A day in the life of a person with special needs brings with it challenges and surprises. While there is a daily routine that everyone follows in Camphill, changes may be expected for some reason or other - so each day is different and offers a chance for flexibility and creativity, or rising up to the challenge of doing meaningful work with special needs people.
In communities with children, like Ballytobin, they go to school where they learn about such subjects as history, but also art and music. There is a time to be active and participate in group activities, and also a time for individual therapies where each person can be on their own for a healing experience.
In land-based adult communities, the day starts with breakfast in the houses, and then depending on community, people may gather to share news and do community singing before work begins. Then each workshop group spreads out to fulfil their task, may it be feeding the animals, cooking, or baking bread, with a tea break in between, until it is time for lunch. Afterwards there is a rest hour before afternoon work begins. In the early evening, the groups go back to their houses for supper and end-of-day activities.
| | On weekends, the atmosphere is more relaxed. There are no workshops, but the work is focused in the houses -- cleaning, tidying up. Each house community may make their own plans for an outing, or if there is a festival or special occasion, time is spent preparing for it.
For those who run a coffee shop or have a stand in the farmers' market, Saturdays may be busy as well. But the benefits of socialising that they present more than makes up for the effort and the work that are contributed by individuals.
On Sundays there may be a service, both for children and adults, and co-workers are encouraged to attend as well if they feel it is something that they can be connected to.
There are also holiday breaks for Christmas and Easter, or during autumn, summer or spring.
Life in Camphill is a constant breathing in and breathing out, following the flow and ebb of the seasons and the rhythm of time itself, which is infinitely precious and replete with meaning.
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