About Our School
Alpha's Story
When Alpha was 7 years old, his parents were killed by marauding rebels. He was then abducted and conscripted as a child soldier. After 3 years in captivity Alpha was among 3000 children who were released on the intervention humanitarian organizations in 1999. Since other members of his family could not be found, he became a street child. He has since undergone intensive counselling and now seems to be better adjusted, living with a foster family. In November 2004 Alpha was enrolled at the school. There is currently a total of 74 students.
The School
The
staff and supporters of the project are working with the poorest children
in a township on the edge of the capital city, Freetown. Most children in
Sierra Leone do not go to school. Because of displacement of families due
to the war, parents cannot afford school fees in a country where state education
is no longer free. The Goderich Waldorf School is the only school offering
a free education to this generation of war-damaged children and has a current
roll call of 74 students, 4 full-time and 3 part-time teachers, an administrator
and a caretaker. Some have to work elsewhere in order to have enough to
live on as the school currently does not have the means to pay them a salary.
Why Waldorf?
“Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.”
— (Rudolf Steiner)
Waldorf
education prepares young people to meet the world with inner
confidence, to trust in the value of each human being, and
to think and work with initiative in their lives. Following
the indications of Austrian scientist and philosopher, Dr.
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the children are taught in the context of their
stages of development, building an understanding for different subjects
out of what is beautiful in the world in the broadest sense of the word.
In response to the question, “Why
Waldorf?” the school’s social worker Abu Mansaray answers, “These
traumatized children need more than a straightforward education. We mean
to change men’s hearts through the healing power of this creative
education.”