A report from the conference held 2 - 8 April 2006, Cape Town

With permission, a reprint of a submission to Report-Back, A Newssheet of the Federation of Waldorf Schools in South Africa, September 2006:

The conference has come and gone. What a gift it has been to our movement. Over 300 teachers, therapists and doctors came together to address the question: How to develop diagnostic, observational and practical skills to meet the modern child within the African context in Waldorf Schools? Discussions, workshops and lectures were guided by two thematic questions:

• How can we strengthen the immune system of the child?
• Is our curriculum meeting the needs of children who are dying young from diseases?

The research presented was of a high professional standard and discussions and workshops benefited from the mix of different disciplines. We had to face the daunting issues of the African continent: extreme poverty, malnutrition, HIV Aids and related pandemics, care of dying children, orphans, war trauma, sexual abuse, the impact of electronic media and more.

From Elinor Sisulu (daughter in law of Walter Sisulu) and Mauve Gallie (Director of the S. A. Council of Educators, SACE) there was a call that the Waldorf movement has a significant role to play in dealing with these issues. It is easy to be overwhelmed by this demand but we were given spiritual and material contexts and tools to help us.

Michaela Glockler showed us that our striving as educators should be to work towards a harmonising of humankind with the knowledge of the developing human being as our tool and that it is important to recognise what makes us resilient and healthy. For people to be healthy she offers the need to experience the world as understandable (health of thought), meaningful (the health of feelings) and manageable (health of deeds).

Michael Grimley, in his closing address suggested a way forward:

• Form a network embracing the Waldorf School movement on the continent of Africa to address the health and well being of all children placed in the care of Waldorf and related institutions.
• Address essential issues of the conference at Federation related meetings, teacher training venues, in the Pedagogical Section work and both school and medical groupings.
• Develop and strengthen the working relationship between the educational, therapeutic and medical role players.
• Work more closely with the biodynamic movement so that farming and education can come together.
• Acknowledge the teaching profession as a path of initiation and do the inner work commensurate with such a path.

Delegates left the conference sobered, inspired and armed with tasks that each individual would undertake. Deepest thanks go to the presenters, workshop leaders, the Constantia Waldorf School for hosting the conference and the schools of the Western Cape for sharing that onerous task. Particular thanks also to Katherine Train, the Anthroposophical Society in the W. Cape and the Medical Section at the Goetheanum.

For in-depth reports on some of the presentations and workshops visit the website: www.kolisko.net. You will find something on all the nine Kolisko Conferences worldwide.

One important outcome of the conference has been the coming together of Dr Raoul Goldberg, therapists and Waldorf teachers to form a Kolisko Forum. This is the first time that medical and pedagogical colleagues have joined together to research and address the needs of our children today. One Forum a term will be held where we will have a presentation, child observation and a case study. This will be followed by a sharing for parents and teachers from other schools, hosted by the Syringa Child Clinic. Our first Forum, with the theme of ''The Vulnerable Child' was a powerful experience.

The follow-up sharing will be held on 9 September. The next Forum will be in the fourth term and will have the theme of 'Addiction'. For enquiries please phone 021 715 1965. Briar Pastoll