you guys kick ass!!!! Keep up the good fight:-)

You are quite right in a way. Some of the contents on these pages (the "shite" as you call it) is unproven but that does not mean it is untrue! Live well and try not to be bitter! NN

Hello Secret Butterfly going to Norway.   I know Tvind. from years ago, joining a school project for 2 years, and have followed the development of T. ever since. 
Tvind has become even more closed up and strict than it was 20 years ago. I cannot in detail say that everything you read in Tvindalert is true, but in general I can only confirm the picture: 
You cannot trust any T. teachers - because they say and do only what they "have to" - democracy is only used when appropriate to the teachears goal, and you yourself dont have a chance to influence your stay at the school in any other direction than the "Correct" (=wanted by the teachers) direction. Dont pay a penny in advance - you will never see it again, if you have to leave the school. Always keep a "backdoor" open to get away, and keep your old friends, if you are not following my advice to stay far away from Tvind. Greetings from Charl.

Hi you worried about starting in Norway 
I think it is a very good place and programme! 
Have a nice time!

This site is a lot of unproven shite.

A very late answer from " the poor Icelandic girl" (scroll down if you want to find my original entry and the "friendly" comment). 
1) There is nothing "poor" about me. And another thing, how can you be so sure of my gender? 2) I was not chained, as I am sure you know. It did take me a while to realise what I had gotten myself into, and the decition to leave the children I was working with was not an easy one. I was also sleepdeprived and constantly tired, and that did not hurry things up. 3) I will not dignify your comment about Icelandic sheep farms. 4) Why are you so hostile, are you sure you are "sick and tired" with the people that have left Tvind or could it be that the problem lies elsewhere?

Hey secret butterfly Make sure if they ask you to paint peoples houses etc that you are not reponsible for the debts of the company. The usual trick is that its your groups business and you all share the risks.  Unfortunatly as soon as you make any money it becomes a Tvind company and your mearly a unpaid servant. Whatever you do try and get anyagreements down to work or monies in writing and double check the insurances (and legal documentation) in case of accident or damage to property. yours Jock

whoops sorry. I forgot to enclose my email addy.

secretbutterfly8@hotmail.com

So I have been reading this website and I am a bit afraid of the stories, because I just signed up to go to norway. Some parts I think can be true, but others I question.

When I went to the info weekend in denmark I even joked about it being a cult when I arrived, but as the weekend started I liked it more and more. I think they were honest about what the press thinks of them and what to expect. On the other hand when I asked questions about what time you have to do your own thing and the possibilities to meet other people outside the school the reply from the headmaster was strange, but when I asked someone else about she was very honest.

I don't think it can be as bad as this website sais, but I am glad I can keep these stories in mind. I would be very pleased if others can mail me about there experiences.Especially from people who have been to the school in Norway. I want to be prepared.

What interests me in these pages and letters is the broad lack of analysis of the quality of work done by Tvind/Humana/ADPP in the field. Only passing references to the development issues of sustainability, empowerment, participation, etc... And if the ADPP approach is or isn't successful. Can someone expand on this for me? Would an ADPP person take time to explain his/her feelings on the success or otherwise of their work in Africa?

In Mozambique last week the subject of ADPP came up in an informal meeting of NGO people. One thing that came out was that there was a strong feeling that ADPP people kept themselves apart and actively discuraged any contact between the volunteers and the other NGO workers. For instance, one lot of Irish NGO workers based up in Quelimane had noticed that an ADPP volunteer had formed a relationship with one of their staff but had reported getting a very hard time from her managers who were discouraging her relationship with an 'outsider' - to the extent of fining her and denying her transport into town. It didn't make much sense. Said one lively Canadian worker: "Well what do you expect to happen if you send blonde scandanavians off to work in the bush?"

On the serious side, most people simply questioned the quality of ADPP work - (not the integrity or commitment). There was a strong feeling that ADPP staff (volunteers and managers), were not 'integrated' intobroader development structures and practices. While I argued that there is always room for diversity and alternatives, people - better qualified than I - stuck hard to the line that ADPP simply wasn't 'professional' enough to be effective and instead comprised a diversion. From what? The cosy little norms and self-serving interests of the 'regular' NGO community? Henry

Bitter? - I think angry. Angry for loosing my selfdependens, angry to see democracy turn out to be a totalitarian system, with controlling all the time, that was, what I could not stand. And angry because I was forced to commit an inreparable deceit of som close family - twice.

I know mighty well, that there are lots of very good teachers in the T.G., and very faithfull to the system. But every one of them knows, that the decision are made for them, even it seems like it was taken on a common meating - just the same way the outcoms of a meating with the students are dicides BEFORE the meating. I also understand, that teaching the students feels so importent, that this seems ok.

And I know all the words. I have answered hundreds of peoples questions, f. inst. "But do you not have any spare time for your self?

Answer: what is spare time for? It is for doing, what one feel like doing - but we are allways doing, what we feel like doing, and all the time, not onlys som hours a day.

Question: But what happens, when you are getting old?

Answer: When you get old, you can still do, what you like the best, and you are not forced to live in a small appartment and feel lonely - here you will never be lonely.

As a fact, that was the picture I had, and was suppose to have about beeing old outside Tvind. Now I know better. No one tells my what to do or what not to do, and life is wonderfull outside Tvind - the world is open and we are many friend. to support each other if nescessery. And to be outside Tvind cannot prevent me from doing some good for needing people, without sacrificing my life. My life is mine, and it is a gift I gave myself.

Hey Taff why do you read this web site? Are you going through a bit of confusion? Don't you know who to believe any more? Are you tired overworked under nourished? Was life on the dole that bad. Are your dreams coming crashing down around your ears?

Don't get angry Don't go into denial Find out what is going on. If this web site is full of lies then confront the issues and prove it.  Nobodys telling you to leave or give up anything. Ex Tvindies are simply warning people not to make the mistake of joining the cult which tvind is. 

Taff I think you like attacking this site because you are unsure of what you are doing in your life with the result of a major portion of denial.

A reply from Mr Thomsen himself and the *ANONYMOUS* webmaster almost at once!

What do you think Taff? Getting too close?

would you be more precice about why you left and what really happened in Holsted?  It would mean a lot to me if i would know, because i am planning on going there...

I would like to praise Steen Thomsen for his elegant reply to the foul personal abuse levelled at him. This guestbook is intended to promote sensible and open discussion - please do not use the anonymity offered as an excuse for childish name calling and disgusting personal abuse.

Webmaster, Tvind Alert

I have just checked with the Icelandis Ministry of education and they told me that The DNS teacher certificate is not valid in Iceland. However I must say it does not surprise me that the DNS webpage says otherwise...

t is good to notice the Tvind people really read this web-site. What is not so good is to notice that, like it has always been, the Tvind people push away any critics of the system by going for the person instead of considering or commenting upon what is said about the system, using even perfidy.

Some question my intentions. Well, certainly just after having left the system, I had a feeling of guilt and fear. I had no intentions at all about criticising the system in public. But after I had met with a few other former members, I really grasped that I was not the one who had done anything wrong by leaving. I heard their personal stories and realised they had felt kind of guilt by leaving. They had put the blame on themselves.

Some of these people suffer (suffered) physical and also psychological illnesses, caused partially or fully by their lack of personal freedom during their time in the TG. Some of them had also faced hard times after leaving the TG - without money, frequently without education, - and often without friends. I realised I had to do something to "get Tvind out of the system", in order not to end in the same situation. So I started writing fragments of my history with Tvind. In the end, I had written a number of pages, and I let about twenty equally former TG members read it. They really were a random sample of people, as I, by then, did not know where but a few of my former "TG-comrades" lived. The people I met said my story was correct as it confirmed their own experience. A few of them wanted minor things changed, which I did.

By then, I had realised I could not just keep this by myself. I knew - also from people who left the TG after me -, the system had not changed. Should new people, students, teachers, TG members, again and again be exposed to the Tvind system, or could my report make them consider once again what they were doing when joining it? Consequently, I sent my report to The Danish Ministry of Education. It caused some publicity, which I guess could be imputed to the fact that Tvind operates so much in secrecy and now, for 22 years, have kept their leader in a hiding place. In general, people in any society do not accept such a thing, I think. They want openness, especially when the talk is about educating people - maybe even their own children.

Like most other former TG members, I enjoy my freedom. It is not so bad to be outside the TG as we used to tell each other! We are many out here, looking forward to meeting you and supporting you the day you leave.

Veist a kennaraprf fr DNS (The Necessary...) sklanum er ekki viurkennt Danmrku og heldur ekki slandi? Vertu vel veri, g veit a getur lrt margt gott arna en ar er ekki allt sem snist. Lttu undir engum kringumstum plata ig til a ganga kennarahpinn (lrergruppen), a er ar sem htturnar liggja.

This is a great site and sadly it is all true. It does not surprise me that many people that are, or have been, with Tvind protest loudly in this guestbook but let me tell you this; if you ever get near the inner circle you will be in for a surprise!

I can tell you something about Winestead hall.

As you probably know, it is now CICD (College for international cooperation and development). It is being run by 3 wonderful people with a group equally wonderful students. Together they will do a whole lot of development in Mozambique, Angola and Malawi, despite sick attempts by certain (previously well respected) newspapers and even more sick negative pressure groups who misinform friends and relatives and in turn stop well intentioned, good people people from doing good work that benefits the people who really need it in the abovementioned countries.

LONG LIVE CICD - keep up the good work.

THIS IS JUST A SITE JUST FILLED WITH CRAP!!!!!I'M SPEECHLESS TO THEWHOLE THING..AND TO BE HONEST....IF PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS CRAP...THEN THEY ARE BRAIN WASHED..NOT ME!! I HAVE BEEN IN THIS "SYSTEM" FOR 1 1/2 YEARS AND I'M PLANNING ON STAYING LONGER...BUT NOONE IS TELLING ME TO,IT'S MY CHOICE

Hello, I am a 21 year old student at the Necessary Teacher Training College in Denmark. I come from Iceland. I happened to run into this pages about the organisation I am enrolled in and I have to say it gave me such a shock. I believe that behind a lot of organisations there is some kind of greed and we live in a world where the money has the power. Of course you cant say that about every person but when it comes down to it people get greedy.

Now I have been a student here for one year and am looking forward to start the second one. I want to say that not once during that year have I felt that my people here are trying to get me to think like them or stop having contact with my family and friends. I have been on home leave twice and I am going back for christmas.

Here like in every other college or organisation I have been involved in there are sometimes things I mislike, I cant see anything so uniqe with that.

I hope you know what you are doing, and keep in mind that there are always two stories about everything..

Sara Ellen Hjaltadottir

Can any one get back to me who knows any thing about Winestead hall?

Angellove1679@aol.com

My name is Sylvia. I was at Winestead hall from 93 to 95. I was a

student there. I need to tell someone about my experiences. I have fled the country to get away but i now see they are all over the world. You see, when i looked at you article about it not being safe and there are risks, Steen (who was there while i was there) failed to tell you what happend to the kids. The first year i went skiing to Norway, I had a serious knee injury. Steen and Jochen made me walk back up the Mountain because they said i was an attention seeker. It took me 4 1/2 hours to get back up there. Now shortly after that i got into a fight with another young boy who was also living there. The fight resulted in my eyebrow needing stitches. But the thing was they refused to take me to the hospital for another 3 days. And only then because i theatend to call the police if they didnt take me. So much more happend that i

know i can never have my real self back. It was like a fancy Tower of London. You put so much in but you never got anything but pain and heartache back. I have to go now but please email me if you would like the full story. And thank you for making such an informative website. I am now making it my duty to warn people over here in the US about the terror that goes on with these people.

You say that it is very difficult for people who have never been brainwashed to understand how it effects you.

I have a question - Are you Brainwashed also?

Therefore, according to your logic then you must be to understand Mr Thomsen, if you have not been brainwashed then you are not able to understand Mr Thomsen and therefore we shouldn't attach any value to your words.

If however you are brainwashed, then how can we be sure that you words are coming from your own thoughts and not someone else's Or maybe you have been brainwashed and are now un-brainwashed (if this is possible) or you have been returned to a previous state of mind. In which case - how do you know? Maybe you are brainwashed a second time.

As for Mr Thomsen, I still don't buy it. Come on Mr Thomsen please own up. What is your motive?

Has anyone else got any ideas?

I don't know if you need to get your head examined, but you obviously seem very bitter about something and I would advise you to get on with your life and leave these good people alone.

I have been a solidarity worker myself in 1995 spending 6 months in Mozambique and 7 months before and after at the Travelling folk high school. During this time no one was ever treated or refered to as the enemy.

I would say that you are brainwashed, but by your own bitterness.

Because you have obviously not lived up to your own expectations you have to blame it on something else. You have convinced yourself (like others) of this.

Please get your head examined.

Choice, Else. Do you understand that word? You CHOOSE to be in the Teachers' Group. If you don't like it, please don't join.

Yes, anonymous teacher. I know that some people is better of than others in the Tvind regi. It did not seem like that in the beginning, but it is very clear now. And I know how people inside cling to the idea, that they are right, no matter what. What else can you do, unless you break down og grow very mad because of unjustice.

If Tvind doesn't want to be hassled then why don't they simply give the money back with interest to those ex members that they have taken off?

I have been in the teachers group for many years too. I can assure you that I watch television. And talk to my mum on the phone whenever I want to. She comes and visits me. I visit her. I read newspapers and magazines. I use the Internet. This website has really opened my eyes to how silly the arguments against Tvind are. I laugh out loud when I read the pathetic "stories"! They are very lopsided to say the least...

Am I brain washed? Else, are you sure that you are not the one who is brain washed? Do you really think that just because there are people who have a different opinion than you - and who want to do something different in their life - that they are brainwashed? Has it ever occured to you that your life consists of possibilities and choices? I don't want an "ordinary" life with a house, a 9 - 5 job, a partner, 2.6 children and hoildays on Mallorca. If that is what you want - that is fine by me. But that is not what I want. I have chosen something different in my life, and developing opportunities and schools for people is what I do. I don't work 14 hours a day, I'd say it would be closer to 16 some days - sometimes less, that is up to ME. And you know what? I love and savour every second of it.

And no, I am not going to put my name here, because I don't want to get harassed by M. Durham & Co. That is another choice I have made.

It is nor strange, that Steen Thomsen and many, many others left Tvind after several years. There is an inside and an outside. The outside is somehow the animy, and you have cut of your family and friends, if you are a true tvindperson. You are not alloud to read the news or watch the tv without permission and you are told and truly believe, thyat the wold outside have no room for you. You need good friend to take you in.

Also for years I was believing, I took responsibility for the world and was doing just the right thing, even it was often very hard.

But like Steen I found out, that this was not about aid, at least not about aid without getting power.

The leaders will always be people from Tvind, and they never pass over any projects to the local people. The schoolborders are people from Tvind and a few parents. I was member of a schoolborder and I did not know about it. NINE years after I left Tvind I got a letter, telling me, that since I had not been to a meeting for years, I would be cut of the list. I was surprised. I had never been on the school.

We did not listen to any criticisme, and were convinced, that we were right - also Steen, untill he found out how his school was used as a moneymashine - and we all got the experience of the luxury the toppeople live in - like other cults.

Now I am happy to be on my own, and hvae nobody to tell med all day long what to do and what not to do.

And the fact is, we are hundreds who saved our souls in time.

I also knew Mr. Thomsen but unlike you I agree with him 100% and can relate to his experience. It is very difficult for people who have never been brainwashed to understand how it effects you. It may seem suspicios that he stayed so long with Tvind, but when you have been taken in by them, you want to belive them and it is very hard to realise how things really are. Tiredness alone makes it hard for you to think straight, a typical working day for a member of the teachers group is approximately 14 hours.

I know him very well, I used to work with him. He is indeed "getting famous" now, the reporters and newspapers are slobbering all over him. I am sure he enjoys the attention very much. In a way, it is not so strange that he is acting like he his, we see similar stories in the newspapers sometimes; about husbands who after long marriages get divorced from their wives and then turn on them, accuse them of all sorts, stalk them, threaten them (I am not a psychologist and do not know if this kind of "trauma" has a name...)They cannot bear seeing their ex-spouse being happy, they feel that they have wasted valuable time of their life on the relationship, etc.

It seems like Mr Steen Thomsen is reacting in a similar way. After 26 years with Tvind, he is "divorced" - and not coping very well. He then goes on to blaming the partner. And the newspapers love getting some gory stories so he gets a lot of attention and can get his revenge. Sad but true.

There is nothing more offensive than people who don't know what they are talking about. Re. comment by Richard Lugg. I look forward to the day that people like you become open minded.

In my opinion, this website is a load of crap based on sensational reports and the complaints of dis-satisfied students who should probably listened more to what they were told before enrolling.

I once went to an information meeting, as I was interested in becoming a solidarity worker (although I didn't because I chose to continue my studies instead and have since married).

At this meeting we were told about fundraising, having to find accomodation for free, hitch hiking, being responsible for part of the school, for example maintainance. We were also told that there had been many negative things written in the press and where the stories have come from.

In addition to this we were told that the programme was intense and that some people end up leaving the programme before completion.

The meeting lasted 3 and a half hours and was very informative. (With a break in the middle with refreshments)

I would suggest to all people who would like to do this to listen at these meetings. This way you can avoid the suprise of finding out thatyou have to fundraise etc.

One thing that we were also told was that the programme was open for anyone, but wasn't necessarily for everyone (for example, if you didn't want to work hard or try new things). So for everyone reading this website, it may look good, it may even look professional, it may look like there are a lot of facts on offer, pictures, figures etc. PLEASE USE YOUR HEADS AND REALISE THAT THESE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WEBSITE HAVE THERE OWN HIDDEN AGENDA, THEY ARE PROBABLY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE LISTENED BETTER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Isn't it strange that this Steen Thomsen guy took twentysomething years with this so called Tvind thing to find out that he thought it was so bad.

I think it is strange anyway. It makes me think about what what his motive is. He is very popular with the newspapers at the moment. Maybe he always wanted to be famous.

Does anyone else think this is strange?

I have to say that as a former student at dns, there were alot ofdifficult periods and bumpy roads. On the other hand I had some fantastic life experiences at DNS. Travleling on a bus to Asia, Working in Cabinda, Africa, with good project leaders and seeing much of europe with a group of international students.

There are alot of good people genuinely working from the heart and helping others who need solidarity, Tvind has been a platform for many people who want to do somthing out of the ordinary and help those in need and continues to do so. However difficult that may be.

Thanks DNS for the experiences, I learnt alot.

Regards Alistair Thomson

That's the way to go Andeas, go and see for yourself. Trust yourself and not reporters.

I have recently decided to embark upon a year as a "teacher-in-training" at one of the Tvind schools in Denmark. I have met several times with a woman named Else-Marie Petersen who has explained much to me about the school's ideals and accomplishments.

I was not, however aware of the great controversy that surrounded this organisation and am endeavouring to find out as much as possible from various sources, and I advise anyone else who is considering the same to do as I am doing and keep your mind open. I have not decided which path I am planning to take, but as I have advised to others I am keeping an open mind about the whole affair. Good luck to anyone else who is in the same position as myself.

Andreas Michael Madsen

I think I would second that!

I look forward to the day that they are shut down and the resources that they steal are made truly available to the oppressed people of the ex-colonial countries!