Hertha Levefællesskab /Hertha Living Community Reverse integration of a group of people with special needs with a group of "normal" people

Hertha Levefællesskab is situated near Aarhus in Jutland on a slope with a tremendous view. It was founded in 1996 and now consists of about 150 people including 26 developmentally disabled persons. The main topic in this village community is social ecology i.e. how do we get a culturally and socially sustainable community running and including a group of people with special needs.

The community decisions are made on an anthroposophical (Rudolf Steiner) basis and we practice “reverse integration” i.e. the so-called normal in fact integrate with the retarded people. The “normal” has settled down as a “friendly tribe” around the retarded. There is a ratio of 1:3 between retarded and “normal” which will be maintained as the project develops to a maximum of about 150 people. There are workshops for the handicapped (bakery, weaving room, laundry workshop, kitchen, garden, farming, dairy, outdoor maintenance group, drama workshop and a canteen workshop in nearby school and kindergarten). Apart from this, there is at present a goldsmith, an architect’s office working here. Tree families have build straw bale houses.
Visitors please call in advance!