Emergency Pedagogy
In December 2013, a few weeks after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda, a team of German trauma specialists visited the Philippines. The team called themselves “Friends of Waldorf Education,” and is the carrier of Emergency Pedagogy: an emergency crisis intervention methodology based on the principles of Waldorf education.
According to Bernd Ruf, managing director of the aid organization Friends of Waldorf Education, “it is best to introduce emergency crisis intervention 4-6 weeks from the time of the disaster.” Hopefully, after the basic needs of food, water, shelter, clothing and medical care have been provided, Emergency Pedagogy can be used for young children and youth to prevent post-traumatic stress disorders from setting in.
In the Philippines, professionals who are equipped with the knowledge of Waldorf Education principles are ready to share the relatively simple methodology of Emergency Pedagogy. Waldorf school teachers, medical doctors, art therapists, theater artists, Eurythmists and Bothmer (body movement) practitioners who have used the Waldorf education principles in their professions are able to train and instruct community leaders, social workers and disaster relief workers in the basic tenets of Emergency Pedagogy.
[Excerpt written by Susan F. Quimpo on Emergency Pedagogy in the Philippines]
CHC is part of the adhoc group Pedagogy/Pedagogical Response Team (PRT) that can be tapped for situations with emergency context – war or conflict-ridden and pre/post-disaster – as a means to respond to the soul and trauma needs of affected communities.
For more information about Friends of Waldorf Education, see: https://www.freunde-waldorf.de/en/home/