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CCTG is not closed. We couldn't get that lucky!

OH, YOU MUST HAVE GOT YOUR ELECTRIC TURNED BACK ON THERE AT CCTG. ISN'T IT NICE? AND EXACTLY HOW ARE ALL YOUR STUDENTS???

Amdi in jail another 5 months? Why so long? Is it going to take Shapiro that long to build a case against extradition? Awwwww, that'll eat up all of Amdi's savings... Unless, of course, The Great Philanthropist has bamboozled Shapiro into putting it all back into the Common Economy!!! Oh, well, one good shark deserves another... we'll see how it all plays out in the end...

So Tomas, have you been down to Bakersfield lately?

We are doing "jolly good" here at CCTG and it has been very interesting to have all kinds of Danish media visiting.

Greetings from CCTG

American justice! What a beautiful thing!!! :)

Is CCTG closed? I've not seen any reports on this other than the comment below.

Lars

I KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE OTHER US TVIND SCHOOLS. THE SCAM HAS BEEN UNCOVERED. THEY WILL SOON CLOSE TOO. THE TVIND EMPIRE IS FALLING APART.

Hi everyone

I have joined to go to Noway in the Summer I will not be going anymore - partly because I am shocked and horrified at the stories that appear on this website and although many have argued that they are unfounded stories like this should not be appearing at all. There are many many organisations out there that need volunteers and i personally am not prepared to take the risk in Norway.

Campus California closed down? Maybe too much press in California with Amdi being there. How will this affect other US Tvind schools?

hello,i am henri, back from africa and humana...

hard to come back

mail to belhen12@hotmail.com

The women that writes about her son. What does her son think?

We know him and we know the story, what is nothing as the mother writes.

Actually Berlingske Tidende broke the Treyton-IKEA story some time ago, you can read more about it on Tvindalert under "China"

I have also seen Tvind and Humana close up and didnt like what i saw. This site has been helpful to a lot of people, who have had less than pleasant experiences during their time involved with this monolithic organisation. Its good to know that the media outside scandinavia have picked up on this and the people who run this website should be commended for providing an alternative voice (warts and all) to the Tvind Empire. if Tvind turns into an accountable concern with money and aid going to those who need it most and without a corrupt leader like Amdi at the helm then surely this is better than the system that Tvind operates under at the moment.

Ummmm - weren't you just sitting in front of your computer writing in the guessbook here? Just because one's opinion isn't the same as yours doesn't mean that what they are writing is stupid and senseless. There are lots of posts from current and former students and members of the TG here. How can you say that someones ACTUAL experience (be it different than yours) is rumor or speculation? There are two sides to every story. Not everyone had the same experience as you, although some did. So because you did have a good experience, should we say you are writing stupid and senseless shit because your experience is not the same as those who didn't? Of course not. You had your time, it was good - that's great. Some people did NOT have a good experience - that's not good. They have every right to post that here. That is what this message board is for. People who are considering entering one of the Tvind schools come here and read the posts - the good and the bad- and then form their own opinion. Putting down the people who run this web site tells me alot about you. Be open to everyones opinion. We all have a right to one, don't we?

I truly hope that all you people will some day find someone else to pick on-maybe the Red Cross for not spending donations made for humanitarian issues on building swimming pools for its employees! Embezzlement of money, tax fraud or not, the NGO's connected to Humana People to People in Africa still do very important work down there. I've been there, I've seen it. It's way easier to spread gossip around than it is to do so with serious journalism based on the truth and not on speculations and rumors. It's amazing for me how many people actually spend their time with sitting in front of the computer and writing stupid and senseless shit in this guest book here. Find something else to play with. For all you people who maintain this web site, does all this make your life any better? Will it improve your life quality if everything affiliated to the Teachers Group will get shut down? Go get a life! jhogenacker@icqmail.com

DREW, MY SON WAS IN CAMPUS CALIF. WHEN HE DID GET OUT, HE ASKED FOR HIS MONEY BACK AND THEY GAVE BACK SOME BUT NOT ALL. WE HAD TO THREATED THE MEDIA AND THE POLICE, GOOD LUCK

DREW, MY SON WAS IN CAMPUS CALIF. WHEN HE DID GET OUT, HE ASKED FOR HIS MONEY BACK AND THEY GAVE BACK SOME BUT NOT ALL. WE HAD TO THREATED THE MEDIA AND THE POLICE, GOOD LUCK

Yes, IKEA has a big superstore in Schaumburg, Illinois, outside of Chicago. Also one in New Jersey, I believe... I'd love to see what the Swedish article says....

Does anyone know if Tvind members can reclaim their contributions over the years if it can be proved that they have become the victims of a massive fraud. Drew

Does anyone know if Tvind members can reclaim their contributions over the years if it can be proved that they have become the victims of a massive fraud. Drew

Things like saying that someone is a moron because they defend Tvind and Amdi does not get you anywhere. If you have arguments put them forward but don't put people down. LISTEN and make up your mind. And if you only read newspapers and see websites like this then I don't give much for your arguments.

Tove

IKEA is in Chicago, USA too - isnt it?

IKEA and TVIND cooperates!!! Today Swedens leading newspaper had an articel revealing that the two companeis meantioned above have many connections. For ex. Tvind companies produce the furniture that IKEA sells in China. For those of You who can read swedish: http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?p=DNet&d=11&a=254572&f=index.html

To "Blentz", below... there is no disagreement between the Danish and US systems of law ... it's just that it is not allowed for a person who fights extradition in the US to be extradited without a trial. This extradition issue is separate completely from whether Amdi is innocent or guilty of the Danish charges... If Amdi had decided to go quietly without fighting extradition, then he'd be back in Denmark and on trial right now... The US did well to apprehend Amdi... and to hold him... and to continue to hold him, despite the several requests Shapiro has made to have him released on bond... that (to me) means the US Attorney is on to Amdi, at least enough to be wary of the possibility of his skipping town if he's freed even for a moment... I echo what a poster a long way down the list said a couple of weeks ago... that is... the US jails are a LOT tougher than they are in Denmark... Let Amdi feel what it's like to be a convict in the US for a while...he'll be happy to get back home, then, won't he?

Luis, you can email "feedback@tvindalert.org.uk" . Just tell your story on the page.

hi i'm a portuguese guy who have been in denmark(fakse, lindersvold school) for 5 mouths. fortunaly I found out in time what humana is all about,they ask me to leave coz I didn't have the same ideas. i'd like to tell my story. please tell me to where I can write it to my personnel adress: luis1coelho@hotmail.com greetings for all tvindalert people luis rodrigues coelho portugal

Since they arresting of Amdi. They told the teachers group to remove the teachers group business in there computers. Now they don't put things on papers. I want to go with them and this as to stop.

To the last poster:

Tying to defend a brainwashing fascist like Amdi with pocket philosophy will get you nowhere.

Because the Earth is round, Amdi must be innocent? Kinda sounds like a Shapiro/O.J defense allright, but puh-leeeze!!!

And you're a moron and will be found even dumber

The earth was flat and the world spun around the earth, everyone knew that. Until it was proven otherwise, even though it was proven, it took a long time before people accepted the thought without trying to burn the person saying it....

He has been charged and he WILL be found guilty.

How can you all be so sure that Amdi is guilty. He is hardly charged and last I checked you were innocent untill proven guilty. And he is definitely NOT convicted yet. Would you not want that for yourself if you were in a situation with the law? Does he not have the same human rights as anybody else, I might ask.

Tove

SWINDLE AGAIN

This Tvind-matter is not a matter of beeing logic, and it is not correct when you claim that there are no "charges" against Amdi and 5 other leading persons in Tvind. The danish police has material enough to issue an internationale warrant for arrest on Ambi, however there seems to be some disagreement between the american and the danish juridical system, but this does not mean that he isn`t "charged", because he is according to danish law. It is correct that it has been very diffucult to reveal if Ambi is the "head" of the Tvine impire. Nevertheless the danish police has evidence that he is.According to this the most fair decision would be to extradite Amdi to the danish police authorities where he will have a fair trial. But how can Ambi be "proven guilty" if Shapiro succeds in his business??? blentz@ofir.dk

while I dont dispute that many in the TG genuinely are there in "an attempt to do good work and to work and live together in a new way" there is no escaping the fact that millions of dollars have been salted away to line the pockets of so few. The old adage power corrupts does apply and the general public to boot have been fleeced (thats tax payers in many a country and those who donate in other ways). I can only hope some of the funding for projects that have escaped off shore accounts have done at least a little good, though judging from written accounts and newspaper reports, many of these projects were ill thought out and unproductive to say the least. Sorry but the hard facts are out there now.

How does Amdi rate being put in Solitary???????????

I have wondered, too, what will happen to the TG. Will they be independently-minded enough to carry on without the influence of KLAP? We'll see if they are, and if they then are creative enough/lacking in white Northern European racist arrogance enough/intellectually open and flexible enough, to carry out the best of what might have been the original, if unformed, intent of that little band of young, naive "Gypsy" hippies 30 years ago. Somehow (given the TG has continued to give up their own best intentions to follow the wiles of KLAP over the past many years, blind and unquestioning), I don't have a great amount of hope for that, but stranger things have happened. I wouldn't be opposed to the smartest, most honest (if there are any -- again, how can one be considered "honest," when one is aware that massive amounts of money donated to literally save peoples' lives is being swept away into the coffers of the persons at the top ) and best-intended of the TG becomming a legitimate, and legitimately useful NGO, and putting the millions of dollars intended for that use TO that use, but not having developed any skills in the area of thinking and acting independently, I doubt they'd be able to pull it off (And I'm not sure they'd know what to do with all that money!!!)

I am sure that there are many who will share my view that the glee of recent posters will be short-lived. Amdi and his key associates may well end up in prison, the funds they have controlled confiscated perhaps, but the teachers' group will continue in one form or another, despite the determination of the Danish authorities/media and this web-site to abolish it. The group will continue because it is based on sound ideals, however far you and I may disagree with the way the work has progressed. It will continue because there is an enormous amount of solidarity among members built up over years. I have been a member of the teachers' group, but I disagree with some of their policies and actions. I remain, however, a supporter of the teachers' group work because I trust the core ideals of its leaders. I have worked with many of the people named in the court documents and I know their ideals are NOT based on self-interest or self-enrichment. They are GENUINELY based on an attempt to do good work and to work and live together in a new way. Amid the discourse popular now concerning globalisation, international affiars and the role of the non-state actor, it is interesting to note that the teachers' group may be one of the earliest truly non-state actors under the popular, current definition of the term. I realise that this contribution may attract criticism and perhpas even ridicule and insult, but perhaps we can balance out this debate a little.

Hope this great swindler finally gets his just rewards, we can but hope that the legal system works as it should do and a con merchant of Amdi's VAST proportions is justly reprimanded and punished along with all the other Tvind crooks. Looking forward to the Radio 4 broadcast.

Readers may like to know that a half hour BBC radio programme on Tvind, Crossing Continents, will be aired on Radio 4 at 11am on Thursday 21st March. Tvind Alert assisted with the research. (And they didn't even buy us lunch.....)

Welcome to America Amdi - Where we PAY our taxes!

YeeeHawww! Welcome Amdi!

Let's welcome Amdi into another few weeks, months or years custody c/o the American and Danish prison systems.

Anyone who is out there it is Christy from IICD MI. ALL I can say is thank God we got as far away from IICD when we did. I am just sorry so many had to be hurt in the process. Hello to everyone I have not talked to in a while. What happened in Vietnam? To anyone who is thinking of joining this org, just remember one thing there are a million ways to volunteer without having to question your beliefs and morals. seejayl@hotmail.com

Hello All,

I've posted an argument/critique of TG schools in the US. My target audience are people considering in enrolling in a program and who are view the stories/articles posted here as hate-inspired or tabloid. I try to just look at the experience at one of these schools without taking the larger TG/Tvind issues.

The argument is an attempt to take a look at what issues a volunteer is likely to encounter during a program and suggests alternative ways to travel and volunteer in other countries for less time and money. Also I've put up some analysis of the tax returns of IICD-MA and IICD-MI that give an accurate breakdown of revenue sources and expenses.

The site contains a lot of postings and stories that come from Tvindalert and the websites of the schools.

http://iicdwatch.bravepages.com/

Cheers............

I left IICD MI on Dec16th 2001, I was promised a refund of $2000.00 us funds, after many ,many phone calls ,emails and promises, and one bounced cheque, I finally received it on May 3rd 2002, so there is hope, anyone waiting for a refund, keep bugging and you may get lucky like I did. Maureen

The guestbook is still open for comments, questions and information sharing... Please stay tuned... and stay involved...

Marianna

Regarding the reference to Bustrup below, there were a number of volunteers and volunteer 'cross-overs' (volunteers who joined the teachers' group) at Bustrup in the late 80s and early 90s. They included Chris, Ian (volunteer then teachers group two years then employee), Jacky (from Liverpool, joined teachers' group), Jenny (also Liverpool), Glenn, Sally and others. Where are they now - are they tuning in? Anyone still at Bustrup?

Let me expand on my last post: The National Post article actually contains: interviews with two former IICD DI's, Ellen Shifrin, and Maureen Ross-Smith, as well as with Line Henriksen of IICD, Michigan, and Carsten Hansen of Planet Aid Canada. It weaves in associations with the TG, HPP and Amdi throughout... only mentions the name "Tvind" once, glancingly....

If you can't link with the address in my last post, look up "National Post" in google.com, and find the "search" box on the upper right side of the front page of the National Post, enter "Planet Aid" and choose the "world charity" article (the uppermost of the two choices you'll be given).

Marianna

Take this link to find a story on Planet Aid in Canada's National Post: http://www.nationalpost.com/search/story.html?f=/stories/20020427/51849.html&qs=Planet%20Aid

Marianna

No news on the US end... Things have been pretty quiet lately. I'm on the US Attorney's mailing list for any official updates on Amdi's circumstances, and I haven't heard a word... Not too much communication from any other sources in the US ...

Much more going on in Canada. It seems,IICD is recruiting at University of Regina, set right up in one of the University's meeting rooms, with University sanction... Then today the Toronto Star published that article... etc.

There has been some press in Wisconsin, spurred by an alert Danish-American environmentalist for whom some red flags went up when his organization was approached by Gaia for site sponsorship. This was in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 7. I'll try to find a link and post it...

Anybody else with any updates to share?

Marianna

New story about Planet Aid in Canada on the front page of the Toronto Star! http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1019772202262

Michael, please get this rubbish below off the guest book a.s.a.p. Thanks, from us all I'm sure. Is there no news otherwise on goings on regarding Amdi's trial or visits etc?

Amdi du er for sej og det er sygt det du har gjort jeg svrgre : )

Amdi du er for sej og det er sygt det du har gjort jeg svrgre : )

Amdi du er for sej og det er sygt det du har gjort jeg svrgre : )

Yo jeg svrger Amdi du er for sej Joe du er den villeste jeg lover hilsen din maet

fuck tvin his a hores

fuck tvin his a hores

Oh - forgot my e-mail address. You can contact me at theresasaunders@hotmail.com. Thanx

If anyone is aware of what's going on with the projects at IICD-MA, what's happening with the DI's (morale, whether their project funding has been cut as it was in MI, whether there are plans for setting up different kinds or programming, as in MI), please post here.

I would like to know what happened to Jochen - some details and reasons . He was a great friend and I am deeply shocked - Does anyone know , want to discuss? Theresa.

On a completely different note, i can understand why it is so hard to leave the schools, because you either put in time or money. IICD would have set my plans for the next year and a half and i was considering doing the TCE project after, but now I have to do the endless unsatisfying search for a real job, and get back into school, which is extremely hard since I have missed my schools and most university's intent to register. So again I just wanted to emphasize on the fact that to leave this organization takes a lot of work, especially when you leave at the worst possible time. sara but you can not regret on decisions you made both morally and ethically correct as much as you might want to go back. I went back to the Dowagiac to see my friend, and saw some of the students at the school (IICD-MI), they were really happy. I was glad for them, but in many ways very envious, because they don't have to face reality yet and I do.The organization may be corrupt but the volunteers working for them are amazing.

Bustrop is an HPP school.. it was bought by the A-S prop for 6 billion dollars, and there isn't a teacher or student there yet because they haven't had a teacher there yet.. but there is a small school running there.. and they are renovating the school in order to make it an HPP training school, and there is somebody who is there working for the netup (financial aid program) to help pay his tuition to come to my old school (IICD-MI) for the Guatemala team. Though I don't know if he heard that the project has been downsized to only 2 DI's and training is now only at the IICD-MA. I don't remember the director's name at Bustrop. But I do know that they have brand new athletic facilities inside the school and are working to do MAJOR renovations to make it a beautiful school. Though the director of IICD-MA told me that it is not a training school, that was the impression I was given for why they were doing all those expensive renovations, and they (the ladies in charge there) told me that there wasn't a teacher there yet but there have been students.... and the impression I got was that they were going to get a teacher so that students wouldn't have to leave because there wasn't one. I apologize for the choppiness of this answer, I've just spent 10 hours on a train and its late, but I wanted to answer while I had the chance. Again I could be wrong with my assumption that Bustrop was to be a training school, but I don't think so, but I don't want things to be assumptions and heresay so for now let us say that it isn't a training school, but it is part of HPP. Sara

Sara mentions a 'Bustrop' in her story. Is that the efterskole 'Bustrup'? What is that school's involvement? It is not one of the travelling folk high schools. Who is the director? Can Sara tell us more?

WHOOOEEE!!!! Go, Sara!

To the person who wrote this: You have written all of these insane things in the "risks" section ......first of all it is completely obvious that there are risks. DUH. Any person with half of a brain knows that before ever setting foot in another country. Injurys happen. who work for nothing??!!! no way!! ( you are aware of course that volunteer, means exactly that...no Accidents happen. Turmoil and chaos are imminent in a war torn impoverished nation.... which is why Humana volunteers go there in the first place. DUH. You make it seem as if you are having these huge revelations.....injuries??!! no way!!! Volunteers pay!!!!) I would hope that volunteers who are really interested and passionate about their work, realize that they are in fact working for free.....you people are ridiculous. We work for free because we are interested in being apart of something greater than ourselves. Greater than the ignorant things you say on your website. We are well informed, intelligent human beings who desire something different in life. We are WILLING to give up our consumer capitalist life styles to help others. I don't mind sleeping in a mud hut and working for free. I can live without a hair dryer and a VCR. I am strong. I am LIBERAL. I am open minded. NOT BRAINWASHED. But I must say keep up the good work, it is the ignorance and blind right sided view of people like you who keep us volunteering!! READ MY MESSAGE BELOW!!!!!! AND PROVE THAT YOU AREN"T BRAINWASHED.. I SERIOUSLY THINK EVERY WORD I WROTE ALSO REBUTES YOUR RIDICULOUS STATEMENT. ESPECIALLY when I wrote: How can you POSSIBLY think that anyone can do ANYTHING about those bigger issues or WANT too, when even in a FIRST WORLD COUNTRY, where we have laws, human rights, and the resources to protect us there IS exploitation and fraud and corruption right under our nose--and there we aren't doing anything to stop it??? So I think it is very COMMENDIBLE for those who are trying too, because it WILL BE THOSE people who will go out there in the third world and REALLY do something to help. Sara

To the person who wrote this: You have written all of these insane things in the "risks" section ......first of all it is completely obvious that there are risks. DUH. Any person with half of a brain knows that before ever setting foot in another country. Injurys happen. who work for nothing??!!! no way!! ( you are aware of course that volunteer, means exactly that...no Accidents happen. Turmoil and chaos are imminent in a war torn impoverished nation.... which is why Humana volunteers go there in the first place. DUH. You make it seem as if you are having these huge revelations.....injuries??!! no way!!! Volunteers pay!!!!) I would hope that volunteers who are really interested and passionate about their work, realize that they are in fact working for free.....you people are ridiculous. We work for free because we are interested in being apart of something greater than ourselves. Greater than the ignorant things you say on your website. We are well informed, intelligent human beings who desire something different in life. We are WILLING to give up our consumer capitalist life styles to help others. I don't mind sleeping in a mud hut and working for free. I can live without a hair dryer and a VCR. I am strong. I am LIBERAL. I am open minded. NOT BRAINWASHED. But I must say keep up the good work, it is the ignorance and blind right sided view of people like you who keep us volunteering!! READ MY MESSAGE BELOW!!!!!! AND PROVE THAT YOU AREN"T BRAINWASHED.. I SERIOUSLY THINK EVERY WORD I WROTE ALSO REBUTES YOUR RIDICULOUS STATEMENT. ESPECIALLY when I wrote: How can you POSSIBLY think that anyone can do ANYTHING about those bigger issues or WANT too, when even in a FIRST WORLD COUNTRY, where we have laws, human rights, and the resources to protect us there IS exploitation and fraud and corruption right under our nose--and there we aren't doing anything to stop it??? So I think it is very COMMENDIBLE for those who are trying too, because it WILL BE THOSE people who will go out there in the third world and REALLY do something to help. Sara

 

 

To the Person who wrote this: I am appalled at this web site. I have been to IICD for a prep weekend. They are not a cult. However in today's society it is not uncommon for people who live and think outside of "the box" to be "punished" by such idiocy as this website. Thier ideas are somewhat "out there" compared to traditional condtioned thinking. I found it refreshing, not scary or "cult" like. Give me a freaking break. I think you people have way too much spare time on your hands. Go fight some real crime. People are homeless, sick and dying, gov'ts are corrupt, and there are wars everywhere...don't you think your time would be better spent taking on one of those issues rather than spreading idle gossip simply because some people on this planet don't want to settle in and be like everyone else.....cookie cutter worker ants...never asking questions....going with the flow.? If that is the life for you so be it, I don't think it is necessary to condemn others for thinking differently. I have some things to say about that. First I would like to thank you for reminding me the rationalizing explanations for all the bad publicity that IICD and Humana People to People have, I take it you either went to the prep weekend at IICD-Mi or IICD -MA... if you want to talk about living outside of the cookie cutter institution then, perhaps you should not be there, because they all talk and think the SAME way. Secondly, most of these bulletins are NOT written by people who have "no idea what they are talking about" it is NOT HERESAY or SPECULATION when you have either witnessed or experienced the exploitation and the amount of cultish behaviour. When I arrived I was seriously disciplined and almost kicked out of the school for going out on the weekends and missing my mobes (morning chores) only ONCE--my own Teacher was ready to threaten my stability of living and life in order to scare me to not want to ever leave the compound and have an outside life, they DO NOT LIKE IT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COMPOUND and YOU ARE NOT WITH A STAFF MEMBER, which I would say in itself is cultish behaviour since we are all responsible adults, and especially if we are responsible enough to go out fundraising for hours on end till 8pm at night in the cold and wind-- then I should think that we are responsible to go out on our free time. Thirdly, the comment about there are bigger issues at hand. Which is true, who can deny that??? But how can you POSSIBLY think that anyone can do ANYTHING about those bigger issues or WANT too, when even in a FIRST WORLD COUNTRY, where we have laws, human rights, and the resources to protect us there IS exploitation and fraud and corruption right under our nose--and there we aren't doing anything to stop it??? So I think it is very COMMENDIBLE for those who are trying too, because it WILL BE THOSE people who will go out there in the third world and REALLY do something to help. I remember the day that Amdi Peterson got arrested, my director called a school meeting, and rationalized us why he was--because he was a radicalist, because he didn't cut his hair short when he was a teacher.. I remember when I was in Bustrop and the head director there rationalized to me the bad publicity in Denmark and most of Europe was all because Tvind had built a windmill and those in power and with money wanted to have nuclear power--yet Denmark is proud to be a NON-NUCLEAR POWER GENERATED country. I thought like you.. IICD and HPP against the world.. we were right and the WORLD is WRONG.... BUT then when you realize that you are sent out to the streets with $3 a day for food and sometimes nowhere to sleep at night to go fundraise money for a school which is owned by A-S Properties which is owned by the teachers group, a school whose "SOLE" purpose is to train you---but none is done.. though I've had both the director of IICD-MA and a past student tell me that you get "social-skills-learning" there isn't much other training--after six months all you've done is raise the teachers group 5600$US and you will be lucky to know history, and say hi and bye in the civilians languages in your country you are going to. When you see your own friends get screwed over by the organization, when you see that those who went to the projects coming home because they had no more money and were evicted from their homes, or that there WAS no project to work at, then you've got to actually THINK... perhaps this organization is more than just DIFFERENT.. perhaps this organization is a fraud and corrupt. Yes I agree--everything is corrupt, but when the organization can't even help or want to help it's own volunteers --UNLESS it has to do with fundraising them more money---then what are you doing??? Research the projects on your own. NOT through HPP, find out whether or not YOUR project is actually being BENEFICIAL to the country, there has been those that planted trees and then later found out that it was bad for the water table and the whole crop died and left families nearly starving becasue they couldn't even plant their original fruit trees... so DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, if you are going to stay --- THINK on your own and DO NOT LET THEM RATIONALIZE YOUR MORALS AND ETHICS AWAY. and please don't trivialize and rationalize things that were experienced by people first hand, it makes you look extremely brainwashed and ignorant, please open your eyes, I am NOT telling you to get out of there, but just to do YOUR own research, there comes a time when you must realize is the WHOLE world WRONG or could it possibly be the organization??? This organization has a LOT of potential which still makes me sad that they don't use it or WANT to use, perhaps you can change it. I hope so. Sara

To the injuries and risks person: if you compare how Tvind operates abroad, and the kinds of risky behaviours it asks its volunteers to engage in, with the operations of any other volunteer organization, then you will see clear disparities. Draw your own conclusions.

When you have been to a Tvind school for more then "a prep weekend", come back and post. How could you possibly fully understand what it's all about by just one weekend? Obviously you can't. How can you say that the people who have posted here, who have been through the program, be idiots? They have been there and lived it. You were there for one weekend. They told you exactly what you wanted to hear to get you to join. That is how it works. Do you really think they are going to tell you anything bad while trying to recruit you? Of course not. In the end, it's your decision and your opinion. Just don't condemn those who did not have a good experience with Tvind and want to tell their stories. OK?

I think it's interesting that the persons defending Tvind's apparent philosophies inevitably call those of us who are critical of Tvind's obvious multi-national, money-making industry something like "cookie-cutter ants." It has always seemed to me that those persons who get ensnared in Tvind's "live low and do not prosper" way of life (that is, the true- believer volunteers and low-ranking TG), always seem to subconsciously project whatever they're experiencing (ie, that it's THEY who are the "cookie-cutter ants") on to those of us have not allowed ourselves to be put in the position of having to be obeisent to their TG leaders and their misconceptions of the world.

Thank you, Alex, for your thoughtful statement. I would be interested in reading your story. If you get an opportunity to write it, please post it on the website. Marianna

Going with the flow? Never asking questions? Please.. I would REALLY like for you to come work for me. Would you do that? I will deduct pay from your paycheck and you will not ask why, correct? I will spend YOUR money and you will not ask on what, correct? I will tell you I am going to pay you 12.00 an hour, but on Friday tell you that I don't have the money to pay you and you will be satisified with that and not ask why, correct? No questions....go with the flow... You ARE an idiot!!!!!!! hahahahahaha

You have written all of these insane things in the "risks" section ......first of all it is completely obvious that there are risks. DUH. Any person with half of a brain knows that before ever setting foot in another country. Injurys happen. Accidents happen. Turmoil and chaos are imminent in a war torn impoverished nation.... which is why Humana volunteers go there in the first place. DUH. You make it seem as if you are having these huge revelations.....injuries??!! no way!!! Volunteers who work for nothing??!!! no way!! ( you are aware of course that volunteer, means exactly that...no pay!!!!) I would hope that volunteers who are really interested and passionate about their work, realize that they are in fact working for free.....you people are ridiculous. We work for free because we are interested in being apart of something greater than ourselves. Greater than the ignorant things you say on your website. We are well informed, intelligent human beings who desire something different in life. We are WILLING to give up our consumer capitalist life styles to help others. I don't mind sleeping in a mud hut and working for free. I can live without a hair dryer and a VCR. I am strong. I am LIBERAL. I am open minded. NOT BRAINWASHED. But I must say keep up the good work, it is the ignorance and blind right sided view of people like you who keep us volunteering!!

I am appalled at this web site. I have been to IICD for a prep weekend. They are not a cult. However in today's society it is not uncommon for people who live and think outside of "the box" to be "punished" by such idiocy as this website. Thier ideas are somewhat "out there" compared to traditional condtioned thinking. I found it refreshing, not scary or "cult" like. Give me a freaking break. I think you people have way too much spare time on your hands. Go fight some real crime. People are homeless, sick and dying, gov'ts are corrupt, and there are wars everywhere...don't you think your time would be better spent taking on one of those issues rather than spreading idle gossip simply because some people on this planet don't want to settle in and be like everyone else.....cookie cutter worker ants...never asking questions....going with the flow.? If that is the life for you so be it, I don't think it is necessary to condemn others for thinking differently.

Thanks for the information about the article Sara. It was great reading!! I agree with you!

Re."blasphemy": WHAT lies?

Hello

My name is Alex De Vile and I spent 6 months in Ulfborg in 1997before going to Mozambique.

My Group was very suspicious of the Teachers Group and in Particular Our Head Master Anne Lausen for many reasons. If a written testimonial woud help, I would be happy to do it.

I think Tvind started with the best intentions but that they were perverted by Amdi and he took advantage of a lot of people.

I am a great admirer of what you are doing and I wish you all the very best

Alex

alexdevile@hotmail.com

YOU blasphemed Jochens name, and you continue doing it with all your lies and manipulations and you know it. As Fred I say shame on you for god sake show some human respect.

Dear Fred,

Who has blasphemed Jochen's name? -Those or that person(s)(In fact: Amdi Petersen did) who sent him into an impossible and dangerous job in Tvind's moneymaking business with underpaid workers, or us who have known Jochen as a good friend for many, many years and who wish he would have been allowed to pursuit his track in Denmark and England of helping other people, we who miss him today, and we who simply feel left behind and try and express that feeling? And will it be blaspheming Jochen's name to try and look a little behind the reasons why he was murdered; - perhaps others could be prevented from getting murdered as well? What about the Tvind money makers, the TG members, more or less in good faith selling second hand clothings to and dealing with criminals in Eastern European countries? Do you know how many of them have been robbed, assaulted, attacked? (A big number, I can tell you!) And for what purpose? Helping others, or accumulating finances, assuring Amdi expands his power? Tvind played Jochen's favourite music, by Bach,at the ceremony that was established in Brazil. In this way he was thanked, and his relatives perhaps calmed. Never was Jochen thanked by Tvind persons in living life for the tremendous work he did, at Roskilde or in England. He simply was treated as kind of a scapegoat, by the most high ranking TG members. You may know that, "Fred"??Shame on you people. We miss you, Jochen.

Dear Fred,

Who has blasphemed Jochen's name? -Those or that person(s)(In fact: Amdi Petersen did) who sent him into an impossible and dangerous job in Tvind's moneymaking business with underpaid workers, or us who have known Jochen as a good friend for many, many years and who wish he would have been allowed to pursuit his track in Denmark and England of helping other people, we who miss him today, and we who simply feel left behind and try and express that feeling? And will it be blaspheming Jochen's name to try and look a little behind the reasons why he was murdered; - perhaps others could be prevented from getting murdered as well? What about the Tvind money makers, the TG members, more or less in good faith selling second hand clothings to and dealing with criminals in Eastern European countries? Do you know how many of them have been robbed, assaulted, attacked? (A big number, I can tell you!) And for what purpose? Helping others, or assuring Amdi expands his power? Tvind played Jochen's favourite music, by Bach,at the ceremony. In this way he was thanked, and his relatives perhaps calmed. Never was Jochen thanked by Tvind persons in living life for the tremendous work he did, at Roskilde or in England. He simply was treated as kind of a scapegoat, by the most high ranking TG members. You may know that, "Fred"??Shame on you people. We miss you, Jochen.

I THINK YOU PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AROUND IN THE SHITTY WORLD THAT WE ARE LIVING IN,WITH THE U.S ATTACKING INOCCENT PEOPLE,ISRAELI'S MURDERING INNOCENT PALASTINIANS,AND TRY TO DIRECT YOUR ENERGY ON THESE ISSUES .NOT PISSING ABOUT ,MOANING AND COMPLANING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.AS FOR THE DANISH AUTHORITY AND THE POLICE CHIEF OF HOLSTEBRO,WHO THINKS HE IS SOME KIND OF ROBOCOP.TRY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF HASH AND GOD KNOWS WHAT OTHER DRUGS ARE BEING SOLD ON THE STREETS OF HOLSTEBRO,BEFORE YOU START LOOKING FOR SCAPE GOATS AND EXCUSSES TO FURTHER YOUR CAREER .TOSSER.!!!!!!

Shame on you people who dare to blaspheme Jochen's name in this hateful forum. For God's sake show some common decency and a little bit of human respect. Fred

GOOD NEWS!!!!! There has been a FIVE page article written by Farah Stockman of the Boston Globe about the corruption of IICD, Humana People to People, Tvind, and Planet Aid. Check it out, it is in the April 7th, 2002 issue, in the National/Foreign section page A1. If you would like me to email you the article just post up you email address and I will send you a copy of it. Please keep publicizing what goes on. The more people in North America know about this organization the less number of volunteers this organization will exploit. We MUST prevent the small school from running in IICD-MI... I was living there for 4 months and IT IS UNSANITARY, and PSYCHOLOGICALLY unhealthy for children ESPECIALLY those who are ALREADY disturbed!!!! Sara

A further thought about whether complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau could prevent the State of Michigan (or other States) from placing children at IICD: the avenues child welfare agencies would take to determine whether IICD was an appropriate or legitimate placement for their kids would most likely NOT include inquiries to the BBB. It would include (require) a (more or less) thorough application process on IICD's part, in which they would presumably have to show that they were capable of caring for teenagers, and providing a safe living environment for them, and capable of following State guidelines for the operation of a foster care facility. It would also include a (more or less) rigorous screening process on the part of the State welfare agencies. If certain specific factors are met, the foster care facility is granted a license to operate. I'm certain that the agency doing the screening would require references of the license applicants, but I am fairly certain the screeners would not think to check with the BBB for references... So think of complaints to the BBB as an issue separate from whether those complaints would stop IICD from opening up a foster care facility... those complaints would serve more to protect and inform the pubic, consumers and potential volunteers...(they would presumably still be using volunteers in a foster care setting, remember...as they have in the UK and Denmark, and as they did in Virginia) Marianna

I attempted to file some kind of a "notice" with the BBB earlier this year, but the format for filing a complaint is really set up for persons with direct knowledge & experience of the programs one would be complaining about, or persons who had lost money to them. I have been suggesting that former DI's file a complaint with the BBB. The BBB serves the function of keeping files of complaints about an organization or business... they will report the complaint back to the organization being complained about, and they have complaints on file for interested parties to see. ... So the purpose in contacting the BBB would be to share your information with them so they could inform any potential volunteers who thought to inquire about IICD's legitimacy with the Better Business Bureau. (There have been some volunteers who made attempts to do this -- one I spoke with found nothing on file with the BBB they contacted, unfortunately). I'm not certain how much "clout" the BBB might have in preventing the TG from morphing into a foster care facility... The BBB is very adamant that they do not close businesses, they only maintain a file of complaints...

Marianna

Jotoba-Brazil.

Dice que Jochen Schaffer de la Jotoba hacienda est asasinado par trabajadores de la hacienda por falta de pago. La verdad??

Rumours say that Jochen Schaffer was murdered by workers at the Tvind farm Jotoba because of missing payment of wages. True??

PP

Maureen, I'm very sorry to hear that you've had trouble getting the refund you are owed. I am now going to have to indulge in hearsay in order to try to say something helpful. I have heard from a person who was at IICD Dowagiac until recently that Humana is trying to open a facility for minors there, and I have heard that complaints by IICD 'students' with grievances to the Better Business Bureau might help to prevent this attempt from succeeding. Whether or not you feel, as I do, that it would be highly undesirable for a facility for minors to open in Dowagiac, this hearsay suggests that the threat of a complaint to the BBB might produce results. Can anyone confirm the rumour about minors, or corroborate the success of BBB threats? Good luck.

Ex members of the Tvind TG have,of course, not been informed by those who know about what happened to Jochen. I guess we all feel very much betrayed - once again -by the Tvind system. We who left the Teachers' Group, are not considered proper human beings. The Tvind system does not give a shit about all the time we have spent with Jochen, and they do not give a shit about what Jochen's relatives in Germany may feel. Actually, some of us know Jochen and his relatives rather well - perhaps even better than any present Tvind people do. Perhaps it could have helped as well his relatives as us if we had been given the opportunity of participating in the ceremony that took place today 8.4.2002 in Germany? To us, Jochen is (was) still a friend, although he remained being a TG member all the way into his tragic death. Hiding accidents, even deaths, from the public is also a typical thing. Guess some of Jochen's present "comrades" have been present at the ceremony. Did they tell Jochen's brother, sister, and mother the true story about what took place in Brazil?

Tvind TG member Jochen Schaffer has been killed. According to the Tvind version, he was killed when he was transporting wages from the bank to workers at the farm in Brazil. According to the same version, he was accompanied by an armed guard.

Today his ashes were buried in his home town in Germany.

Rumours say that the Tvind version is not correct. Does anybody know the true version of this terrible accident?

I was part of the Guatemala team at IICD MI, I left dec 16 2001, I saw the writing on the wall, that IICD did not care or concern themselves with the volunteers. When I left Line promised me she would forward my refund, as of todays date April 8 2002, I am still waiting, I have had numerous phone calls with Line and many promises, but still nothing. Maureen

Kubi,

If you feel that you were mistreated at DIE, I suggest that you tell your story, either to TvindAlert or directly to the Danish police. The authorities in Denmark do not look too kindly on any forms of child abuse.

All the best to you and good luck!

Peter

I AM CURIOUS TOO LARS. ANYONE FROM IICD-MASS CARE TO COMMENT ON THAT?

*This is taken directly from the IICD-MI website when talking about the cost to join it's program* [quote] We have been able to bring down the fees by fundraising for facilities, supplies and other expenses. This amount may seem small when one considers it covers the entire training period, room and board, your airfare to Africa, India or Central America. It also covers the vaccinations you need before you go and the international insurance. IICD does not receive any financial support from governments, political or religious parties. We rely solely on the tuition payment of the participants and extensive fundraising. [unquote]

Now here is my problem with this- This "tuition" covers the cost of room and board (Doesn't IICD receive money from HPP each month for each volunteer that is there?),the airfare to each country (doesn't IICD receive money from HPP which covers HALF of each volunteers airfare cost?), and each volunteers insurance (wasn't it mentioned that there are volunteers that currently have NO insurance on them?) Now it's true, they don't receive any financial support from governments, political or religious parties, but they sure do from HPP. So why is the tuition so high? And why isn't the tuition used for what it is told it is being used for? Has anybody actually added up what it costs for airfare,insurance and vaccinations? Then subtract what is given to IICD from HPP? And let's talk about the training - can anybody testify that they received REAL training from any of the Tvind schools? And what did that training consist of? The TG should be up front with the volunteers by telling them EXACTLY what their tuition is being used for. Put that on their websites.

As an old "student" of DIE (den internationella efterskole) am I ever so happy at the moment...Good things do happen in this world. Shame that Amdi and the other members of the teachers group can't be prosecuted on basis of miss-treating students, and so forth - but the world is a capitalistic one for sure, when only money counts. So, we will have to do with them being on trial for spending (!) the tax money on themselves....

Anyway, I feel good about this!

Kubi

Does anyone here have any information on the how the TG schools in the US present the cost of their programs to volunteers? I'm look for figures like...It costs 10,000 per month to run this school and 30% go to salaries, 35 goes to mortage, 10 percent to utilities....etc. I'm particularly interested in how IICD-MA presents the cost structure of the Williamstown facility.

You can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com

Lars

You know, I would personally be far more concerned if IICD DID have the money to give back to the Guatemala team. I mean, of course they don't still have that money. They charge tuition because they have to pay stuff to run the school, remember? And when you're not getting nearly enough students, every tuition is an expense paid. Wouldn't it be weird if IICD just had thousands of dollars hanging around in the bank? Wouldn't you expect any grassroots non-profit to be broke at any given point in time? Otherwise, they'd sort of be a Profit, wouldn't they, if they didn't need to use the money they were taking in? This is not, I might add, a defense of anybody. It's just a comment, a passing thought, a suggestion that perhaps we would have condemned IICD no matter how they chose to pay back the Guatemala team. Fundraised money goes to general school expenses, just like the tuition. Now, refunding an entire team that quit...that's not such an "ordinary school expense." I'm sure I'd be hard-pressed myself to figure out where that money should come from. I'd say from HPP, personally, although I'm glad they decided to cut back on their projects. HPP has always proclaimed "Expand, expand, expand!!!" without any thought to quality. If there's no money for the project (okay, I know, why isn't there money??? I'm asking that, too, BUT...) then the project is going to suck, and the little money that's there should be dedicated to running a smaller, but solid, project, right? And the perk of the cutbacks is that IICDers may be able to work with local NGOs in Central America for a while instead of working with HPP!!!! Because Sara's right, the potential at IICD is amazing; that's what makes it all so sad. And Sara, I hope you don't lose that ambivalence, even though I'm sure it drives you crazy. Don't let the bads (which caused you, quite rightly, to quit) taint the goods, because we can take those beautiful potentialities, that are so twisted and destroyed by HPP and IICD, and let them grow in a better way.

Sabina Pucer I don't know what to say. First of all she may be staying there bc she feels like she already made a commitment and wants to stick it out, or that she invested too much money into this. It is easier to ignore the facts while you are there, because you have stability and you don't have to think. All you can do is give her tips on how to look out for herself, ie make sure she has personal money to get out of situations she realizes that she doesn't want to be in, and remain in good contact with her. If she ever decides to leave she will need to know that she has great amounts of support from back home. It is easier to be on the outside looking in and asking "why doesn't she just LEAVE?" but trust me as someone who just left, it is extremely hard, everything is constantly rationalized to you, and even now I have doubts that I made the right decision to leave. If it weren't for my family's amazing support and love I don't think I would have ever left. Sara

Prehaps the fund raising efforts of the Guatemala team in the US have been used to pay for Amdi's defense lawyer? Afterall Shaprio must be more expensive to hire than most defense lawyers and would Amdi want his own money (raised by you and i over the years) to be spent on such a thing.

Hi, I have a problem. My friend is working in Denmark as a teacher. She went there without knowing the real situation. But when I send her this web site was to late. She don`t want to came back. She is going to stay there for 10 mounths. What can I do? I care for here and I don`t want her to get into troubles. Can you help me/her?

Thanck you in advance, Sincerely Sabina Pucer

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