Meet Eva, Thomas and Joseph
Every story begins long before we realize it. This one starts with two young people who did not expect to fall in love.
Eva was born by the Italian sea, to a Polish mother, a woman full of joy and passion, and an Italian father, blue-eyed and wise. From them she learned warmth, resilience and the habit of opening the door to anyone who needs a place at the table.
Thomas grew up in a Camphill village, surrounded by his parents, his four brothers and many friends. Community life, caring for others and sharing everyday tasks were simply his way of being in the world.
They met in Botton Village, the first Camphill community for adults with special needs in the UK, in 2001. Eva was in her first year as a volunteer coworker; Thomas was visiting his parents, homemakers in one of the village houses.
They came from different countries and different stories, both searching for a meaningful life. They didn’t plan it, they didn’t look for it, but in the midst of shared work, shared meals and shared laughter, they fell in love.
After a couple of years on separate paths, they both applied to be coworkers in Scotland. They moved into a life-sharing house, working and living alongside adults with special needs. Eva enrolled in the Camphill Academy; Thomas worked in the woodshop. In 2006 they married and became homemakers, responsible for a whole house community.
Eva and Thomas were overjoyed when they discovered they were expecting their first child, full of dreams and hopes. They prepared for Joseph’s arrival with hope and excitement, trusting that their love and the community around them would be a good home for this new life.
Eva and Joseph with a homemade birthday cake!
In 2008 their son Joseph was born very prematurely. He spent two months in the maternity hospital, too small and fragile to go straight home. At three, it became clear that Joseph was on the autism spectrum. His early birth and diagnosis brought fear, stress and many sleepless nights, but they remained as one and faced every challenge head-on, knowing that the most important things were their love for him, and his love for them.
At that point, Eva and Thomas made a promise: to give Joseph every chance to become the best he could be.
Thomas and Joseph enjoying time at the lake.
With the support of their Camphill communities, they began a long journey to find therapies that could work alongside the Camphill way of life. The Son-Rise Program, with training and many hours of one-to-one play, helped Joseph find his voice. He spoke his first words at almost four. This gave him joy and confidence, and it gave them a method and a new hope.
Over the years they explored specific diets, neuro-developmental programs, vision therapy, eurythmy, massage, music therapy and more. And through all of this there was one constant: love. Even when the road felt steep, painful and exhausting, love held the three of them—and the wider community—together.
Joseph has a love for washing machines and everything that turns!
While Joseph was growing, Eva and Thomas continued to serve as homemakers in Camphill, caring for others as well as for their son. In 2016, after living in two Camphill communities in England and Scotland, the family crossed the ocean to Kimberton Hills in the United States for a new beginning. Adapting took time, but they stayed, worked and kept growing with the community.
Joseph has grown into a gentle young man, especially sensitive to music, happiest when he is singing and sharing songs with others. Today Joseph is nearly 18 and attends Camphill Special School. He is thriving.
Currently, Thomas and Eva are long-term coworkers who live in Sycamore house here at Kimberton Hills. If you’d like to learn more about them and their son Joseph, please email Eva at eva.cerolini@camphillkimberton.org or Thomas at thomasballs@camphillkimberton.org.