and the innovative compositions. He held our attention for more than one hour in a fascinating way. Exceptionally intense is the Crucifixion, a painting of the dead Christ sur-rounded by the virgin Mary held by Saint John the evangelist, Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Babtist. The painting expresses the suffering of Christ.

The Isenheimer Altarpiece by Grunewald is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It has a magical hold on people, attracting visitors from around the globe. It fascinates the greatest artists as well as art histori-ans. It has been difficult to identify the person behind the enigmatic painter: his real name is Mathis Gothart Nithart, painter, hydraulic engineer and soapmaker, otherwise known as

Mathias Grünewald, who lived from around 1475-80 till 1528 and has painted several religious representa-tions and altarpieces. Bernard Heldt

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Inclusive meeting - “The meaning of work” (Saturday)

“Free and Equal” – A play on the theme of the UN convention 20 members of “La Branche” (Switzerland), 3 co-workers and the singer “K” developed this theme in order to speak about their dreams, remake the world, tell their story and that of human rights. The play starts with a short historical excurse: liberation of slaves freedom of religion (King Cirrus) voting rights for all citizens (Clisthenes, Athenian democracy) non-violence and respect for life universality and natural laws of Cicero.... The Council of Laodicea: the rule of reciprocity Middle Ages England: Limitation of the tyrannical powers of kings England King to sign Declaration of Human Rights: Parliament abolition of slavery freedom, equality, fraternity, French revolution Martin Luther King Mother Teresa

The group shares their passion, sing, dance, listen to silence and embark on created theatre, which reflects who they are.

When the adventure begins, challenges appear, we believe, we doubt, but we are together: “Free and Equal” in dignity and in rights. Renate Chwatal

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Visite «Plateforme» Kaysersberg Nicolas BOURCART, directeur de l’Atre de la Vallée (Domaine du Beubois) nous présente cet atelier situé sur la commune de Kaysersberg (entre Orbey et Colmar) L’exploitation ion d’une plateforme de broyage, séchage et stockage de copeaux de bois dans la vallée de Kaysersberg en collaboration avec la Communauté des communes de la vallée de Kay-sersberg. “La Plateforme transforme le bois en copeaux. Les troncs d’arbre sont apportés par les communes environnantes. Ces copeaux servent à alimenter les chaudières des bâtiments publics de la Vallée (école mater-nelle, piscine..) Des piquets de clôture ainsi que des objets de décoration en bois sont aussi produits dans cet atelier. Cet atelier emploie 12 travailleurs, dont 6 travail-lent sur place, et 6 assurent l’entretien des espac-es ruraux des communes environnantes. Le repas de midi est pris dans un local de la Plate-forme et une salle est disponible pour les cours théoriques et artistiques, dans le cadre de la for-mation des travailleurs. L’encadrement qualifié, est composé de 3 travail-leurs sociaux issus du milieu agricole ou sylvicole: deux moniteurs d’atelier et un éducateur tech-nique expert en sciences de l’environnement (sylviculture, botanique, entomologie). Nous accompagnons également ces travailleurs dans la vie quotidienne en foyer avec des équipes d’éducateurs spécialisés. A travers cette activité, les travailleurs de l’Association sont fiers de participer à une activité d’envergure so-ciale et environnementale et de créer un lien avec la population dans le cadre d’une activité de travail et ain-si d’insérer les travailleurs dans le tissu social afin qu’ils deviennent des citoyens à part entière.”

Bernadette Bernier

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Visit «Platform» Kaysersberg Nicolas BOURCART, director of the Atre de la Vallée (Domaine du Beubois) presents this workshop located in the commune of Kaysersberg (between Orbey and Colmar). Operation of a wood chip crushing, drying and storage platform in the Kaysersberg Valley in cooperation with the Kaysersberg Valley Community of Municipalities. “The Platform transforms wood into chips. The tree trunks are brought by the surrounding communes. These chips are used to feed the boilers of the Valley's public buildings (nursery school, swimming pool ...) Fence posts as well as wooden decorative objects are also produced in this workshop. This workshop employs 12 workers, 6 of them work on the spot, and 6 ensure the maintenance of the rural areas of the surrounding communes. Lunch is taken in a common room of the Platform and another room is available for theoretical and artistic courses, as part of the training of workers. The qualified team consists of 3 social workers with agricultural and forestry workers background. We also accompany these workers in their daily activities with our specially trained co-workers. Through this activity, the association is proud to participate in an activity that has a social and sustainable background and thus establishes contact with the population with the aim of becoming full members of so-ciety.” Translation Brigitte Farnault

The “ECCE family”

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2. “7th European Congress for Persons with Disabilities Living in the Encounter „Man is an angel to man“ Belgrade/Serbia May 31st –June 3rd 2018

After three years of preparation, the seventh and final European Congress "Living in Encounter" was held in Serbia. About 350 participants from 11 countries travelled to Belgrade under the motto "Man is an angel to man". The congress took place in the dignified Crown Plaza Hotel, where the participants resided together with business people and tourists.

Speeches and cultural contributions were given at the opening ceremony in the completely filled cultural centre "Kolarac", which is located in the middle of the lively city centre.

Ambassadors and repre-sentatives of government and cultural life mingled with the participants.

The world premiere of a piece for eurythmy, piano and voice con-ceived by Nataša Kraus and a wonderful concert by the twin brother couple „Teofilovići" were among other things to be experienced.

The next morning in the plenary session Bojana Misković gave a contribution on some special features of Belgrade. After the workshops everyone drove into the wide landscape of Vojvodina to the country estate "Salaš". Time seemed to stand still there. This harmonized with the play "The Watchmaker", which was per-formed by Serbian participants.

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There were plenty of opportunities for encounters and to taste the cake for the five gentlemen who celebrated their birthday on this day.

The next day began with the groundbreaking contribution of Domenig Christian Gaegauf, who communicated with the help of his parents and facilitated com-munication.

In the afternoon we explored the city together. The Serbian crown prince did not miss the opportunity to welcome the guests personally in his residence.

In the evening at the Balkan party, Serbian folklore encouraged all of us to dance along.

In Belgrade, the congress series "Living in Encounter" celebrated its crowning finale. In this city marked by wars, the participants proved by their special life situations that, and how, the human being is an angel to man. Thomas Kraus (initiator and organisator) www.socialartist.events

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2. International Conference for Curative Education and Social Therapy: 8 – 12 October 2018, Goetheanum Dornach

SOCIAL PLAY SPACE: Making room for fulfilling biographies A Warm Invitation Anthroposophic curative education and social therapy includes a broad and diverse field of work, in which social, educational and therapeutic approaches flow together in order to create the conditions for a ful-filling life for all people. Here, the focused awareness of the individual meets the broad view of the wider social context. Whenever individual developmental needs are placed at the center, this is done against the backdrop of the other question: How can relationships, communities and societies be formed, in which even the most complex individual destiny can find the room to unfold? And whenever these social process-es are placed in the foreground, this is done in mindfulness of the question: What are the social conditions needed to foster individual life and freedom?

Rudolf Steiner captured this dynamic interplay of individual and society in his motto for the art of ‘social architecture’: The healing social life is found, When in the mirror of each human soul The whole community finds its reflection, And when in the community The strength of each single one is living. Anthroposophic curative education and social therapy sees itself as part of this art of ‘social architecture’. Its goal is to create social and societal spaces, in which individual human beings can unfold and shape their own destinies in the interplay with the biographies of others around them. This year’s conference is an invi-tation to engage with this theme by exploring it together through the various diverse lenses that we can of-fer as a worldwide movement.

This conference is hosted by the ‘Curative Education and Social Therapy Council’ the umbrella organization for this movement within the transdisciplinary context of the School of Spiritual Science. As its (still) new Leadership Team, we are especially excited to have the opportunity to be the ones inviting you to this event for the first time. Our invitation goes out to all those, who see themselves as co-creators of this movement. This includes initiative-takers, coworkers and members of organizations, associations and training centers, students, and individuals with support needs, who are interested in this program. We are looking forward to rich and stimulating encounters with colleagues from around the world! Sonja Zausch Bart Vanmechelen Jan Goeschel

Projects of the Curative Education and Social Therapy Council:

The Council Members meet annually as delegates from 60 country networks, working groups and partner organizations. The 2016 meeting had produced a first collection of themes and concerns for the international movement and for the Council as the movement’s network organization. These had been worked on further throughout the year, with the goal of defining concrete focus themes. To accomplish this, the themes gathered in 2016 were presented to all Council Members to be dis-cussed and prioritized in the various country networks and working groups represented. The results of this process were then brought back to the October 2017 Council Meeting, where six Focus Themes were crystallized:

Development and implementation of an international ‘training for trainers’

Development and implementation of an international training in management and leadership in curative education and social therapy

Development and publication of texts and other resources for training and practice

Empirical studies on the quality and outcomes of anthroposophic curative education and social therapy

Support and development of networks of young professionals

Further development of School of Spiritual Science work

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For each topic, a working group with a speaker was formed, with one member of the Leadership Team assigned as liaison. These groups were given the task to move their topic further towards concrete projects by the 2018 Council meeting. Parallel to this, the process of contact foundations to explore possibilities for project funding was begun. More info about the Curative Education and Social Therapy Council can be found on http://www.en.khsdornach.org/

Bart Vanmechelen

ECCE WISHES ALL OUR MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND READERS OF THE LINK

A SUNNY SUMMERTIME

We are looking forward to meeting all of you again at the next

General Meeting from May 23rd – May 26th, 2019.