The Camphill Movement

The Camphill movement is an initiative for social transformation founded in 1939 by the Austrian pediatrician Karl König. Convinced that a person’s abilities are of much greater relevance than any limitation, König developed an approach centered on improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

The Camphill Movement is based on the idea that everyone has unique gifts to offer and can contribute to the greater good.

The first community to embody this approach took shape on the “Camp Hill Estate” just outside the city of Aberdeen, in Scotland, and gave its name to the movement that would unfold and expand over the next decades.

Camphill communities are diverse and inclusive residential communities where people with and without disabilities have the opportunity to work together for the good of the community. It is a mutual learning experience based on a cooperative, shared-living model.

Camphill communities are typically situated in natural environments where sustainable, biodynamic agriculture is a central part of daily life. Temporary volunteers and permanent residents work together in the fields and orchards and in workshops where they craft quality artisanal products for the home. This collaborative and healthy lifestyle fosters a sense of community.

El Cauce has a close relationship with the worldwide Camphill network. We have participated in several meetings organized by the Camphill Association of North America, as well as the Camphill Research Symposium and the Inspired Communities workshops hosted by the Camphill Foundation.

Our goal is for El Cauce to reach the same level of sustainability as larger, established communities such as Copake in the U.S. and Newton Dee in Scotland, while always keeping in mind local cultural idiosyncrasies and customs.