Experiences from the October Team, 1999

Alex Piwtorak, Aged 20, from Germany

Hi folks! My name is Alexander Piwtorak. I am nineteen years old and I am from Germany. I just joined the Tvind-School in Lindersvold two weeks ago. The first time I heard about the " Travelling Folk Highschools " was at the beginning of July when I was in Roskilde for the Rock-Festival there. I met some people that were fundraising. Then I bought a paper, asked these people some questions - later I called to one of the Headmasters in Lindersvold for further information; and now I am here in the so  called "October-Team ".

Life here means living in a community. You eat together with all the other members of the school, we plan together what want to do next, we are working together in a team and we all together run the school. Of course this is work, but it is still fun nearly all the time. Because you are working with so many different people coming from all over the planet, it is realy exciting to be here . The first few days I got a culture shock because I did not expect so many different nationalities. But it is realy enjoyable, because everybody is here for the same thing : Doing solidarity work in Africa.

And thatīs it why I like it here and why I decided to stay. Right now I am preparing myself for the "Afrika-Conference". The first real test for me where I can see if I am good enough to speak with other people - in a, for me, unknown language - about Human Rights and its development as a global problem. Maybe it is difficult but I am still looking forward, happy about the things that will come.

Marika Lindbing, Aged 19, from Finland

"Me facing the world"

Before I finally arrived to Lindersvold I had lived this upcoming year inside my head thousands of times. This place turned out to be much more different than I expected. Life here is amazing. I felt myself warmly welcome. Other students treated me like I've been here for ages. We all get along perfectly with each other.

Everyday brings something new and exciting in our lives. Each and every second is full of life. That's why I enjoy this so much.

There is also this other side. Days are long and full of work, studies and other activities. Every morning I wish to be far away from the school, liying on a sunny beach and doing absolutely nothing. But during the day those dreams fade away. Although this going to be probably the hardest year I think it also will be the most colourful as well.

It takes a lot of courage to come here. I really cherish these people. We have taken a big step to the right direction. I'm glad that Ill spend this year with such an important issue. Trying to do my personal best as well being in a team atmosphere getting as much as possible out of each other. Today I thank myself for choosing this way to experience and grow as an individual. Our team will do plenty of good work in the future and we can really be proud of it.

Liz, Aged 30, from Australia

I first heard about Humana in Sydney Australia when they advertised in one of our major newspapers.  I went along to hear what they had to say and here I am in Lindersvold 10 months later.

I joined Humana because their ideology appealed to me.  The concept of global community, global responsibility has been a belief long held by me.  The opportunity not only to give but to get something back in return was also significant.  Other peripheral motivators were the opportunity to travel, to live communally and the chance to live and work with a group pulled together from all over the world.

I am 2 weeks into my program so far and I have most of the program ahead of me yet. Impressions so far are exactly that. Impressions.  I have, so far, little concrete experience of Humana to have formed anything else.  Expectations however are high and some major personal challenges identified.  To live in a communal manner that takes group rather than individual welfare into consideration, to approach the next 14 months as an entirely new experience in my life and therefore not subject to comparison with the life I left behind me in Sydney, to think laterally and to make the most of the opportunities in front of me. To learn to cook - for everyone's sake.