Visit to Estiona from April 22 to 25, 2025

The next morning, the journey continued to Tartu, where I was warmly welcomed by Jaanus Rooba to visit the Maarja School for children with special needs. Over the years, the school has been able to transform the old buildings into comfortable classrooms and therapy rooms by adding a new building. Here I was able to attend a very lively music therapy session by Cornelis and a painting class by Monica. It was so nice to see how much care and attention was paid to the details and individuality of each child.

In the afternoon, I gave a lecture on exercises for our professional attitude and our empathy to better understand the children. In the workshop that followed, we practiced in small groups our ability to empathise with the thoughts, feelings and motivations of others, which led to fascinating eye-openers.

In the evening, members of the Anthroposophical Society were invited to a presentation about our new section in the context of the development of the School of Spiritual Science and the Anthroposophical Society. This was followed by lively discussions in smaller groups and a plenary discussion to further explore what new initiatives could be taken in Estonia in collaboration with the different organizations and through the Section with colleagues in other countries. Among other things, the importance of cooperation with schools was emphasized.

On the third day, after a short cultural tour of the universary district, there was a visit to the Tartu “Waldorf High School”, where the conversations also focused on the additional care and support that more and more children also need in their classes.

Back on the Maarja campus, we visited the Maarja Social Therapy Center. We were welcomed by Dr. Helle Känd, the anthroposophical pediatrician who runs the center. (She was still very moved by the intense experience of the previous day, when she was awarded a prize by the government for her lifelong commitment to children with assistance needs.) In addition to a detailed tour of the boarding school, the relatively new houses for young adults with autism and the workshops, we had a very interesting conversation about the need to incorporate scientific findings on the social-emotional development of children with intellectual disabilities and autism into the training of the staff.

In the afternoon, we were able to make a short tour through the old town center, and then visited the therapy center. We were accompanied by several teachers and therapists from the school. Dr. Anne Daniel-Karlsen, an anthroposophical child and youth psychiatrist, welcomed us warmly. The aim of this therapy center is primarily to support the psychological, emotional, social, educational and cognitive development of young people suffering from the psychological consequences of traumatic abuse (sexual, mental, physical violence, including domestic violence). In this safe environment, the team of therapists and counselors work around the clock for six children. Anne spoke movingly about the deep impact of trauma and the urgent need for intensive, relationship-based care to help young people recover, rebuild their self-esteem and find meaning in their lives again.

After the tour, we had an interesting conversation about some anthroposophical insights on fear and the origins of (auto)aggression in these young people, and about Rudolf Steiner’ ideas on developing a helpful attitude that creates connection, bonding, safety and courage.

We were very concerned to hear that this unique and much-needed center is now under threat.