Ámbar Comunidad, prototyping a sustainable development path for inclusive communities within their social context – by Dennis Löffler, Adrián Antonio Villalva, Yolanda Sáez-Pagán
We invite you to explore an inspiring update from our colleagues at the Ámbar Comunidad, Participatory Action Research. Recently featured in the Academy’s speaker series on the Fundamental Social Law (click link for video recording), they also presented at the autumn conference of the Section for Inclusive Social Development. Their work continues to deepen the understanding of inclusive, community-led research and social transformation:
“At the last autumn conference of the Section for Inclusive Social Development at the Goetheanum in Switzerland, we had the opportunity to present our participatory action research proposal of Ámbar Comunidad. Our proposal aims to establish a Camphill community in our region of Argentina and strengthen our network by collaborating with other Camphill initiatives in Latin America. Establishing a project in our region, given our social, political, and economic context, is a huge challenge. Through this research, we aim to raise awareness about the requirements for becoming a Camphill community in our social context and the importance of doing so. At this small conference, we spent one day discussing the importance of research for social and inner development. One hundred people from all over the world came together to listen and exchange ideas. The participatory approach to research is a great opportunity to create something inclusive and unique that considers the individual needs of each person while working in a community setting. A short description will follow, and here are some links for further information.
Scroll down for a longer Poster presentation. Another short description here https://anthroposophie.org/es/noticias/prototipo-para-el-desarrollo-sostenible-de-comunidades-inclusivas and of course you can contact us at ambaractionresearch@gmail.com or at Instagram ambarcomunidad.
We are in the funding process to get really started. So here is a link if you can support us: Fonds für Heilpädagogik und Sozialtherapie Dornach (please choose the relevant reference)
Ámbar Comunidad, founded in 2021 in Córdoba, Argentina, is a Camphill-inspired initiative established in response to the lack of opportunities for adolescents and young adults with diverse needs after completing their school years. In Argentina, particularly in rural areas, young people with disabilities often face social isolation, limited work opportunities, and few spaces for participation in community life. Ámbar seeks to transform this reality by creating inclusive spaces for work, learning, and social encounters. Rooted in therapeutic education, social therapy, and Waldorf pedagogy, the project aspires not only to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities but also to foster holistic development for all community members. From its early years, Ámbar confronted the challenge of sustaining itself without sufficient financial resources, organizational expertise, or government support. Families and therapists, though highly motivated, recognized that maintaining and expanding the initiative required new strategies. To respond, the community adopted Participatory Action Research (PAR) as the guiding methodology. PAR emphasizes the co-creation of knowledge and practical solutions through collaboration among all stakeholders, making it particularly suited for strengthening organizational sustainability and inclusive growth. The research is structured around Bill Sharpe’s Three Horizons framework: Horizon 1 (understanding current context and identity), Horizon 3 (envisioning an inclusive future community rooted in anthroposophy and Camphill principles), and Horizon 2 (designing transitional actions to bridge present and future). Qualitative methods will include observations, interviews, journaling, surveys, case studies, and Storymaps, while fostering community-building spaces such as Sabores y Saberes (Tastes & Insights), where shared meals accompany reflective dialogue. Parents, therapists, and young people with special needs actively participate in data collection, analysis, and dissemination, ensuring inclusivity at every stage. To broaden the learning process, Ámbar will collaborate with other regional initiatives in Latin América and will be supported by the Section for Inclusive Social Development at the Goetheanum and the Camphill Academy. This research addresses key structural limitations: insufficient financial and governmental support, limited inclusive perspectives in local institutions, scarcity of Spanish-language resources, and the absence of comparable Camphill initiatives in Argentina. Through this process, Ámbar seeks to position itself as a prototype for sustainable inclusive culture, demonstrating how participatory methodologies can nurture organizational identity, resilience, and belonging. The project aspires to radiate inclusive practices beyond its own community, offering models for other initiatives in Latin America and contributing to global networks of social change.”
Link to Autumn Conference Presentation
