Welcome

to Camphill Community Clanabogan

Camphill Community Clanabogan lies on 124 acres (52 hectares) of lands in the beautiful rolling countryside of Co. Tyrone, 4 miles (6 km) from the town Omagh. It began in 1984 and now over 80 people live there in 6 households, some large, some small.

In this therapeutic life sharing community, adults who have learning disabilities live and work together with co-workers and their children.

Co-workers join Clanabogan as volunteers and do not receive wages, their material needs being met from a common fund. In all aspects of life and work, mutual agreement is the basis of a committed and responsible involvement.

Camphill Communities are based on Christian principles and are non-denominational, many festivals are celebrated socially and artistically throughout the year. The Community meets for religious and cultural gatherings and people are also free to attend a church of their choice or to follow their own conscience.

A cultural and artistic life is built up.

With music, drama and lectures of an educational nature taking place regularly. Many of these activities, as well as the therapeutic principles used, are inspired by Anthroposophy, a philosophy originating in Europe with Rudolf Steiner at the beginning of the twentieth century.

An Introductory Course prepares co-workers for their tasks in the Community and an Introduction to Agriculture is offered to those working on the land.

Puddleducks Playgroup offers Rudolf Steiner early childhood education to children of the community and neighbourhood.

Camphill Communities try to foster everyday life in as normal a way as possible; holidays and birthdays, Christmas and Easter, summer and harvest, all the high points of the year are shared, together with personal joys and sorrows, failures and achievements.

Clanabogan is in a rural setting but all life's experiences are present for those who live there.

They belong to the wider community around them too and participate in local events, cultural, social and recreational, and visit friends roundabout. Likewise, friends and neighbours are welcome visitors.

Groups of students visit the farm and workshops; environmental students, youth projects, environmental groups and all minds of interested people come and see what life in Camphill is like.

Camphill Community Clanabogan is part of the Camphill Community Trusts (N.I.) which is a registered charity providing support and advice on matter of finance and development, as does a committee at a local level.

Running expenses are financed by Government agencies responsible for the welfare of people with special needs. New houses are financed by The Craigowen Housing Association. Help with other capital projects comes from funds raised by the Friends of Camphill Clanabogan, and The through Camphill Communities Trust fund raising.

The first Camphill Community was founded in Scotland in 1940 by the Austrian Dr Karl König and a group of friends. Now there are over 100 communities worldwide.

This is an attempt to live a new kind of community life.

To include people of many nationalities and people with different problems, strengths and weaknesses. Most people, whether disadvantaged or not, find that as well as encountering struggles and challenges, they meet interesting and rewarding experiences, learn new skills, grow and develop.

In this environment every person is recognised as an individual.

Although some have disabilities which present difficulties, each one is nevertheless a valued member of Clanabogan Community and of the human community.