Visit to Iceland by Bart Vanmechelen

At the invitation of Thor Danielsson, Bart visited our Icelandic colleagues from 21–23 March 2025, joined by Alexandra Zoffmann from the Nordic Association.

On Friday evening, they attended a gathering of coworkers from various Icelandic organizations in our field, along with Waldorf teachers, at the auditorium of Sólheimar eco-village.

Founded in 1930 by Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir, Sólheimar was inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner and Karl König. During the event, an interactive discussion on our work in the spirit of our time sparked a lively exchange with the audience.

Some key ideas from the evening included:

• The concept of “normality” does not help us understand how best to support children and adults with special needs. Anthroposophy can help to understand and to connect on a deeper level.
• Recognizing individual capacities and specific support needs is essential.
• By being fully present, open-hearted, and willing to help, we can discover effective ways to engage in supportive learning activities and exercises.
• Every child and adult requiring extra support has the potential to bring new impulses into the world.
• The skills we develop through these encounters, shared learning, and collaboration, contribute to strengthen our human values and ideals.
• Our efforts are directed toward a paradigm shift in education and toward building a more inclusive society in which a fulfilling biography is possible for everyone.

The evening received highly positive feedback, with many participants expressing their willingness to collaborate – both within Iceland and internationally – through the Nordic Association and the Section for Inclusive Social Development.

Visits to Local Organizations

On Saturday, under bright spring sunshine, we traveled through Iceland’s breathtaking landscape to visit several initiatives:

• Ásgarður – Workshops and a shop providing meaningful work opportunities.
• Andrastaðir – An intentional community focused on social therapy.
• Skaftholt – A social therapy initiative where we enjoyed a joyful theater performance, a delightful buffet, and engaging conversations about revitalizing and expanding the organization to accommodate more individuals in need of support.

Reflections and Future Collaboration

In the evening and the following morning, discussions continued on how international exchange and collaboration can foster the growth of these initiatives in Iceland.

Additionally, we gained deeper insight into Iceland’s cultural life and the significant role of the arts in society.

This visit reaffirmed the importance of cooperation and enthusiasm in our work, strengthening our commitment to inclusive social development.