Home Volunteering Opportunities Volunteering in Camphill Long-Term Coworkers

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Who are Long-Term Coworkers?
Long-term coworkers are people who stay three or more years in a Camphill community; some live in one or more Camphill communities for a large part of their lives. Long-term coworkers help to shape the fabric that makes Camphill a place of healing, mutual respect, and social and spiritual creativity.

Most long-term coworkers begin as short-term coworkers in one of the over 100 Camphill communities worldwide. The decision to make a longer commitment comes about individually through the development of a deeper personal and spiritual connection with the mission and ideals of Camphill.

Other long-term coworkers come to Camphill with prior experience living in community, or from other anthroposophical environments (such as Waldorf schools).

Families and Camphill
Families, with or without children, are a valued part of every Camphill community. Families live in integrated households with other coworkers and with individuals with disabilities. Long-term coworkers are supported in finding ways to balance the needs of their families with their responsibilities within the community.

The Work of Long-Term Coworkers
In the Home

Often, the head or heads of a family take on responsibility for a household; they are then called "Houseparents" or "Householders." Work includes:

  • Leading a house community of individuals with disabilities, and other coworkers
  • Providing training and coaching in direct care and household duties
  • Creating a peaceful and beautiful home environment
  • Supporting and nurturing the abilities of house members
  • Organizing care, medications, finances, and repairs
In the Community

Camphill communities require long-term coworkers with skills in diverse areas, including:

  • Land work (organic and biodynamic farming, gardening, and animal care)
  • Crafts (weaving, pottery, candle-making, others)
  • Arts (music, dance, eurythmy, drama, painting, others)
  • Teaching
  • Administration
  • Household Management
Training and Professional Development
Although most of our long-term coworkers have experience in particular fields, the needs of a community may require a long-term coworker to grow into new fields of activity, acquiring new skills and insights through practice and training.

Camphill communities provide numerous opportunities for training and professional development in many areas, including curative education, youth guidance, social therapy, biodynamic agriculture, and others. Opportunities vary by community.

Making a Living, Making a Life
Long-term coworkers are supported by their communities for their living needs. They receive:

  • Full room and board for themselves and their families
  • Medical insurance (immediately or after three months, depending on the community)
  • Vacation time
  • A modest stipend for personal needs
  • Extra funds for children
  • Fully-funded education for children through high school (Waldorf or other, depending on the community)
In addition, many communities set aside funds for retirement or to assist long-term coworkers to transition out of the community, after a certain length of service.
© 2008 Camphill Association of North America. Design by Florian Koch.