Emergency Pedagogy Meeting in Karlsruhe

At the Parzival-Zentrum, where Bernd Ruf is active, colleagues from far and wide come together annually. Many of them work in teams with children in crisis or emergency situations. The theme was "Pedagogical Emergency Aid in War Zones". We were allowed to be there and so for the first time there was a Dutch group of seven participants.

As participants, we quickly made contact with special and warm-hearted people from different parts of the world. At the beginning and end of the day, a large circle was formed. A few clapping and stomping exercises, singing, and the joint recitation of verses soon created a dynamic and heartwarming connection between the various people with their own cultural backgrounds. Portuguese, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch: languages were constantly switched among the participants.

There were contributions about actions or "interventions" with emergency educators from the powder keg of the Middle East: Gaza, Lebanon, and also Israel. There was also a representative of Doctors Without Borders who talked about his experiences in African refugee camps. Adolfo Gonzalez Hadad reported on his work in various hospitals in Calí (Colombia) on helping young people who are victims (and often also perpetrators) of gang wars in his city.

Exercises

In addition to the contributions and further explanations about anthroposophical backgrounds and the how and why of the exercises, there were also workshops during this conference. Drama, eurythmy, singing, movement exercises, painting, ... There was a wide variety of workshops that form the strength of emergency pedagogy.

Emergency Pedagogy in the Netherlands

This school year the first modules of Emergency Pedagogy are starting in the Netherlands. These are intended for teachers, guides for small groups or individual students, therapists. In short, anyone who professionally deals with children in emergency situations. You can register for the training or for individual modules. The entire Emergency Pedagogy training consists of 12 modules.

In the school year 2025-2026, the first three modules are planned at BVS in Utrecht. Each module consists of two days from 10 am to 5 pm.

Module 1 Introduction to Psychotraumatology on October 23 and 24, 2025

Module 2 Trauma and Development on February 26 and 27, 2026

Module 3 Trauma and Spirituality on April 23 and 24, 2026.

You can register via the website htpps://www.bvs.schooladvies.nl/product/noodpedagogie .

The cost for the 3 modules is €990. If you want to follow individual modules, the registration fee is €330. If the entire amount is a problem, please contact one of the initiators below.

Marije Kuijt m.kuijt@bvs-schooladvies.nl

Francis van Maris fmd.v.maris@hotmail.com