November News Youth Section at the Goetheanum

Dear Friends of the Youth Section Worldwide,

We hope that this newsletter reaches you well, wherever in the world it finds you! After a period of intense work here at the Section in Dornach, we are delighted to share with you some news about the processes and activities we have been working on for the past months.

As you know, a transition in leadership began earlier this year. Since the second half of 2022, we have been working closely as a team to hand over tasks, reflect on our structures and transform old impulses into new ventures for the Section. An example of this process is the welcome of our new team member Gabriele Nys (19, Belgium), who has taken over the work in the Youth Section House from Gaia Termopoli. Gaia’s work in the House during the post-pandemic years enabled many young people to feel welcomed with warmth and care in Dornach. She was a true steward of the space during this transition, and we could not be happier with Gabriele continuing her work in this direction! We wish Gaia and her new little girl Noa, who recently arrived on Earth, the very best for this new chapter of life!

In the spirit of new life and enabling the future of the Section to arise, the team has also worked intensively in envisioning the themes, tasks and core questions that lie ahead of us. Questions relating to health in social life, such as Rudolf Steiner’s ideas on the Threefold Social Order, therapeutical approaches, and living and working communities, seem to take on the spotlight at the moment. Below, you will see some reflections about these themes and future activities that walk in this direction, and we hope you will be inspired to join!

We look forward to keeping in touch with you and, as always, to hearing about your initiatives, questions and ideas!

With very warm greetings from Dornach,

The Youth Section at the Goetheanum team

"A common future"

Question! Encounter! Play! is an inclusive arts project that aims to bring together young asylum seekers in Switzerland and young people living in Europe.

From the 9th to the 16th of October, participants, with and without experiences as refugees, lived and work together in the Goetheanum’s surroundings. Guided by members and collaborators of the Youth Section, they created a theatre play that considered their biographical journeys. Parts of the script and music, the stage and costume design were developed from the weaving of talents and collective initiative.

"Genuine encounters: What do young people need?" A qualitative study.

Inspired by the Youth Section's (Re)Search project, Eva Beijer applied some of our research methods to her final dissertation at the Leiden University of Applied Sciences. She reflects on the process and her findings in this article.

Genuine encounters, have we taken them for granted? I had never thought about that until I was faced with social measures that included lockdowns, social distancing, and sometimes having to fully isolate myself from the people close to me.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE 2024

8th - 12th of April 2024
at the Goetheanum

We are delighted to inform you that the next International Students Conference (ISC24) will take place from the 8th to the 12th of April 2024 at the Goetheanum. We look forward to collaborating again with schools and students worldwide at the next edition of this event. You can contact us if you want more information about getting involved. If you are planning to come but don't know where to start organising yourself or a group of students, also reach out, and we'd be happy to help you prepare for this wonderful event!

In 1924 Rudolf Steiner made a call to the youth of his time with the words ‘stick together with an iron will’. This was in order to overcome the great differences in perspectives and because, in Steiner’s words, “Sticking together is what is most necessary if we hope to accomplish anything today with regards to life’s great issues. […] Eventually, you may realise that the greatest of your youth was knowing how to stay together." (Steiner, R. in "Youth & the Etheric Heart" CW 217a)

In this spirit, we would like to make an appeal to our members and friends to support young people to come together despite these difficult times we live in. We would be very grateful for your support and will to help young people find their way to the Goetheanum!