About Us

Find out about Motherground

The Waldorf Exchange Summer Program began in 2009, providing an international camp experience rooted in Waldorf education. Our holistic approach emphasizes connection, creativity, and personal growth, all within a nature-inspired setting. 

Who We Are

Motherground was founded in 2009 by Liva from Latvia and Yiqing from China, with the goal of providing a healthier education model for children in an international environment. Since then, we have been organising Waldorf Summer Camps in Latvia, Lithuania and China, with the original impulse of promoting a holistic approach to learning and play.

Our camps focus on the idea of “learning to play, playing to learn,” and we have maintained this principle throughout the years. We are dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment where children can explore their creativity, develop new skills, and form lasting friendships.

At our camps, children engage in a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, music and movement, nature exploration, and more. We strive to incorporate elements of Waldorf education, which emphasizes the importance of imagination, creativity, and hands-on learning. Our staff consists of Waldorf-trained teachers and counsellors.

We are proud to have grown naturally throughout the years, and we are committed to continuing to provide enriching and transformative experiences for children in our summer camps.

“At WESP camps children forge enduring bonds, revel in the joy of summertime, and cultivate a profound sense of community and belonging that resonates throughout their lives, all while creating art, engaging in crafts, moving and singing.”
Liva Founder

Our Core Team

Latvia

Katrina- manager

As the project manager for WESP camps, Katrina brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, having graduated from Adazi Free Waldorf School in 2017 and subsequently embarking on a gap year in Shanghai, China. She recently completed her BA in Intercultural Relations at the Latvian Academy of Culture. This marks her fourth year contributing to the organization of WESP camps. During her free time, Katrina enjoys travelling and savouring life’s smaller adventures. She currently resides in Lyon, France, where she is employed at a kindergarten.

China

Yiqing- founder

A passionate Waldorf enthusiast, currently residing and working in Shanghai, China, with extensive experience in Waldorf activities. Notably, he is dedicated to organizing and overseeing the operations of a Waldorf school and a community that caters to the needs of children with diverse abilities. His commitment to providing an inclusive environment for children to flourish is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the Waldorf philosophy.


Latvia

Liva- founder

Liva is a seasoned Waldorf Camp and youth activity leader with a rich 14-year background in organizing projects across Europe and Asia. Currently based in Bangkok, Thailand, she resides with her family comprising a daughter, husband, three dogs, and a cat. Liva is a proud graduate of a Waldorf school and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of Latvia, alongside advanced Chinese studies in Beijing.



Waldorf Education

“Our highest endeavour must be to develop creative and responsible human beings who are able to deal with diverse situations and to direct their lives with purpose.“

Rudolf Steiner, founder of Waldorf education

Waldorf is the largest independent educational system in the world, with over 1,000 schools and 1,600 kindergartens worldwide including USA, India, China and the Middle East. The first school to be based on his ideas was founded in Stuttgart in 1919 for the children of the employees of the Waldorf Astoria factory – hence the name “Waldorf”. Within a few years, others followed in Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Britain.

The focus of Waldorf education is to educate the whole child, emphasising not only intellectual development but also the child’s artistic merits. In this way we allow the child’s potential to unfold, encouraging them to grow into a self-motivated adult.

The system philosophy is to educate each child as an individual and to encourage children to fulfil their potential. The curriculum can be seen as an organic whole, which involves the three human faculties of thinking, feeling and doing. The interplay of skills and appreciation of music and art, and the physical development of the body, are as important as academic skills. Teachers and parents work together in the children’s education.

We believe that it’s not enough to give a child the knowledge to pass an exam; we must endeavour to inspire them to love learning so they will be equipped to meet whatever challenge life throws at them in the future.