Association to support anthroposophical curative education and social therapy in Ukraine

Annual report

In mid-March 2024, the members of the association met for the first Annual General Meeting at the Humanushaus in Beitenwil/Switzerland. The association, whose members are from Germany, Italy, Ukraine and Switzerland, was founded at the same location almost two years ago.

The purpose is set out in the statutes as follows: “The purpose of the association is to support anthroposophical curative education in Ukraine. This is done by promoting training on this basis and by arranging appropriate further training in the country. Stays abroad for the further training of staff in anthroposophical institutions are also to be made possible. Institutions of anthroposophical curative education and their associated people with support needs and their environment will be financially supported wherever possible.

The association was able to introduce itself last year in the journal Perspectives and report on its work. We cooperate with the Friends of Waldorf Education, the German association Anthropoi and the Anthroposophic Council for Inclusive Social Development, enabling us to coordinate our activities.

There are a total of five curative education and social therapy initiatives in Ukraine, and they have been differently affected by the war. While things are reasonably ‘calm’ in Kyiv under the circumstances, the initiative in Charkiv is severely restricted and threatened in its activities. In addition, some of those responsible and many parents have fled abroad with their children in need of assistance and lessons and support are only possible online – if at all.

The members of the association endeavor to stay in contact with those responsible for the individual initiatives. Online seminars are held regularly for bakery employees and interested parties. Colleagues from Ukraine have drawn up a curriculum for this, and they and members of the association also take on teaching units.

The association has received a total of CHF 34,000 in donations since its inception, of which around CHF 23,000 has been forwarded to Ukraine to date.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Software AG Foundation, it was possible to make a contribution to the renovation of the building for the “Hutsulivka – House of temporary, supported accommodation and recreation for young people and children with disabilities” project in western Ukraine. The people responsible for the European inclusive congress “Moving Borders”, which took place almost two years ago in Zurich/Switzerland, transferred the benefit of almost CHF 10,000 to the association. For example, we were able to help the bakery in Kyiv to set up an art workshop with a contribution. We were able to enable an employee from Charkiv who was in poor health to stay in a clinic in Germany.

When the association was founded two years ago, it was not foreseeable that this war of aggression would drag on for so long. Supporting the initiatives in Ukraine is not easy because many activities are currently on hold and can only be realized on a low flame. However, we are optimistic that times will come again in which we will be able to support our colleagues in their work on-site.

We would like to sincerely thank all donors. Thanks also go to the employees of Humanushaus for their administrative support and accounting.

Andreas Fischer