Camphill-Hermanus Farm Community as a village for adults with special needs celebrated its 30th anniversary in September 2008. The celebration was a very joyous event with lots of family members and friends of our residents and representatives and friends from the wider Hermanus community joining in with the festivities. The event coincided with the launch of a beautiful book on the 30 year history of Camphill Farm Community.

In almost every conversation about Camphill Farm Community we have to explain that we are not an institution looking after people with intellectual disabilities.  What are we, then? We are an intentional community. Well, what do we mean by that? Let me give you a definition: An "intentional community" is a group of people who have chosen to live together with a common purpose, working cooperatively to create a lifestyle that reflects their shared core values.( quotation: www.ic.org)

To recognize each person and their individual personality within community life is one of the many goals that we set for ourselves some two years ago. Together with our Consultant Julia Wolfson, we explored the importance of a safe and meaningful life for everyone, where each individual has the opportunity to be heard and supported.

Edward Schutte, one of Camphill-Hermanus Farm’s most lively and entertaining residents, was born club-footed. His childhood was over-shadowed by many stays in hospitals where he underwent nine operations. However his love for music helped him to transcend this difficult beginning. With a soft smile on his face Eddie says: “Music healed me, music was my therapy and the trombone became my third leg”.

Monday 7:45am
It’s the start of a new week in Camphill. Everybody’s had breakfast at home and is on their way to the workshops. There’s lots of chattering and greetings. Bruce kisses his girlfriend Nancy good-bye, Roy jogs down to the vegetable garden to keep himself fit, Ronnie informs Rugby results to his friends over quite a distance, everybody in the vicinity now knows who won.

When I was about twelve I noticed that I was different from my brothers and sisters. I asked my granny why I could not go to school and she explained to me that I had to go to a special school for people with disabilities