Residential Communities Rausei "A" and "B"

"PHOTOGRAPHY" GROUP

By M. Cristina Pafundi *

*Educator, Coo.S.S.E.L., Cooperative.

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The "photography" group project was born from a necessity to create an expressive therapeutic activity, with the main objective to research new channels of communication for chronic patients.

Another important objective of this project consists, in stimulating the patients abilities towards expression of emotions and feelings, as seen through liberal selection of their photographic subjects, to develop their creativity, to favour an experience of belonging to the group, and, on the other hand, to allow a process of resocialitation to occur.

This activity not only involves the patients participant in the group experience, but moreover, aspects of the nature of the project is common to many other people. It speaks about many things, in which others, can recognize and reflect themselves through the pictures (a photo of the local church), or feel emotions (the beauty of the landscape) shared by us all. For this reason, proposal of the use of the camera "instrument" contributed to the process of "making history" and then, to remembering it.

After a period of discussion and observation with the directive staff, patients expressing a willingness to take part in the project were selected based on their individual personal characteristics, (motivation, ability to manage anxiety, capability to interact with others, etc), after which, began the active phase of the plan.

The beginning phase meetings with the patients were carried out inside the residential community, explaining the use of the camera and the choice of the thematic scenes and the places to be visited. The educator then guided the verbal interactions and dialogue between the patients, omitting, intentionally, other inherent technical aspects regarding photographic equipment, preferring instead, to stimulate the patients towards group harmony and a sharing of roles skills.

After repeated encounters, and once the group felt secure enough, outdoors excursions were programmed to capture photographic material. The material would have been used to create a photographic exhibition and the realization of an album containing a collection of works, their memories and the many personal and emotional moments comprising their group experience.

In the operational context, the conduction of the group experience has been quite rewarding, even though, during the course of the project, relationship and interactional conflicts between patients due to personality were frequent.

These situations and dynamics were used as therapeutic material to help patients understand and confront themselves with each other, in the belief that the entire process would have sustained an active participation in the sharing of a common objective.

The final outcome of the project is in continuous evolution, and includes the hope that the photographic experience fosters additional self-determination in transferring skills from the group experience to better choices in their daily living.

Here some photographers realized from the patients.