In the very heart of Russia, where Europe and Asia, West and East meet, that's where the Republic of Tatarstan is located. Kazan city is the official third capital of Russia. The history of the thousand- year-old city is very rich. Kazan is the largest city of the old and the oldest of the large cities of Russia. It is a multinational and multi-confessional state. Where predominantly Tatars live and the Muslim religion prevails. But people are living in tolerance since birth for many generations, so tolerance here is not a definition of the concept, but a reality. In that an amazing place, almost 4 years ago opened its doors the Inclusive center for curative/therapeutic education “Berdem”. This is the first anthroposophical center in the field of curative/therapeutic education in Tatarstan. As there is not much anthroposophy in the area it is our responsibility to bring the essence of anthroposophy to society in the right way.

By practice, through various researches, we have come to the fact that now we have an inclusive group in a full-day kindergarten, where half of the children with special needs and half, the so- called normotypical. In the mini-group there are children of different nosologies from 4 to 7 years old. There is a “Mother and child” group from 1 to 3 years old. Also, at the request of parents we started a school. Today we have 1st and 2nd grades for children with special needs and 3rd Waldorf class. We are still developing an education program where children could fully learn together in an inclusive environment where everybody is acquired in the process of learning. All school activities (morning circle, meals, walks, holiday preparations during the year) take place together, except for the educational process itself. We also conduct sessions in a municipal social welfare institution for people with special needs over 18 years old.

After several years of attending the Berdem Center, our children show us how they perceive each other as equals. They do not divide people into "normal and not normal", but they realize that everyone is different, they appreciate diversity and learn something new from each other. It's much about tolerance, support or caring. Here we see something aimed at improving society by working on ourselves: strengthening willpower, creativity, acceptance, positive thinking, etc. We see in practice that healthy inclusion is actually possible and even works in a very natural way. Especially if a person grows up in an environment where one perceives another as equals. Then relationships in society are built on a completely different level. One can observe these processes with awe and hope that the healthy future of an equal society is real and it is here.

When you are a young start-up organization, and especially when there are not many other organizations in your area that you can look up to, it is very important to keep in touch with the Anthroposophical Society. All the more so if it's an international connection, where you have the opportunity to gain experience from different perspectives. With Walter Siegfried Hahn’s kind invitation to join the World Goetheanum Association, the “Berdem” centre has great opportunities to broaden the horizons in the field of anthroposophy. Sharing experiences with our colleagues from all over the world is that keeps us going and helps to grow, develop further, to find new paths, to draw on the many years of practical experience of anthroposophical organizations in different parts of the world and different approaches to putting knowledge into practice, innovative ideas, common research and much more, which gives us unlimited opportunities to work and improve our living conditions in a world where each of us is able to put a part of our soul into it. And when our bits and pieces come together to create for the whole, it brings even more opportunities, quality and, very importantly, joy to work.

Unification is very important these days. Perhaps more important than ever before. By the way, «Berdem» is translated from the Tatarian language as unitedly, together. In unification is our common strength, the power of creation. And what we see nowadays is disunity. Thus we lose our

strength, our living forces. But all we need is our will to hold each others hands, to help and support and move forward step by step. People need people.