Camphill North America elects first Filipino president

First Filipino president of Camphill North America, Ronald S. Sanchez. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

HARDWICK, Vermont — Camphill Association of North America, part of an international movement serving people with developmental disabilities, recently elected its first Filipino president.

Newly elected president, Ronald S. Sanchez (aka Onat Sanchez-Schwartz), MA MFT, has lived and worked in the North American region of Camphill since 2000. He has received from the Camphill Special School Pennsylvania, a certificate in holistic special education, a four-year program.

Sanchez also worked as the administrator for Camphill Communities California for several years in the San Francisco Bay Area, overseeing services provided to adults with developmental disabilities. He now he lives and works with his husband David Andrew Schwartz, in Heartbeet Lifesharing, a Camphill community in northern Vermont, also providing services to adults. He continues to work as an administrator. He was employed in Manila, as a personnel supervisor, by Herma Shipping and Transportation Corporation.

Set up by WWII refugees

Established in 1939 by refugees of World War II, Camphill is an international movement of over one hundred intentional communities in 22 countries, serving the needs of children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities through a combination of a community life based on mutual care and respect, education, the arts and meaningful, productive work.

There are over 100 Camphill communities worldwide. There are 11 Camphill communities throughout the U.S. that are members of the Camphill Association of North America, as well as several affiliates seeking membership. Camphill is based on the work of Rudolf Steiner.

Several Filipinos have joined the Camphill communities both as gap year volunteers as well as long-term coworkers (Ronald himself is a long-term coworker in the Vermont Camphill community). The organization hopes that more Filipinos – “who are excellent care providers and attuned with the extended family setting lifestyle that exists in Camphill” – become attracted to the Camphill model and join their communities in the United States.

Camphill was established in North America in 1959. Today, Camphill communities in North America are home to hundreds of people. The association’s communities cultivate over 2,500 acres of land that are cared for utilizing organic and biodynamic methods.

In addition, there are numerous craft workshops. Weaving, woodworking, pottery, stained glass, felting, and bookbinding, are examples of the crafts that are practiced. Some communities have bakeries and restaurants that serve the public. Also, in some communities people are employed by local businesses.

Each year many young people come to live and work in one of the Camphill Communities in North America for a Gap Year experience, whether they’re taking a break after high school, during college studies just looking for new perspectives.

Diverse staff

Camphill staff (called coworkers) lives and works alongside people with developmental and other disabilities in one of 11 Camphill communities in North America. Coworkers come from around the globe, and from diverse backgrounds and participate in a wide range of activities.

While there are no Camphill communities in the Philippines yet, at least one organization is considering the Camphill intentional community model. The Association for Adults with Autism, Philippines is an organization established by parents of individuals within the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The organization aims to provide sustained enrichment opportunities and long-term care to individuals on the spectrum.  It will provide means to achieve personal growth, social interaction, and a cooperative life among their peers.

Sanchez was invited to its 2012 symposium entitled “Diagnostic Treatment and Policy Issues Affecting Adults with Autism” at Ateneo Law School in Rockwell Center.

For more information, visit www.camphill.org. To email Ronald Sanchez directly, [email protected].

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