QUARTER-MAKING Working on hospitality

1. QUARTER-MAKINGWorking on hospitality Dealing with contrariety

2. IllustrationsMoniek Meinders

3. Quarter-making is working on a hospitable society for people with a psychiatric background, or for others contending with exclusion. 3 elements • The issue of ‘the strange other’; • Offering hospitality; • Putting part of the usual routine on hold.

4. The wish: changing from patient into citizen ‘I’m staying in, being outside hurts’

5. The issue of ‘the strange other’(1) • Most people are eager to participate and to belong (becoming citizens instead of patients); • There are many obstacles hindering participation in social life ; • For this reason, we need to work on an open society, that focuses on inclusive- ness.

6. The issue of ‘the strange other’(2) • Dilemma • To ignore difference wrongs clients; • To overemphasize difference wrongs clients, too.

7. The issue of ‘the strange other’(3) • By speaking in terms of illness, psychiatry does not really further integration. Society adopts this thought in terms of illness and does not see the patient primarily as ‘fellow citizen’.

10. Offering hospitality ‘Can we ask of the stranger to speak the language, to act like the others, before he is welcomed?’ (Derrida)

12. A hospitable receptionHow to lend quality to hospitality Working on niches in society: • being emotionally supportive; • offering meaningful activities; • nurturing the client’s self-worth.

13. A hospitable reception • Having buddies for the activity in which one wants to participate (a choir, table tennis, a chess or card-playing club, voluntary work in church or the community centre – or on the paid job). • The buddy welcomes the client and acts as • ally • intermediary • advocate • mentor • Buddies (and, with them, the inclusiveness) must be fully supported by the (social) organisation.

14. Breaking open the ordinary routine Putting competitive society on hold Beyond the standard individual

15. What is at issue here? (1) • Putting the ordinary on hold in order to • make room for the extra-ordinary; • Showing respect for and involvement with • the other’s difference.

16. What is at issue here? (2) • The restoration of reciprocity, • = the restoration of contact between standard and non-standard citizens, • and of contact between the fast achievement society and the slow (humane) questions.

17. What is at issue here? (3) • Social organisations should use a presence approach (Andries Baart) to: • connect to someone’s daily experiences; • look for what is vital in someone’s lifestyle; • express an interest in stories; • be aware of excluding mechanisms; • be aware of the importance of preserving someone’s sense of honour; • be sensitive of turning point experiences; • be aware of social contexts that make those negative careers permanent.

18. What is at issue here? (4) • Getting the varied (inclusive) society on the agenda of the government, institutions, and citizens; • Inciting municipalities to properly equip social- and community work to this end; • By being in attendance as psychiatric sector, encouraging and supporting the attendance of others.

19. What is at issue here? (5) • Setting up a multilogue, a conversation in which the participants work on a better mutual understanding, mutual involvement and reciprocity. • The reinforcement of Friends’ Services; • Making a plea for a vulnerable and caring citizenship, beside an achievement-oriented citizenship.