After two years in the US, I'm now back in Berlin 🇺🇲 🛬 🇩🇪 

Saying goodbye was very difficult and came very suddenly. At the beginning of September I received the message that my grandmother, who is being cared for at home, had stopped eating and had to be hospitalized. It was an emotionally very difficult time in many ways and I realized:

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲.

I look back very positively on the last two years, a journey you've been able to follow me on every week on my blog. I've learned what it means to meet people with disabilities as individuals at eye-level, and to work on their personal goals in one-on-one projects. Colleagues and residents in Camphill Communities California and Triform Camphill Community became good friends over time, and I always felt home. It was more than a job, more than a course of study, it was a real community that I had never experienced before.

I originally came to Camphill because I felt my teaching studies had not prepared me enough to work with students with disabilities. I learned a lot about it while studying Inclusive Social Development with a concentration in Social Therapy at the Camphill Academy. But I also learned how to cultivate fruit and vegetable gardens, work on a farm with cows, goats, pigs, horses, and chickens, realize theater projects, home economics, plan festivals, and organize cultural events.

I have travelled a lot in the two years: New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Hudson, Albany, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Miami, Lewes,

Los Angeles, Las Vegas & National Parks like Death Valley and Grand Canyon. I have written more than a hundred blog posts and shared my learnings from my daily work with people with disabilities, knowledge from my Social Therapy academy courses, and travel reports.

I also learned a lot about myself: what I'm good at, but also where I face challenges and where I can develop further. Now this journey is over, and I'm starting a new chapter. I thank all the residents and colleagues who made the last two years the best time of my life. I will be forever grateful to them. I also thank everyone who has accompanied me on my journey from afar, read my blog posts, and stayed in touch with me. 

My blog will remain online. Here you can get a glimpse into what it's like to live in a Camphill community in New York and California:

𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗿𝘂𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿.𝗱𝗲

I'll use the knowledge I've gained to help students with disabilities achieve educational success on the path to reach their dreams.I will miss friends and residents in Camphill very much and can recommend everyone to spend some time in a Camphill community – there are more than 100 communities in more than 20 countries across Europe, North America, Southern Africa, and Asia.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.

Back in Camphill ! After two unforgettable years in Triform Camphill Community and Camphill Communities California, I unfortunately had to return to Germany in September to support my family in caring for my grandmother. Fortunately, the Camphill Community Alt-Schönow in Berlin welcomed me with open arms and offered me a position, allowing me to stay connected to the Camphill movement while fulfilling my caregiving responsibilities. I am very grateful for their trust and look forward to providing the residents with the same warmth and support I have always experienced in the US. The Camphill Community Alt-Schönow, now home to 45 residents, was founded by an initiative of Berlin parents who were looking for a place to live for their growing children with support needs. Our residents work in workshops such as weaving, laundry and gardening, participate in art and music activities, enjoy therapy services such as art therapy, eurythmy therapy and rhythmic massage, organize festival life and represent their interests in the citizens‘ assembly and the residents‘ council. I independently and responsibly undertake educational, caregiving, and nursing tasks to ensure a holistic quality of care for the residents. My responsibilities include nursing care, individually tailored educational support, behavioral and medical observation, the necessary administration of prescribed medications, and emergency care.

✨ Happy New Year! ✨

I had the incredible opportunity to welcome my former colleague Maria from Camphill California in Berlin. After a tour through my new community Camphill Alt-Schönow , where I’ve been working since returning from the US, we enjoyed a delicious dinner together at the highest restaurant in Berlin. Located 207 meters above the city, at the top of the TV Tower, the restaurant rotates, offering a stunning 360° view of our capital. We reminisced about our time in California, sharing memories, laughs, and special moments. As a beautiful surprise, I received a thoughtful gift, including homemade spices and teas from the Herb Crew, as well as a card filled with heartfelt messages from many residents and colleagues who have become dear friends over time. It truly means the world to me to feel how much I’m missed – and I miss you all so much, too! 💛

Reflecting on the past year, I’m filled with gratitude. I spent an unforgettable year in Camphill California, ran my first full marathon in Los Angeles, completed my studies in Social Therapy at the Camphill Academy , and visited Camphill Triform and my beloved farm in New York again for a month. The decision to return to Germany after two years in the US was a tough one, but I’m now so happy to spend much time with my grandma, who was in the hospital last September when my family called me. Her doctor said she was lucky to survive, and now she’s being fed through a feeding tube, but we’re cherishing every moment we can spend together.

A huge thank you to all my friends, residents, and colleagues who made this year so special and supported me during the days I went through a personally difficult time. I’m looking forward to another year full of new experiences and unforgettable moments, which I’ll continue to share with you all here!

Announcement: Lecture about my Camphill experience at Humboldt University Berlin on 11.02.26

Today, I was officially sworn in as a civil servant & high school teacher of the state of Berlin.

I solemnly took the following oath:

“I swear that I will exercise my office in faithful observance of the Basic Law and the Constitution of Berlin, in accordance with the law, for the good of the general public, and that I will conscientiously fulfill my official duties”

Starting next week, I’ll teach History 🏺, Ethics ⚖️, and Philosophy 📜 at a public academic high school in Berlin, while completing Germany’s postgraduate teacher training program (Referendariat). This combines full classroom teaching with mentoring, evaluation, and pedagogical coursework. Upon passing the Second State Examination next June, I will receive full certification to teach in Germany’s Public Schools. 👩‍🏫

After completing my Master's degree, I moved to the USA to learn how to include people with disabilities in the classroom. Over the past 2½ years, I worked in Camphill communities in New York, California, and Berlin 🌎.

Living and working alongside adults with disabilities taught me that education is relational 🤝 — built on trust 💛, patience 🕰️, and respect ✨.

Studying Social Therapy at the Camphill Academy has given me a completely new perspective on education, one that takes a holistic view of the individual. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues and the residents of these communities 🙏. They taught me far more than any university course.

I am humbled and excited to educate young people at a time when critical thinking 🧠, historical awareness 🏺, and ethical reflection ⚖️ matter more than ever.

Since August 2023, I’ve shared my experiences on my blog damonruhlaender.de 🌎, reflecting on life in Camphill and my time in the U.S.

I will continue my blog in form of a Vlog where I’ll share my journey as a teacher, talk about everyday teacher life, give teaching tips, and answer your questions. ✏️📚.

Instagram (@damonphilipp):

https://www.instagram.com/damonphilipp/

TikTok (@damon_philipp):

https://www.tiktok.com/@damon_philipp

LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/in/damonruhlaender

💬 If there’s anything you’re curious about, let me know your questions and video ideas!

What does it really mean to connect in a world that is constantly “online” yet often feels distant? In the first week of April, nearly 1,000 young people aged 16 to 20 from around the globe gathered in Dornach, Switzerland, to explore this very question. They had come to take part in this year’s International Students Conference, held under the theme “Disconnect to Connect.” Together with Alma Zausch and Andreas Schwarz, I was invited by the Camphill Association of North America to attend the conference as a Camphill Ambassador. 

Read more in my article on the Camphill Academy website. There you will also find my conference highlight reel:

https://camphill.edu/disconnect-to-connect/

My students on TV : Diversity group against right-wing extremism