For three years we've been searching for a suitable location and premises to realise our grand designs. In the end we've found this in Montcombroux-Les-Mines, a small village in the middle of France.
The idea is to use the estate for several different objectives of a social and cultural nature. To support the activities, the Mijnsheerenland Foundation was started in november 1996. The aims of the foundation are as follows:
1. Residence
A residence for terminally ill people. The target group are people with, for example, AIDS or cancer who wish to stay for a shorter or longer period in a nice and special environment. Usually the character will be that of a holiday away from the medical environment - on occasion it will be a more permanent stay. The intention is to give these people - a maximum of about 10 patients and their caretakers/partners - a good time without it being dominated by medical facilities. The residence will not be a nursing home.
2. Training/therapy centre
More or less for the same category of people: training sessions in social skills, preparation for one's own death, mourning trainings, assertivity trainings and getting used to a lessening of the bodily faculties. Apart from the above target group there will be a great diversity of other groups. The training/therapy-centre will not be limited to the group mentioned in point 1 - there will be a much greater variety. Different short term training/therapy sessions will be offered/organised. Another target group are docters, nursing staff and social workers, who can join seminars and workshops on how to deal with terminally ill patients.
3. Retreat
In spite of the ongoing secularisation of our society, a increasing number of people wish to come to a place where they (temporarily) can get away from it all. We would like offer such a retreat; possibly in combination with a (training) programme, but not neccesarily so.
4. Cultural centre
We do courses in (Medieval/Renaissance) singing, music and dance. Apart from these courses there are a great number of classes which will be given either by ourselves, or by third parties. A number of different teachers have offered their services. These classes vary from pottery, massage, sculpting. photography, aikido, drama classes to literature studies. In short, Les Gaillards will be buzzing with activities!
As far as we are concerned, the power of the exploitation lies in the combination of the above points. We have taken into account that residents (point 1) are best served by being in a quiet centre, which is not separated from the outside world. This not only makes the stay more enjoyable, but also more accessible. This also allows everyone to share each other's services and abilities. It is important not only to maintain a good relation with the local/regional population, but also to offer - where possible - a cultural service.
If after the above anyone has the idea the centre will be a place of mourning and great sadness - they're terribly wrong! The name 'Les Gaillards' says it all; the centre will be a place for 'joie de vivre', the enjoyment of life. Naturally we would like to break through the taboo on death, but only by making life the focal point. For those who think this is too philosophical we can only say: come and experience it yourself!
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