Camphill - Mattias Lundblad

Camphill Ceske Kopisty is located close to Terezin in the northwest of Czech Republic - a community where people with mental disabilities live together with co-workers. The camphill movement is part of the anthroposophical philosophy and aims to facilitate close personal relationships and social cooperation.





The farm which holds the community once belonged to the grandparents of Petr Nejtek. In the early communist era it was confiscated and became part of the local collective farm. After the Soviet invasion Petr fled to Norway, where he made friends within the anthroposophical movement. In 1999 he and his wife Turid returned to Czech Republic, bought the by then ruinous farm, and decided to build up the first camphill farm in the country.





Since then economy has been a constant problem, and the work has been delayed twice by floods. When I visited the farm three clients were living there, together with three members of the staff. Among the work done on the farm is agriculture and handicraft. Despite the difficulties there are still visions. The community has bought the neighbouring farm and hopes to grow.
Text and photos © Mattias Lundblad

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