Connect Conference

Reflection on the Connect Conference idea by Che Wagner

2010-07-08T02:09:00.000-07:00

Connect Conferences 2003-2010

Reviewing a golden past
The Connect Conference has inspired class 12 students four times in Dornach in the past (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009). The team of the Youth Section at the Goetheanum (Leadership of Elizabeth Wirsching) with Reinoud Meijer founded and established the Connect Conference along the question: Are we all part of the same picture?
These conferences were shaped by classes from all parts of the world with their cultural diversity – and their similarities. Although all participants (500-700 depending on the year) originated from different backgrounds they could all find access to the various contributions of the conference. In a sense each one of them was a colour and gave the contrast to what made the bigger whole, the Connect Conference.

The first three Connect Conferences were carried by the thought that all professional and personal coherence is a microcosmic image of the macrocosm of society of which they are a part.
One of the tasks of Connect was to give a bird’s-eye view on society in order to re-establish to lost connection between micro- and macrocosm and to grant the activity of an individual its meaning. This aims to sharpen(awaken?) the senses fort he necessity that all participants of society – which ever specialisation they are in – to co-work with the rest of the world.

To reach this goal the participants could meet inidividually in smaller groups during the workshops and discussions but a larger portion of the time they spent in the big group, in lectures, performances, in the night cafe and during meal times in order to allow a the feeling of being connected to grow.

In lectures the participants were given an overview of the state of the world (macrocosm) and an impulse by interesting people (active in society, social, alternatively professional) and in workshops they were shown different possibilities (professiona) to specialize fort he world (micrososm). The theatre and eurhythmy performances in the evenings as well as in the night cafe built the global cultural frame around the conference in ist diversity but also realizing instantly the similarities of global humanity. The Connect Conference offers to be a platform for very different cultures to understand that they are part of a bigger picture of the world.

After the Connect Cofnerence 2007 Reinoud Meijer founded the Youth Initiaitive Programm (YIP) in Järna, Sweden and could not carry on the conference in Dornach. YIP and the idea of „Community Campus“ are congruent extensions of the Connect-Idea, with the difference that they are long termn projects.

Connect Conference 2009
After the loss/sacrifice of Reinoud Meijer from Dornach Katharina Ludwig, Caitlin Balmer and Che Wagner took on the leadership of the conference fort he year 2009. The original idea of this meeting for class 12 students was kept, but the vision this was based on was revised.
A class 12 student finds himself before a very important point in life: before the question in which way he can give himself to society and the world from now on. In which waycan he give to the social organism which has held him all through his life so far? How can he position himself in the exchange-ratio?? of giving and taking? What is his profession or his vocation, what his way to access the world? In earlier conferences we found that this question was mostly dealt with in methods of inspiration (inspiring people telling about their own lives). We decided to built more intuitive and initiative elements into the programm of the conference in order to challenge the participants directly into experiencing themselves as responsible parts of this conference and thereby take home an experience of their own role in society which moved the source of the inspiration into themselves and away from an example person on stage. Instead of the workshops that were originally led by professionals we installed workshops and presentations held by the class 12s themselves (senior projects). The senior projects were additionally exhibited in the Goetheanum.

The bird’s eye view was kept up in the talks that took place twice a day in order to give the participants the „confernce-feeling“ and to keep up the element of the macrocosmic perspective, all participants gathered in the big hall fort hese talks.
Instead of looking at specific ways of accessing the world, professions presented by professional in workshops, the afternoons were filled by conversation groups, a space to exchange amongst each other as well as amongst generations, each group was lead by a more experienced person (convesation leaders). The conversation topics were kept open but should have the element of reflecting on society and ist challenges and possibilities in today’s world. This way we wanted to creat a healthy balance between the inspirational aspects (morning choir, talks, evening performance), intuituve-practical aspects (12th class workshops, open-mic night café, helping for the food) and reflective moments (conversation groups, food breaks) of the day. This was meant to mirror what a society should be like which is interested in what the potential of the individual can be and that still givs a clear common framework. When the Connect Conference is looked at as a social organism these steps are the necessary ones in order to support the individual participant in taking charge of his part of making the organism as a whole – to live it!

The next step
What can be said about Connect in certainty ist hat it is an undertaking carried by students and youth. The enthusiasm fort his gathering with other students who come from similar lives but different worlds is gigantic. Although the gathering of different cultures is a viable argument fort his meeting the question has to be raised what effect the airplane mobility has on the global situationa and if there should be a regional answer to this? Could the Connect Conference be held regionally on all continents in the future? And could there be a bigger meeting of ex-Connectees every few years only?
To give so much space to the class 12 project was a big risk from the organizers side (to entrust the class 12 students with the full repsonsibility to carry Connect), but it can be seen as a full success! It shows the need of the students to get the chance to show who they are and the potential they have after and during their time in school.
They urgently want to become active themselves, although it is advised to still give them a fram for it. The exhibition and presentations allowed the participants to exchange/meet and engage with each other on different levels.

It is essential to maintain this opportunity fort he students to meet peers and to include the students themselves in the process of shaping the event. This can open a space in which a very own, active way of accessing the world can grow as well as a social dimension can open, and understanding of cohesion of and responsibility for the society we are a part of.
Che Wagner, June 15th 2010

June 2010 Update

2010-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

At the Sense Festival in Järna (Ytterjärna), organized by the YIP-year II, a meeting of different people who want to help carry Connect took place. The date was decided before hand: June 12th until 18th are the dates inbetween whcih Connect will take place in Järna, Sweden next year. Now the process of organization needs to start speeding up. Classes around the world need to be contacted, teachers informed and convinced, students inspired and prepared.

To have a look at the location where Connect will be held go to the YIP website. The Youth Initiative Program is taking place at the Rudolf Steiner Seminar in Järna, Sweden for the third time as of August 2010. Connect will be held on the same premises. (also look at the Culture House in Ytterjärna.

On the way home from Sense I stopped by in Ghent, Belgium and spoke with the Belgian teacher Arnout who is on contact with the potential Connect participants in Belgium. Back in Basel I am having conversations with different Connect-Activists. Caitlin B. and Che W. from the Connect 09 team have helpful thoughts about how Connect can develop into the new form it could take on in Sweden.

On Sunday Night I am scheduled to have a phone-conversation with Renate R., a teacher from Witten, Germany, who is in charge of a project that replaces the normal class 12 syllabus in her school for the students that dont do the common Abitur.

In the meantime I am emailing and Skyping with many others to re-inliven the Connect network for this next event!

Thoughts from Madeleine, a Helper in the Kitchen, Switzerland

2009-08-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

We feed the world?
Ein Gedanke bei der Planung der Tagung war es, auch die Umgebung von Dornach mit einzubeziehen. Die Teilnehmenden sollten nicht nur auf einer „Insel “ landen sondern ein Bewusstsein für das Umland entwickeln. Zweitens war auch der Impuls da, den Menschen im Baselbiet etwas von der Tagung zu vermitteln. Konkret sah das dann so aus: Neben Stiftungen und Firmen wurden Bauern um Mithilfe bei der Finanzierung von connect 09 gebeten. Che und die 12.Klässler der Birseckschule fragten Bauer für Bauer um ihre Unterstützung und wurden dabei reich belohnt. Viele Bauern waren bereit in Form von Gemüse und Früchten oder Milch zu dem köstlichen Menu der Tagung beizusteuern (alle Zutaten waren übrigens aus biologischer Landwirtschaft). So war ein erster Schritt getan. Doch wollte man auch nicht, dass dieses Gemüse nun stillschweigend von den Köchen verarbeitet und serviert wurde. Also gab es während der ganzen Tagung Küchenhelfer, zum Teil auch 12.Klässler, welche täglich hunderte Kilos von Kartoffeln schälten, Salat putzten und Karotten schnitten. Mit dem Küchenteam des Speisehauses gemeinsam war so eine bereichernde Zusammenarbeit entstanden und diejenigen die stundenlang putzten, schälten und schnitten spürten es an den Händen was über 500 hungrige Teilnehmer bedeuten. Um diese Arbeit noch bewusster für alle zu machen, kamen wir in den letzen Tagen auf die Idee wirklich alle zum Kartoffelschälen zu animieren. So wurde bei den gemeinsamen Mahlzeiten eine Schälstation aufgebaut wo jeder nun Kartoffeln schälen durfte, konnte oder musste.
Ich denke es ist nicht zu unterschätzen wie wichtig diese Bewusstwerdungsschritte sind. Genau bei logistischen Dingen wie dem Essen können wir Tag für Tag Zeichen setzen. Wir können über Qualität, Herkunft und Produktionsbedingungen entscheiden. Dafür kann den 12.Klässlern, die ja nun alle vor großen Entscheidungen stehen, connect 09 ein Vorbild sein. Ja die Tagung muss meines Erachtens sogar genau an diesen Punkten wo jeder etwas machen kann, Impulse setzen damit „gewöhnliche Menschen außergewöhnliches schaffen können“.
Madeleine Ronner

Feedback from Johanna Debes, Workshopleader, Germany

2009-08-29T05:14:00.001-07:00

Theaterworkshop - Contact and Inspiration
Ich bin nie auf einer Connect Tagung gewesen, da ich in Hamburg an der Waldorfschule nie etwas von solchen Treffen gehört hatte. Zu wissen dort sind knapp 600 Teilnehmer aus der ganzen Welt alle ungefähr 17 oder 18 Jahre alt, ließ mich in meinen Gedanken sechs Jahre zurück gehen und ich fragte mich oft, wie ich mich damals gefühlt habe, was meine Träume und Interessen waren? Und was könnte an Möglichkeiten durch Connect für die einzelnen entstehen?
Drei Tage vor Beginn der Tagung bekam ich großes Lampenfieber, denn ich wusste nicht ob die Jungendlichen mich als Workshopleiter akzeptieren würden, ob ich das auf Englisch hinbekommen würde und wie die Übungen und Spiele die ich machen wollte aufgenommen werden würden. Diese Ängste verflogen aber sobald ich mit der Gruppe loslegte und es war eine intensive und für mich selber sehr lehrreiche Zeit.
Ich habe versucht die Teilnehmer dort abzuholen wo sie herkommen und mit ihnen im euphorischen Tagungstrubel einen Raum zu gestalten wo sie ganz bewusst sich selber und die anderen wahrnehmen konnten. Einige Übungen wiederholte ich jedes Mal. Zum Beispiel habe ich sie gebeten einfach auf ihr Eigenbefinden zu lauschen ohne es verändern zu wollen und die Gedanken zu beobachten die sich aufdrängen. Dann mit der Wahrnehmung nach außen zu gehen und die Atmosphäre auf der Tagung nach zu spüren und die letzten Begegnungen noch mal ins Bewusstsein zurufen. Am ersten Tag fanden das viele komisch sich auf diese Art zu konzentrieren und die Stille auszuhalten aber später fingen alle an es zu schätzen. Ein Mädchen wurde krank, kam aber trotzdem wieder um sich einfach in den Raum zu setzten, da sie meinte die Atmosphäre täte ihr gut. Gefreut habe ich mich auch über zwei holländische Jungen die darum baten die Entspannungsübung nicht zusammen machen zu müssen, da sie selber merkten wie sie dann einfach nur albern wurden. Solche Erlebnisse haben mich immer am meisten gefreut, denn es war mir wichtig, dass die Schüler zu dem Punkt kamen, dass sie merkten was sie jetzt brauchen und es dann auch einfach machten.
Während verschiedener Übungen und Spiele rief ich immer mal wieder „freeze“ und bat dann die Teilnehmer abzuspüren was sie im Raum und zwischen sich untereinander wahrnehmen. Dieses Nachlauschen zwischendurch half, dass der Workshop atmete und die Teilnehmer wirklich präsent im Geschehen dabei waren. Ich war sehr erfreut wie viel sie innerhalb dieser kurzen Zeit entdeckten und freute mich auch über ihren Mut beim Improvisieren und darüber wie aufmerksam sie sich gegenseitig bei den Einzelimprovisationen zuschauten und später ein Teil davon auf der „Open stage“ zeigen wollten.
Mit noch mehr Zeit hätte ich den Bogen vielleicht stärker wieder zur gedanklichen Ebene geschlagen. Denn durch die Übungen und Erlebnisse mit dem Körper entstand viel Gesprächsstoff. Ich finde es außerdem gut möglich, dass ein praktisch-künstlerischer Workshop auch einen gedanklichen Teil haben kann, denn es wird bei der künstlerischen Arbeit auch ein Raum kreiert zum Fragen und Diskutieren. Die Herangehensweise ist bloß anders als wenn man ganz über den Intellekt geht, doch drängen sich letztendlich ähnliche Themen auf.
Ich glaube, dass dieser Raum für Reflektion und Ruhe auf der Tagung zum Teil fehlte und die vielen Eindrücke und gedanklichen Anstöße zum Teil dadurch untergingen. Obwohl bestimmt vieles wieder in den Wochen nach der Tagung hochkommen wird. Das finde ich wirklich wunderbar an Connect, dass die Teilnehmer nicht alleine nach hause zurückkehren, sondern in der Klassengemeinschaft und so die Möglichkeit haben die viele Eindrücke und Fragen auch später bewegen zu können. Das muss dann ja nachhaltig sein☺
Ich fand die Idee, dass die 12. Klässler mit ihren Jahresarbeiten Workshops angeboten haben super. Auf diese Art hatten sie die Möglichkeit ihre Arbeit in ganz neuer Form noch mal zu präsentieren und anders zu reflektieren und sie gleichzeitig erfahren haben einen Workshop an zu leiten. Diese Idee, finde ich, kann noch ausgeweitet werden und auf der nächsten Connect könnte man ruhig noch mutiger sein und zwei Open Space Tage einrichten. Ich fand es sehr spannend, als ich bei einem Improvisationsworkshop mitmachte, wie mutig und selbstverständlich alle die Übungen mitmachten, viel weniger Hemmungen hatten und völlig locker mit der Kritik umgingen, das erlebte ich in meinem eigenen Workshop als schwieriger. Das machte mir deutlich, wie gut es ist voneinander zu lernen, ohne in dem Sinne eine Autoritätsperson, einen Lehrer dabei zu haben.
Fasziniert hat mich auch die große Begeisterung mit der die Schüler auf der Bühne standen. Die Authentizität und Spielfreude berührte mich teilweise stärker, als wie ich es von professionellen Darstellungen kenne. Und ich kann mich auch an dieses Gefühl zwischen Spannung und Vorfreude erinnern, zu wissen bald ist die Schulzeit vorbei, nicht zu wissen was kommt aber trotzdem der Zuversicht und dem „Wir sind die Welt- Gefühl“ sehr nahe zu sein. Ja die 12. Klasse ist eine sehr besondere Zeit. Für mich persönlich war es auch das schönste Schuljahr. Jetzt bin ich Schauspielstudentin und einiges muss ich nun mühsam lernen was damals wie von alleine ging. Mir haben die 12 Klässler ganz deutlich gezeigt wie wichtig es ist zu behaupten und dazu zu stehen was man macht, anstatt dem Zweifel Platz zu machen. In den Punkten waren sie eindeutig meine Lehrer auf dieser Tagung.
So war es doch ein Geben und Nehmen und ich würde mich sehr freuen auf der nächsten Connect 2011 wieder dabei zu sein. Vorher wird es Connectivity in Südafrika geben und in den letzten Tagen wurde mir klar warum ich persönlich möchte, dass diese große Tagung statt findet. Denn was ich persönlich von der Connectivity2006 in Sao Paulo mitgenommen habe waren nicht Themen aus speziellen Workshops oder Vorträgen, sondern wahrhaftige Begegnungen mit Menschen, die ich seit dem regelmäßig wieder sehe, durch die ich den Mut bekommen habe meinen eigenen Weg zu gehen. Ich wäre sonst wohl nie an einer Schauspielschule, geschweige in Dornach auf der Connect Tagung gelandet. Für diese Impulse bin ich unglaublich dankbar und ich möchte dazu beitragen solch einen Begegnungsraum auch für andere zu gestalten.

Feedback to Johanna:
Dear Johanna.
I really liked the theatre-workshop. I've always thought that theatre is a great way to bring people together even if you come from different backgrounds. I've worked much with drama and played theatre since I was small, so some of the things we did I recognized quite much, and with the atmosphere-exercises that could be a bit boring because if you've done it once you've kind of learnt all you could from it. So I think I would have liked a bit more improvisation and games. But that's only my opinion, and it's because I'm kind of used to theatre, I think some persons in the group wasn't very used to theatre so everything was more new to them, and of course it should be on a level that suits both people with and without theatre-experience. So from that angle I think it was really good.
It was very fun to do the pantomime though, because that's a thing I've never tried before, and I learned new things about theatre from that.

Thanks for the week!

Best wishes
Mina Hovland, Sweden

2009-05-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

a text that was posted in a forum online about Connect...(facebook group: goodProject, projects that are ratehr good than bad for the planet, find it on twitter: http://twitter.com/goodProject

The Connect Conference

The Connect Conference is a highschool conference which takes place every 2 years in Dornach, Switzerland (and hopefully in the year in between in a different place as of now...)

The most recent one was this April (09) and aimed at being a space where young people could practise what it is like to be an active partner in shaping a reality. All participants where invited and challenged to take on the responsibility in shaping this conference and - they actually did it! They all engaged in some place to design a fulfilling, exciting, life chaging for some, conference for 4 and a half days.

They thus did, what is generally un-expected of youth, they tool on responsibility and carried it as best as they could. They filled the program with contributions on their year-project from class 12, they helped in practical tasks and made everything run smoothly, the whole time, all 550 of them.
We believe that, when trusted, (young) people can make a difference without being expert in a specific profession. If we trust them they will do it! And they will do meaningful work while they're at it.

Connect somewhat showcased a slice of reality. We hope and also actually believe that Connect was only a mirror image of how they will one day take on responsibility for their tasks for this world. They will have the courage to invest in the shared reality we call society and they will make choices based on how to serve a bigger context and not just their own wallet. They are the generation the world has been waiting for. Its all possible. Its all in them. Our task is to provide spaces for them to be able to reach this potential they all have!

Lets build on trust and do it!

Connect is only one way of creatig a space for youth to learn about how easy it is to change the world and how cool responsibility can be. There is a general recepie to follow in order to create that. We only know a few ingredients by now, some of them are:

-taking youth seriously, not patronizing them because they are "young and inexperienced" but rather seeing them as full human beings and thereby empowering them to see them selves and use what they naturally bring with them as youth, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of will, a lot of strength to invest, and a lot of time, plus the hunger to learn from whatever they are doing.

-a place where they can meet each other and other cultures, like a platform hosted by "adults/experienced people" for them.

-a social event, like making food together, enjoying something interactive together, in order to get over the initiatl shyness.

-a few agreements about staying focussed, dealing with certain things consciously, e.g. drugs and alcohol...

-a good information source about global issues, so discussions can proceed.

-a comfortable place, a room, a chill out zone they can feel at home in and care for.

- and much more...

ANY SUGGESTIONS: please post them here...

How does it feel when you get home?

2009-04-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Sitting in Dornach after the conference, my ears desperately trying to pick up a Connectee's voice, a drum, a laughter, a ball being played, the gong calling us in...but nothing...
My eyes searching constantly for those bags, for Connect Crew Tshirts, for busy people on the hill...nope...all gone...
Uff...its quiet and empty over here...and I need to get used to the hill again without you guys. It feels like ever since they took off the CONNECT banner the Goetheanum has closed its eyes and has gone back to sleep. But it remebers. It remembers everything very well!

How do you guys feel now? What stuck with you from Connect? What did you take home? I for myself vowed to chage my life and only keep the good things after Connect...and you? How can we include Connect into what is waiting at home? How to carry on the spirit into normal life? Sahre your thoughts here!!!

2009-04-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

The first helpers are arriving, all nationalities, all different personalities, all different kinds...
One teacher, 8 helpers, 2 classes arriving on the weekend, visitors, onlookers...
But first we are going into a small little Easter break, mostly because everyone else is on holidays and we cant very well plan and call and bother others when they are celebrating this Spring FEstival. So on Tuesday next week the Connect Preparation Machine will start again, until then we are on Standby.

Connect is really shaping. It is growing to be a full big conference that has the potential to be very lively and healthy and a great event.
If everyone who comes manages to log in, be part of it and take care that Connect works out, we will have a great great success.
MAny peopel around the world are inspired by Connect. So many people. Everyone who arrives arrives with an open heart and lots of curiosity to explore and get to know others.
This is a perfect attitude to bring, because Connect will have so many things to see, so many people to meet, so many conversations to have!
I hope you guys are looking froward to it just as much as I am!!!
Happy Easter!
Katha

37 days...

2009-03-13T14:44:00.001-07:00

Connect is grandly under way. In all parts of the world people are stirring and preparing for this awesome event! We have workshops for the first two mornings, so please dont forget to sign in your class 12 project as a presentation or other activity for your fellow Connectees to take part in...and if you dont want to do it in advance you do have the chance to sign up at the conference itself.
We have some people signed up for the exhibition at the Goetheanum and are still expecting a lot more to come our way!

The afternoon groups are settled and being fixed every day now, awesome contributors are signed up and on their way, preparing meaningful content for you all!

The night cafe is being planned by our helpers from the local Waldorfschool, whom are coming to meetings with us regularly and who have very good ideas how to shape a chill out zone and night cafe club for all of you so even the evenings will be a great experience.

The only problem we are facing now is the money. In this moment we are short of about 50.000 Swiss Francs. One of the bigger foundations just dropped our applications and now we are struggling to find ways how to finance Connect. If you have ideas please let us know!

But so far we are no where near giving up!

See you soon, here in Dornach!

The Night Cafe again!

2009-02-05T00:56:00.001-08:00

We are looking for your favourite music to play in the chill out zone Night Cafe every night at Connect...
Please post your suggestions as a comment here!!

Leo:
some reggae perhaps?.. Alpha Blondy, Elijah Prophet, Mystic Revealers

Lucas:
GOA, Drum'n'bass!!! Gruss Lucas

What else??

The Connect Tour

2009-02-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

Che, Caitlin and Katha went to meet with some classes that are coming to Connect
2.2.09
Basel - Den Haag, leaving 6am, meeting the teacher of the class 12 there in the afternoon. Good conversation
Amsterdam.
3.2.09
Amsterdam - Lier,7.30 am, what a friendly place and an excited class in Lier, we even get given a concert by the classes band, they will play in the night cafe at Connect!!!
Lier - Ghent at 1 pm, another friendly place, a good meeting. We are collecting more workshops wherever we go and the classes are geberally active already to help us fundraise!!
Lier - back to Amsterdam, we stay with out Idem Friends.
4.2.09
Amstderdam - Reutlingen, 7 am, meeting and every where we go people are excited about Connect, they welcome us so warmly, it is amazing!! Such great Connect participants!!
Then we meet the group in Nürtingen, and at 6pm return home to Basel with a good feeling about how Connect will be!!!
See you all there!

Help Support the Connect Conference!

2009-01-30T05:31:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone out there who has been at Connect or is coming to Connect this year!

We need your help!!!
550 people have signed up to come to Connect, plus some helpers and a lot of good afternoon activity leaders and speakers. We even have accommodation for almost everyone already-- the only thing that is missing is the money!!!

Who can imagine helping us fundraise? We need 270 Swiss Francs times 550 people. (Thats about 180 Euros per person coming) If we take it step by step, come on, everyone can collect 180 Euros!!

Even participants for this year... can you imagine donating something to Connect? Or starting an activity at your school? A sponsored run, a cake sale at the spring fair coming up... be creative! Do you have rich aunties or uncles? Do you feel like doing a flea-market or garage sale? There are many ways to help. On the Connect Website there is a direct link to our bank details. Let's get going!!

Take a look at our new concept at www.connectconference.org!

The Night Cafe!

2009-01-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

We are looking for your favourite music to play in the chill out zone Night Cafe every night at Connect...
Please post your suggestions as a comment here!! And we ll do our best to find it!!

The Connect Conference 2009

2009-01-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

VISION:

The Connect Conference will be a space where we can imagine and practice how we want society to be. As young people who care about the world today, it is our aim to raise awareness of a shared future that we can and must co- create. Students from all over the world are invited to come together at the Goetheanum for a conference where each participant will be a partner in shaping it.
For the fourth time, the Connect Conference invites 12th grade classes from Waldorf schools worldwide to celebrate the completion of their Waldorf education together with 500 of their peers. Each student will have the opportunity to imagine how this common background has shaped his biography. As former Waldorf students, we appreciate our education and the, often different, ways in which we understand the world. During our time in school we must focus on ourselves, learning to become our own person. As we grow this focus begins to shift towards shaping not only ourselves, but taking responsibility for the world around us. The Connect conference marks the transition from a time of learning about oneself to orienting oneself within society. We want to be able to acknowledge and celebrate this transition together.
This year the Connect Conference invites the students to exhibit their class 12 projects in a grand exhibition at the Goethanum and to carry the morning with workshops and podium discussions around their projects. In the afternoon, people who are active in initiatives from the Youthsection network will invite the students to participate in conversations and activities looking at the challenges of contemporary society. The afternoons will be rounded out by a short lecture held by a Changemaker. A cultural evening program of dramatic and musical performances follows. Each participant will have the opportunity to become a contributor to the Connect Conference and vice versa. Our goal is to create a living picture in which it is evident that each of us is both a participant and contributor in all that we do in the Connect Conference as well as in society.