Camphill Farm Community was founded in 1978 as a life-sharing community offering residential care and protective workshops for adults with intellectual disabilities in the beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley near Hermanus. In our community people live closely together: adults with special needs, volunteer co-workers from many different cultures, families with children – all kinds of people.

Our Community extends a reassuring hand to 60 of the most vulnerable people in our society, giving them the security that everyone needs to live a happy and full life. Our residents are housed in 8 family home environments, including an Independent House, with a House Leader who supports and guides them. In addition, there are young volunteer co-workers from around the world who come to give of their time and skills in our community. Everyone sits down together to share nutritious daily meals and fellowship. All residents have access to medical care from practitioners in Hermanus.

Creating fulfilling spiritual, cultural and working environments is exceedingly important in the Community. Every one of us is a complete person, with a body and a sprit, whatever our abilities or disabilities. We create regular quiet spaces and occasions for all residents to find spiritual connection and growth. As a Christian community we celebrate the seasons and Christian festivals which form a big part of the cultural life of Camphill Farm. These festivals are important points in the year. They create a sense of rhythm. Everyone gets actively involved in plays, concerts, singing, birthday gatherings, talks and open days. Celebrating special moments in the lives of our residents enriches them and leads to an enhanced community life. Forming real relationships allows people to laugh together and celebrate together as equals on the journey of life. Building a community where we respect and support each other, where each of us needs the others, means that everyone is valued.

At Camphill Farm those whose needs are challenging to society have the chance to contribute. People with disabilities often find themselves on the receiving end. Sometimes others forget that they also have something to offer. Respecting the rights of a person with disabilities means allowing everyone to give as well as receive. Going to work everyday is therapeutic. Doing real work which is valued and needed gives everyone life and energy. Every person at Camphill Farm does what they can, even those who are not able to work in the usual sense. Just being in a workshop helps to bring life and energy into the Community.

Our residents are assisted with their daily work in therapeutic workshop enterprises on the farm, in the dairy, the vegetable garden, the herb garden, the bakery and in the poultry, craft and paper workshops. They are given skills in the different workshops, enabling them to contribute to the Farm’s running costs. They derive a strong sense of self-worth and accomplishment from being an integral part of our income-generating enterprises. We are very proud of our organic vegetable produce, cheese, yoghurt and delicious bread which are sold at the weekly Hermanus Country Market and in other outlets. We are committed to providing product and service excellence.

The integration of residents into the wider community remains one of our priorities: three of our residents are currently working outside of the community at local retail outlets.

Camphill has a long history of caring for the environment. We farm organically. We try to use seasonal produce from our own gardens. We work to look after the life forces of the earth and to care for our environment. We re-use and recycle wherever possible and share resources like cars so we don’t need so many! We embrace an ethical and holistic lifestyle that is beneficial to all on our Farm, to the environment and to the wider community.

Operates in: Hermanus, Western Cape
Established in: September 1978

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 003-322
Public Benefit Organisation Number: 18/11/13/4249
Section 21 Company Number: 1978/003803/08
Trust Number:

Contact person: Debbi Cameron
Phone: 028 313 8232
Fax: 028 313 8210
Email:

Website: www.camphill-hermanus.org.za/farm.php

Physical address: Hemel en Aarde Road, Hemel en Aarde Valley, Hermanus
Postal address: P O Box 301, Hermanus, 7200