📚 Historical Archive Notice
This content is from the original TvindAlert.com (2001-2022), preserved for historical and research purposes. Some images or documents may be unavailable.
Hi Cheers.
You have quite some assumptions... I agree. Many things can be better. Tvindalert do not make me crazy, but I certainly think it is a bit annoying with all the lies, that ALSO are written on this site.
I think that The Travelling Folk high schools is doing a quite a good work.
The Talibans in Afganistan belives that they created a better world, and argues in the same dogmatic way as many pro-tvind foks on this site.
From Cheers, You can call Tvind Alert a witch hunt but I think it is better described as the reaction to decades of Tvind's broken promises, bad programs and outright deception to its volunteers. This site provides a meeting place for these people and allows the construction of a counter-narrative about Tvind based on our experiences that the TG cannot control. Must be driving the Teacher's Group crazy but this site is a direct reaction to what it has done in the past. As you sow so shall you reap.
Or, I guess it could be a CIA/Zionist/Nazi backed conspiracy dedicated to discrediting the Teacher's Group because they are they only ones who can keep the conspiracy from gaining world domination and making everyone wear silly party hats.....nah....that doesn't sound so likely. What's you're favorite conspiracy theory?
Cheers...........
To Cheers
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
You have quite some assumptions... I agree. Many things can be better. Tvindalert do not make me crazy, but I certainly think it is a bit annoying with all the lies, that ALSO are written on this site.
I think that The Travelling Folk high schools is doing a quite a good work.
The Talibans in Afganistan belives that they created a better world, and argues in the same dogmatic way as many pro-tvind foks on this site.
From Cheers, You can call Tvind Alert a witch hunt but I think it is better described as the reaction to decades of Tvind's broken promises, bad programs and outright deception to its volunteers. This site provides a meeting place for these people and allows the construction of a counter-narrative about Tvind based on our experiences that the TG cannot control. Must be driving the Teacher's Group crazy but this site is a direct reaction to what it has done in the past. As you sow so shall you reap.
Or, I guess it could be a CIA/Zionist/Nazi backed conspiracy dedicated to discrediting the Teacher's Group because they are they only ones who can keep the conspiracy from gaining world domination and making everyone wear silly party hats.....nah....that doesn't sound so likely. What's you're favorite conspiracy theory?
Cheers...........
To Cheers
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I think that The Travelling Folk high schools is doing a quite a good work.
The Talibans in Afganistan belives that they created a better world, and argues in the same dogmatic way as many pro-tvind foks on this site.
From Cheers, You can call Tvind Alert a witch hunt but I think it is better described as the reaction to decades of Tvind's broken promises, bad programs and outright deception to its volunteers. This site provides a meeting place for these people and allows the construction of a counter-narrative about Tvind based on our experiences that the TG cannot control. Must be driving the Teacher's Group crazy but this site is a direct reaction to what it has done in the past. As you sow so shall you reap.
Or, I guess it could be a CIA/Zionist/Nazi backed conspiracy dedicated to discrediting the Teacher's Group because they are they only ones who can keep the conspiracy from gaining world domination and making everyone wear silly party hats.....nah....that doesn't sound so likely. What's you're favorite conspiracy theory?
Cheers...........
To Cheers
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Or, I guess it could be a CIA/Zionist/Nazi backed conspiracy dedicated to discrediting the Teacher's Group because they are they only ones who can keep the conspiracy from gaining world domination and making everyone wear silly party hats.....nah....that doesn't sound so likely. What's you're favorite conspiracy theory?
Cheers...........
To Cheers
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Cheers...........
To Cheers
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
To Cheers
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Several of the stories and articles at Tvindalert do, in my opinion, not have any other objective then trying to, with all means possible, lies or truth, to do whatever they can aiming to "fight" what they call Tvind. Name it "brainwashing", Stealing from the public,
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I can also see several people here that have something they do not like with their own personal experiences within a program. I appreciate that part of it, since I also know that many things can be better. But I do not appreciate this kind of "witch hunt" that some certain people, groups or ?? is taking place against "Tvind".
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
What are their reasons really????
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
To the recent poster with complaints about Tvind Alert:
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
As a participant in this guestbook I do not think I am "spreading lies" and attempting to destroy people. I believe that the stories and concerns raised repeatedly here are an effort to shed light on an organization that has made itself unaccountable to its members and volunteers. (This is speaking from my first hand experience)
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I don't think the postings or stories are racist. I actually agree with your concern about creating a democracy where the majority can oppress the minority. However, in my experience this is the system that exists within the TG and it isn't very democratic either.
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Cheers
Tvind certainly has commercial interests everywhere and a few big properties in Florida - maybe Tvind has a stake in this wierd venture. Mogens Amdi Petersen like to get away from it all, but could he really be hiding out in a pressurised diving bell in the sea off Key Largo........?
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Maybe "One who wants to know" could tell us a bit more....
Can it be so that Andi Petersen hides in this jul place? Any ideas anyone?
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Martin
Recognised or not. I could not care less. What I know is that several UN organs have supported several of Humana People to Peoples (as ADPP, DAPP, HUMANA) projects. That is enough recognition for me.
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Also, you can probably find some with the UN organizations that do not especially like some of the projects that Humana runs. As well as you can find that some people here in the world never have recognised UN, or better, their actions. You can also find some people (quite many) that talks about Tvindalert as a "junk place". But so what? That world is filled with aa lot of differences. let it be so.
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I think that trying to do something good is the opposite from pointing finger towards peoples and groups that are not like you are. Does it different. Has a different viewpoint. Let the diversity grow instead of fighting for conformity. Many of the opinions and articles at this place would I classified as a kind racism or an attempt to create a democracy where the mayority has the right to oppress the minority. Is that what we want??
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
UN is a good organ, established and run as an attempt to make a better world. I take my hat of for that and all the people that through the years have been fighting to increase UN:s ability to do good. I am also sure that the "very critical eye" could "document" quite a considerable amount of material showing that UN has done a lot of "bad". (If someone would start doing that, in the same way as done here against Humana would I tell them; Grow up! Do something worthwhile in your life!)
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I also take my hat of for the people in the TG, for participants and students at the so called Tvind schools. It is a lot that has been created and much more that will be.
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
But I am VERY hesitant for "taking my hat off" to the so called "I dont like Tvind and doing my best spreading truth and lies to destroy" people. Working to "destroy" some others dreams is not a very honerable task... Is it!!!???
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Anti Tvind people Welcome to the world. It is changing and thanks for that. It is a diverse world and on the road to a much more profund democracy including acceptence of other peoples dreams vision and work for something they belive in.
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
And I would suggest you all to move on in life. Leave your "small town gossip" around Humana and realise that the world is not longer black and white.
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Thanks for reading
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Although it sounds like it, AGFUND is not a United Nations organisation. It is a humanitarian prize endowed by a wealthy member of the Saudi royal family. Check out its web site.
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
This is not necessarily to demean the efforts of individual Hope Humana workers or the intentions of the people who award the prize. But why is it that the United Nations itself does not recognise Hope Humana or TCE?
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Accountability and transparency. Have the organisers of the AGFUND prize properly assessed and investigated the efficiency of Hope Humana and TCE? Have they compared the income of TCE from grants and volunteerism with actual spending on the ground? Or have they been influenced by propaganda? Have they asked if Hope Humana's aims and objectives are realistic and achievable, or not?
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
These questions would not be necessary if Tvind's track record in other areas of development aid were completely defensible. In the light of other experience, they have to be asked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE WORLD BETTER!!!! ........ WHAT IS IT?.... SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 PRIZE ARCHIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
The AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects is an annual prize awarded by the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), having as its President His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, to the winner pioneering development projects. The Prize consists of a financial reward amounting to US$ 300 000 (three hundred thousand dollars), in addition to trophies and certificates of recognition. It aims at encouraging continuity in implementing similar projects, and stimulating the efforts of those capable of contributing to developmental and humanitarian action in the developing countries, whether through their actual participation in such action or through the support and encouragement they could lend thereto. This reflects the keenness and continued endeavors of AGFUND to alleviate human suffering and pain.
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
SUBJECTS OF THE PRIZE FOR YEAR 2001 The AGFUND Prize Committee has approved the subjects of the Prize in its third year 2001, in the meeting presided over by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul aziz on Saturday 9 September 2000 at AGFUND Headquarters in Riyadh. These subjects are centered on vital developmental issues, as follows : Subject of the First Category of the Prize : (Application of information technology in the fields of education and health). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by United Nations, international and regional organizations . Subject of the Second Category of the Prize : (Provision of micro-credits through non-governmental organizations). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Subject of the Third Category of the Prize : (Reinforcement of voluntary work in the community). This topic is reserved for pioneering projects implemented by individuals. [PAGE UP]
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
THE WINNING PROJECTS OF AGFUND PRIZE, 2000 The number of projects nominated for AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects in its second year in the three categories was 69 projects, implemented in 30 countries in four continents. The winning projects are as follows: FIRST WINNER The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities). The winning project is the TCE-Total Control of the Epidemic, implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The project was nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic: - Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive. - There are over 600.000 Orphans Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. - The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005. - 220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes. - 3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 24 years. Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
The project begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic. The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective. The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Flattering to know the Tvind Alert guest book is now so well read it is attracting junk advertising....
Dear all Tvind Alert vistors.
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Please check out this web sie, what has Tvind to say about this? http://www.jul.com/
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
One who wants to know
To the last poster - whoever you are - spot on. We could not have replied better ourtselves. The Tvind Alert team.
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I'm not responsible for Tvind Alert but I'll take a stab at your questions any way. (1) TA is making the world better by educating people about the multiple problems and issues with Tvind that the Teacher's Group is unwilling to do. (2) No projects as that is not the objective. (3) TA is helping people who (a) have been in Tvind and want to leave or (b) are considering volunteering with Tvind and can use an alternative view point to Tvind propoganda (4) People are not place in countries as that is not the objective. (5) People participate by posting here, reading the stories on this site, and joing the email list. (6) I don't believe any money is involved.
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Hope that helps.
I would like to know what the people who have put up Tvind Alert have done to make this world a better place. How many projects have you set up? Who are they helping? Which countries are they placed in? How do people participate? Where do you get the money? Thank You
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Closed Eyes comment, Based on your definition of development it can be argued that the World Bank funding a dam to make an alumninum plant is development. Is that what you mean?
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
btw, you still haven't addressed the fact that no other development organization links to Tvind/Humana websites. If Tvind is doing "good development" why isn't it part of any larger development effort beyond itself?
We are tryig to fix the bug on the guestbook. Messages are appearing more than once. Watch this space - Tvind Alert team.
I've never before really read articles of tvindalert before I just came back from Africa. There is something wrong woth the organization, but it's not that bad that this page says. I was working in a project which worked very well and I did some wonderful and good things for local people in there. But on the other hand some projects don't work at all because of lack of funds. I'm glad I did the programme even though I found all the time more and more suspicious things about Humana. Voluntary work in Africa is great but I would advice people to pick another organization to do that work. Something stinks in Humana big time! The most suspicious thing is Teachers' Group. I still haven't got completely in TGs but I know already hell of a lot of things about them that makes me really terrified that I was working for an organization which is full of mental people...
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Phantasmagoria
I am a TG member and I want to leave. Someone said here that I can just say so and arrange it. I dont think so. I depend financially and morally on TG. I spend so many years on it and if I leave I am afraid I will not find a job because I don't have a CV or saved money to do so and I don't have any friends outside of TG Please former TG members and those in TG that plan to leave, can you contact me and advise how to to it in a best way. How did you do it? less_thanaw@yahoo.com
I would like to answer you question( I am sorry I had my eyes closed) To answer your question we have to look at two things. 1. What is, and makes development 2.What is a web site. Development in the context of world development , involves creating a surplus which can be used for the greater good of people less fortunate.This can take many forms for example, education,or health. It is growth which is not always continuos or constant but is aimed to help the person, their future and that of the country or continent as a whole. Development can take many forms, and many organisations have different ways to run and organise projects. Very often organisations co-operate, this is something to be proud of for both parties, but it is not so important to tell about.Grass roots development is a struggle, and sometimes its best for everyone to muck in.Humana are in their trying their best. 2. Webpage, yeah webpages are just that, it depends whats behind them. (I am at home writing this in Ireland , its late and I cannot really stay on the net so so long, its a bit expensive)
Sorry if its buggy. If people post the same message repeatedly it is irritating because I have to access the guestbook and remove duplicates. But (apart from one case of foul personal abuse)that is the only time postings have been removed from this guestbook.
To the person with the closed eyes,
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
If Humana is such a good development program why is it that no other aid organizations ever talk about it or to it and the only webpages you find on it are those put up by itself?
Tomas, The issue of the Interent is only relevant in so far that many TG schools promote the use of the Internet as a tool for their "training". I think its a poor substitute for actual training and classes, vs. the constrution weekend and fundrasing "training" that TG schools offer. Asking for free accomondation also is not necessarily bad but lying about having a permit for fundraising is, especially when it results in people getting kicked out of their free housing.
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
People working together can accomplish amazing things but unfortunately (and I say this over and over again) the setup at the TG does not allow for the careful planning and reconsideration you advocate.
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Mike, You are the first person I've ever heard from the TG admit that the quality of the programs can suffer from trying to do too much. Glad to hear it. Still I think the problem is not in individuals not asking for support but the fact that the TG system is set up to discourage any admission of having trouble.
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Mike and Tomas, Case in point of over-expansion. Why does CCTG exist when IICD has such large facilities? People from all over the country were at IICD when I was there and it was no where near capacity. So why start CCTG?
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Lars
General comment - this guestbook seems to be a bit buggy so just post something once even if you get an error message. It usually takes a couple hours for things to show up but they do.
If I close my eyes I can still remember the images of the children in Nacala ,Mozambique as they rushed up to me with smiles and laughter, screaming ADPP, Humana, DAPP.It must be a bit how Michael Jackson or Kylie Minogue feel with a new number one. Those kids loved Humana, well I suppse they loved the chance to better their lives. I have looked at your homepage, you have put a lot of effort into it. But it is very difficult to use the media, as very often what makes papers sell, is not always the truth.Many newspapers circulate articles without the relevant background, knowledge or respect for the people of developing countries. Humana People to People along with many other development organisations are having a positive effect on the development of Sub Sarharan Africa. I think the reason I write this , is to give people a chance. I am not involved with Humana or Tvind Alert , but I have done the developemnt instructor programme, and I know that the course is very demanding, ( a lot easier than a two week holiday in Tenerife). It is a chance to shape the future of our world.
Tomas,
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
how many do you have now at your school? how many left lately because of fundraising???? I heard about KNEC were you there lately? those students now teacher director there were from your training right. I wish them well and hope that things clear up. A few years ago I met Ester she is a lovely girl.
My experience of the TG.
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I have been in the TG for 4 years and am currently at IICD in Mass., after 2 years at EPF Caxito in Angola. I think both Tomas and Lars make some valid points. My experience in the TG has been (overall) positive. Tomas is correct when he says that the TG is made up of (sometimes fallible) people with many different experiences. Being fallible - these people can sometimes forget to pass on information, or could communicate better - not because they intentionally want to hide something but because they are human .. Communication both within the TG and with people outside needs to be much better .. and I have taken this up with a number of colleagues in the TG and will continue to do so .. I had an interesting conversation with the director of DNS in Denmark where she admitted that "sometimes the TG are trying to expand their operations so quickly, the quality of what they are doing sometimes suffers ..". I agree with this and have no intention of letting it happen at IICD. My experience of the TG is that within it individuals have the chance to develop (both projects and themselves) and have the support around them to enable them to succeed and do a good job wherever they are. (They dont always ask for or accept the support available, but then they are only human). And I certainly intend working both hard and constructively to ensure a very good preparation for the development instructors enrolling at IICD - because both they and the projects they will work for in Africa or Central America deserve that.
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Mike
Hi Lars
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
It is in my opion not only "to work harder". Things constantly need to be reconsider, discussed, improved and changed if needed. Yes, you also need to work hard to change things to the better. I am sure that is happening a lot a KNEC as I am also sure a lot more need to be done. It is obvious that things should have been better at KNEC. Partly the progam and also the preparations of the European participants that left
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
What I am trying to say is that I am sure that it is possible to make things better and if you "stick" together is it much bigger possibility to achvive a good result.
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Maybe we dissagree about what was not so good in Durban? I do not think it is very bad the the internet only is open for a short time everyday. Neither do I think it is unresponsible and terrible to ask for free accomondation.
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Secondly I would like to say that TG is a group of very diverse people with many different ideas and opinions. So you cannot take my response as a TG response.
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Tomas
To the person in the TG who says he wants to leave:
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Please talk to the people you work with. Get it sorted out properly. There is a procedure for how you leave the TG in good order, and that is what you should do. There will be no hard feelings. Many people that have left the teachers' group are still working at the schools etc.
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Anna
Hi Tomas,
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
You're reaction to the KNEC situation is interesting and I think is very reflective of the Teacher's Group response to problems. "We must simply work harder." The TG never asks the question, "Why has this situation emerged and how can we prevent it from happening again?"
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
The same issues of poor planning, lack of experience and skills, poor training and instruction, secrecy and mis-information, and lack of resources keep returing to the schools run by the Teacher's Group. You say that the people running KNEC "are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions." It is interesting that you don't mention whether they are actually able to set up and run this school and provide people who are participating with a meaningful and rewarding experience.
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
The Teacher's Group consistently takes the position that with a little hard work we can do anything we set are minds to. But at what cost? What happens to the volunteers who come in with the best of intentions and want to do a lot of good but discover that their goodwill has been exploited, either unintentionally through poor planning and lack of skills or more chillingly intentionally, by those who run the programs.
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
In Lazlo's complaint he lists a number of cases in which things that were promised by the school were not delivered. (1) The computer lab and Internet access turned into one computer that was usable two hours a day and the Interent access was turned off because KNEC didn't pay its phone bill. (2) They were told by the director of the school that they had proper permits to fund-raise and only later found out they did not which resulted in their expulsion from a city-owned facility which they had been using to sleep in. (3) People who were going to Mozambique did not received training in Portuguese. (4) Medical insurance was to be provided but was not set up by KNEC.
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Whenever I think about my experience at at Teacher's Group school my actions remind me of the horse character in Orwell's Animal Farm that kept on working hard in response to problems. "If only I work harder then things will improve." The horse in Animal Farm ended up being sent to the knacker when he could no longer work and I ended up being asked to leave after I had been in the program for 10 months because I refused to stop asking questions.
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Lars
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Tomas
Dear Lars
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Regarding the situation in South Africa. People at CCTG are prepared to sleep in madrasses, finding place to stay during fundraising, work a lot (construction), that they are part of creating the program, that it is hard, that it is not always working well, that the computers and network might not be up running and if it is not they have to be part of fixing it, that at times it will be terrible, that there will be conflicts and dissagreements, that there at times will be no money, that the teachers, even though selldom, have a times when they do different activities eg. relaxing, holding a meeting, climbing a mountain, that they might need to hitch hike, that it will be a lot of pressure and many problems to solve. That s the life and reality of starting up a new institute.
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I know the ones running KNEC. They are young and enthusiastic people wanting to do a lot of good and have the best intentions.
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
KNEC is new and many things are needed to be improved. Instead of trying to say that the people at Knec are "criminals" would I have stood their shoulder by shoulder with them trying to make everything to improve. That is what we are doing here at CCTG! I have certainly also paid for it , much more then the "quitting participants" at KNEC has done.
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
That is what I am calling doing development work. But for sure, I am not Lazlo
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Tomas
Bonnie, I did not find it "too hard" and quit. Rather I stay much longer than I should have and finished the project i had come to do although i don't think we do much good. bad planning by humana.
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Your comments are like manipulation by the Teacher's Group to convince people to stay. the leaders keep saying me that if only eveyone work hard than it would be good but this is not truth. My mind is not small and this website tells the stories the teacher's group do not tell you.
Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie, im from NZ & am a participant at CCTG. im very saddened to read that some people feel they had a bad experience at these schools or projects, but it makes me wonder is this just your way of not feeling as though you have just given up ,to write these awful stories ,is it a way to make yourself feel better about quitting something that you found too hard, it is so easy to blame someone else. I have been involved in training & voluntering at CCTG for the last 5 months now & not only have i Had a good time, i have worked hard (as promised before you arrive) & I have met wonderful people who really want to make a difference in this world! I have seen people come & then leave as they decided it is not for them (all have left on good terms & still keep in contact) & i have seen a team train & leave for mozambique, well prepared & happy. We get reports of how they are doing every couple of weeks, they are certainly making a difference & having a nice time. I hope that anyone who reads this site does not let it put them off, if you are concerned phone one of the schools,ask what questions you need to, talk to the participants,ask for me if you want, this is a wonderful place full of caring & intelligent people from all around the world of all different ages, it is an experience of a life time!!!!, dont let small minded slander put you off!!!
Hi Tomas, Welcome to Tvind Alert. Forget about brain-washing. How about Tvind providing little meaningful training or support to its volunteers. Just check out the latest story posted by someone from a Tvind school. http://www.tvindalert.org.uk/stories/laszlo's%20story.htm
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Forget the issue of fraud but please explain away the miserable experience of these volunteers.
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Lars, baerman2001@hotmail.com
I have been in Zimbabwe. The HQ staff are from all over the world, also Zimbabwe. When I was there did the staff organize an event for the nearby villages. So they certainly had quite some time witth people there. It showed something like 1500 people up. Humana have some land in Zimbabwe.It was in Zimbabwe that the Comuna to Comercial farmer project started and where the HQ are was it also a Eucalyptus farm.
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
If you will go and volunteer with Lindersvold should you prepared for a lot of hard work.
I happened to come accross your site because I wanted more info on the travelling folk high schools. Then I am interested in Zimababwe but heard or read somewhere here that HUMANA headoffice staff do not have any contact with the local people they are like colonial masters driving in their facny vehicle in the bush, what about the land issue they are helping to resettle farmers but they as white also own lots of land in Zimbabwe I heard. If there is anyone who was in Zimbabwe and experience this please let me know I don't want to go volunteer with slave masters in modern days. Interested Volunteer for Lindersvold.
Tomas at CCTG, you brought all the Norway thinking with you here in California but it will not work, did you see what people write about you before. You guys enrole people without telling them what they need exactly things are left up in the air until they get there. This is USA not Norway and the INS/IRS do not let things go easily please ensure your acts are clean and accounting correct.
You that talk about brainwashing. Examples please. You that are about leaving the TG. Wish you the best. Sorry that it did not work out as you wished
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Regards Tomas CCTG
In life one wonder why so many bad things befall them, have any of the ex TG members shared the same experience as me. I am about to leave in a few days and yes I told them but guess what as soon as you say that you are leaving you are branded, omitted from all the meetings and thought of as a total numb skull not to say I became one here for all these years. I feel the pressure as if they want me out before time, I am told oh you are not focus!blahhhh. Is there a ex TG tranission camp, how do you guys fit back into society? PLease help me lost soul!!
i agree that the majority of volunteers with Humana have life changind experience but brainwash is not a good change.
Hello I am an, ex solidarity worker and ex teacher group member. I am afraid to leave my name here because I think that your homepage, and tvindalert are exploiting peoples good work. Humana help a lot of people. The majority of volunteers who go to Humana have life changing experiences which in turn help people. I read your articles about fundraising, "what is wrong with giving money less fortunate than ourselves", and what is wrong with being positive, listen folks you only have one life.
Hi. I agree that many of the people involved with IICD have good intentions but unfortunately the organization is structured in such a way that results in a multitude of problems ranging from the exploitation of volunteer's good intentions to ineffective (and at times harmful) development projects.
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Its not slander to state my opinion (shared by many others) based on my experience with them. And in terms of one-sided, you won't find many organizations less hospitable to different opinions than IICD and the other Tvind organizations. For example, this site is one of the only places where information on Tvind that doesn't come straight from their groupthink PR program. Plus people with pro-Tvind opinions regularly post here and their comments are not removed. Unlike the shutting down of guestbooks on Tvindsites when differing opinions were posted.
I chose to study and travel with IICD on my year off from college and while I did have some problems with the program I believe that their intentions are of the highest good. I have had nothing to do with them since I left because my life has taken another course, not because I think they are a cult. As an organization grows, there are always bad seeds and corruption, but this is an organization that wants to help oppressed nations and people everywhere. Please try and see the big picture here. Of course an organization like this will attract people who are looking for an identity, of course it will attract lost people. But there are many involved with this group that have made a very informed and sound decision to dedicate their lives to helping others. If you had a bad experience there, or if you disagree with their methods, please just decide to live your life how you want to live, but don't slander them. They are doing much more good than harm. I think it is fine to have an open dialog about what the best way to run an organization that intends to create a world where there is less poverty and a better distribution of wealth etc.... it isn't an easy task. But your website only focuses on one side of the story and doesn't look at the whole picture. Please- in the name of democracy present both sides fairly.
Reply to the TG who's afraid to leave -
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Take whatever you can, mail whatever you can, and run. Britta was right, there really are good people out here. If you want to reach me, I'm going to give you my alias email address here: dancerman5678@hotmail.com I'm available to help you in whatever way I can, locations are a factor, but please don't hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I wish you all the courage and positive energy you have deep inside. Don't be afraid. Do what your conscience dictates.
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
A former "development instructor" - October 9
To all of yious out there, some of the projects in Africa are working very well and I'm proud of have been part of helping these people to achive an opening and understanding of many deasises that they had no knowledge of. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS PEOPLE. Of course I'm sceptic to this organisation but I have done the whole programme and belive me that I'm not brainwashed at all. I do want answers to my questions and I just wanted ti say that Amid is probably dead and someone else is working as the leader. Finally there is a man called Thomas, swedish, who has a girlfriend. Stay away from them, they are both very false. former student
I cheecked out the english tvindsite at http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com/. Suprise - there is only a guestbook in the danish part of the site. Why is that? I wrote and asked, but did not get an answer.
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Why don't tvindschools open up - start with the guestbooks
I think you all sound a bit sad
To TG member I am a member of the former-Tg-members group and we are a group getting larger every year - Amdi has always claimed that once you leave TG you are all by yourself - alone - with no true friends - as a lot of other things he has said through the years this is not true - we have been together a weekend a year for the last 4-5 years and it is truly good again to meet old friends. As another former TG member told me: I decided to give to myself the rest of my life and I have never regretted. We are a lot of people who will like to talk to you and meet with you if you decide to leave. Be brave and get out - it is really up to you. And there are a whole lot of nice people out here. Britta
To the TG member, It is very easy and quick to set up a hotmail account. Go to http://www.hotmail.com/ The email address is completely anonymous.
http://www.drhbogense.dk3.com An english tvind site for the travelling highschool, with a guestbook that works.
To the TG member.
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
You can get in touch with Tvind Alert in complete confidence, we don't give away any secrets. We already had at least 20 or so ex-TG members that we know about get in touch. Now they are able to describe their feelings, talk to each other, direct by email or in a special email forum. We can put you in contact with some of them and you can stay anonymous. Of course we would like to hear more from you - you can email me directly on feedback@tvindalert.org.uk. The emails are confidential.
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Michael, Tvind Alert
I am a member of TG. I am afraid to leave or to say that I want to leave. I am even afraid to post my email address here. After spending years of work I realized that I am left with nothing, only frustration.
There has been spirited debate about Tvind Alert on the guest book at Campus Claifornia TG web site, thanks to 'Lars', whoever he is. (www.cctg.org) This is one Tvind site where the guest book has not recently been cleaned up, in fact Tvind Alert posted a message pointing this out - it is still there.
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
This was not the case a year ago when Tvind Alert first posted to the CCTG guest book, the message was swiftly deleted. Welcome to the democratic, multi-dimensional, pluralistic world, Tomas and Ruth!!
Yes that is just another exampel. I have been looking for guestbooks at danish tvind sites, but most of them has been shut down. I only found to that has a working guestbook: http://www.oekologisk-hus.dk/gaestbog.htm http://www.haand-design.lindersvold.dk/gaestebog.htm
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I'am looking for more.. So far I cheecked 15
Yet another example of Tvind's unwillingness to accept any critique or opinion that does not fit its wroldview. On the One World homepage http://www.oneworldvolunteers.org/ the guestbook that had recently had some warnings about Tvind posted to it has now been shutdown. So much for free discourse at a Tvind sponsered school.
Does anybody know what names Tvind uses in Japan for collecting clothes, and for recruiting volunteers? Anything in the Japanese language?
What a bad excuse for not sueing MD, considering what accusations that has been directed agianst this site and tvind critics like Frosig.
Even though this site does not contain much of reality I wouldn't even dream about trying to shutt Tvindalert down. To much waste of time. Better work and try to make something good
What makes you think that some one is paying MD to maintain this website? Are you saying, as a member of the tvind organisation, that no one will do anything for others, unless they can earn some cash. I will not blame you, knowing that you are member of an organisation, that has the habit of turning aid projects into buisness projects.
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Read the articles on this site, and if you have any complains you can sue us, but you haven't done that yet. Why is that. Maybee its because the informations on this site is correct. Please try to shut us down. You can proberly erford a good layer.
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Are the Arabs terrorists? Are Tvind an evil empire? Are the earth still flat???
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Who is paying Michael Durham to maintain this website?
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Interesting collection of artikles in Danish http://www.torshammer.dk/enmandsavisen/
hi there....just surfed in. Check out the Amdi Petersens Arm 7" when you get the chance. fast danish punkrock order from kicknpunch@wildmail.com
The fundraising was done for project at schools in the US. My complaint is exactly that there were no other jobs besides fundraising. I was told before that Fund-raising would happen but no one said that they would only do canvassing. The issue is not about efficiency, its about misleading people about what the fund-rasing is for.
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Feel free to address my points 3 and 4 as well.
canvassing is also the most effeciant way of fundraising, and if it's done effective you don't have to use extra time on fundraising.
The fundraising goes to cover the rest of the rest of the expenses in the programme, food, electricity etc....
As far as I know, the only school that actually fundraises partly for the projects are one in Norway, in the rest of the schools, all the fundraising is done to the school. Everything is explained as it is, where the fundraising goes, how it's done etc. But logically, if there are no other jobs, you can only do canvassing, ok?
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
To Jimmy:
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
My complaints
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
(1) Before joining I was led to believe that fundraising could take many different forms but when I arrived the only choice was canvassing.
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
(2) We were told that the money that was being raised would go 100 percent to our project and then we found out that the school was taking 50 percent or some percentage. thye never actauly told us how mcuh.
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
(3) I asked for an explanation for how the school finances worked and was told that it was not my concern. When I continued to ask I was given an explanation that made no sense. I don't know if the person was ignorant or hiding things. When I asked for more details I was told that it was "secret" because "outsiders" were looking for ways to make trouble.
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
(4) The instruction that we were offered had nothing to do with what we planning to go do. It was also very disorgniized. when we asked for more help or time to study we were told that we couldn't becuase we had to meet the otehr priorities like fund-raising.
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Is that enough?
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I believe that Denmark is the country in the world that have most of its energy produced by wind energy.
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
It was not like that in the 70-tiew when the "worlds biggest windmill" at Tvind were built
The windmill is as effeciant as other windmills, not much more and not much less.
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
This discussions starts to be useless, I say somehing, you attack it, I defend etc... shall we try change the conversation topic to something that really matters, the saving of life through development projects?
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Since you in many replys are talking about saving lifes etc...
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Do you think our projects are bad? I don't say we're foolproof, noone is, but I'd say that in total, we've done much much more good than bad.
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
If you prefer talking about the windmill, sure, we continue with that instead and I can go and get some more facts about it, so the discussion can be good.
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Jimmy
Hello Anyone
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
After reading a few entry's in this guest book,and feeling like it's a conversation among family members and not really for the first timer's who really want to find out about Tvind ,and must at this time be quite confused. I'll be happy to tell the (virtually) unbiast story of My (almost 3 years) experience ,in three continents with Humana,Tvind,Dapp and Uff. The good , bad ,right and wrong , wonderfull opportunities and awfull reality of this unusual organisation or lack of organisition as I like to call it and give contact details of some 40 other individuals I met along the way.
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Sa daggabeans@hotmail.com
Reply from frsig
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
You write that the electricity to the schools in Tvind, should have been produced from oil ore possible coal if the windmill sponsered by the humanitarian foundation was not there. It makes me wonder - is the windnmill in tvind the only one in Denmark? I have seen plenty, maybee I'am just halusinating.
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
And for the record: producing electricity from windmills is very good bussniess in Denmark, and a fast growing industry in Denmark. If the windmill in Tvind is not effective i wounder why the humanitarian foundation sponsered it - maybe because it is an important symbol for the organisation, that is considered more important then the lifes of others.
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
frosig2001@yahoo.dk
admitted might be the wrong word since it is not good business, I've not said is a better phrase, excuse me but English is not my mother toungue....
I've not admitted the windmill as being good business, I've said that the windmill is as effeciant more or less as other windmills and that it safes the enviroment thanks to the fact that it produces energy to Tvind school center, if the windmill not would've been there, the energy had to be bought from somewhere else, possibly oil or coal produced energy.
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Tvind has never accused you or your family for using drugs, I remember an example used to trying to simplify an explanation a couple of posts back, a fictive example. Paranoid? I don't understand how you can come to the conclusion that Tvind doesn't take a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work based on that.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
A. Cafarelli Minnesota,
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I'm curious to know who the the person you are referring to. I also was at IICD and I have a guess (or actually hope) of who it might be since I liked them. If you don't want to post it here you can email me at baerman2001@hotmail.com
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Thanks...
wrong adress in the mail bellow. It is frosig2001@yahoo.dk
Reply from Frosig Nowbody knows me real identiti, so the drug related accusations brought agianst me proves an important point: It is hard to belive that Tvind takes a fullhearted interest in humanitarian work.
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Yes, I know www.fonden. org and has read the letter from chairman "Morten Knudsens", teknologisk institut. He writes that from the information given to him by Tvind it seems like good projects, but he also writes that the information has not been verifyed - meaning that he didn't investigate the projects himself, but had to relly on tvind sources. So his letter dosn't prove anything.
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
I find it very intresting, that you admit, that the windmill is good buisness, and paid for by the foundation.
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Frosig@2001.dk
How interesting to come upon this site. A few years ago, I moved to the almost commune, and definitely cult-like atmosphere of IICD in Williamstown, Massachusetts. One night, one of the members of the "teacher's Group" who was obviously pissed at the directorfilled us in on Tvind and Humana, and admitted to us all that he had to hand over all of his assets before becoming a teacher. He was told that, someday he'd be able to retire in the Cayman Islands- worry free! My fellow "team members" and I thought, "What kind of development organisation is this"? We all started asking questions of the director- then Josefin Jonnsen. What a croc! After realizing that IICD was in fact a cult, most of us left. Unfortunately, 7 out of 12 of us left IICD AFTER fundraising all of our money to go to either Angola or Zimbabwe.
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
A. Cafarelli Minnesota
Archive Info
Recovered from:
Wayback snapshot 2005-02-17
Versions found: 1
Content: 3,239,814 chars
Links: 0