t-huis (workingspace)

Hey all, 

We made some more interesting contacts. Prof. Mager will probably elaborate a little more. But basically we got a different working space now. It’s called the T-Huis (www.t-huis.info)  and it’s closer to the hotel and the Tippelzone, situated in Woensel. It’s a social project foundation set up by graduated design students (Dennis and Sara ) who work with the community of the neighbourhood and develop sustainable solutions and services to encourage interaction and other solutions for social disharmony. (It’s a multi-ethnical community). For instance they organise language classes, children sports, meeting over coffee and biscuits for Turkish women etc. The foundation concept sounds very interesting and as they got quite a bit of space, they are happy to provide us with a working space and internet (of course). 

Weteringstraat 28, 5612 GX Eindhoven

Tuesday Stadhuis meeting

Tuesday 12.30 :: Meeting with Salvation Armee (Adryo Toorians + Elly Balster), Veronique, Prof. Mager and Sarah de Boer::   

The response of the Salvation Armee was very positive, cooperative to provide us with contact to the women.

Important facts first: First meeting point with the women (3/4 of them) at 2pm at V&D, which is a shopping mall. Elly Balster is setting up the contact. She acts as the closest person to the prostitutes and will set up the contacts.  The V&D only acts as a meeting point as apparently most of the ladies are not permitted inside the building.  Suggestion: 2 students and 2 prostitutes go for a coffee. This way everyone feels safe. Further meetings, spending time, going shopping (as a reward rather than money for participation) can be arranged from there.  Elly will be there at the meeting point too for introduction, Sara (from t-huis) will be there as well to help with language to some extent. 

Consider:

- The women have little education; expect them to speak no English. There may be one German lady, but don’t count on it.

- The women are all addicted. They suffer from mental problems and have had a difficult past, including sexual abusion in childhood. 

- Due to a number of reasons: Their concentration span may be rather small. e.g. 20 mins. - If you meet with the women for a longer amount of time, allow time and a break for them to take their drugs.

- Some women work outside the Tippelzone hours as call girls, they arrange meetings by mobile phone elsewhere. 

Therefore: Prostitution group and whoever is going next (weekend group):  It’s a rather sudden Cold-Water start on Friday, prepare well, finished tools and methods with clear instructions (in Dutch). Voice recorder tools can be translated, but without more language helpers it will be difficult to embark in conversation. Group1 can possibly find more ‘language helpers’, we will keep u posted! Next important fact: The answer to the question “Do the women know that the Tippelzone is going to be closed?” No, they don’t! If they ask or assume whether this research is because of it, the Salvation Armee suggested saying that it’s because we want an insight into their lifes to develop solutions to improve their life! They have heart rumours though that it may be closed and are paranoid . The best response may be to not answer the question directly but to say that we try to develop other opportunities to improve their lives. When you are spending time with the women you are advised to leave your valuables: Carry your money close to your body and no mobile phones on show.  This is because of the temptation and secondly because of the pimps. You may be followed by a pimp. If you feel insecure u could talk to the women to maybe ask her to talk to him to leave them for a while. Otherwise try to ignore him as much as possible. Budget details for shopping and time with the women will probably be addressed by Prof. Mager.   About the clients of the Tippelzone: Probably difficult to approach them.  The Salvation Armee do not have information about them, but aren’t interested in them either. Rather than having anything physical, like a little card questionnaire, the contact with the clients may be possible through the women. Keep that in mind, whoever is talking to them to try and develop a brief contact if that’s possible. The men are not allowed to get the impression that they are being watched. They may see the Tippelzone as an anonymous, quick, kick business, and may get aggressive because they feel they are being spied on.

Wednesday (today) we are going to go to the container at 8 pm, to hang up the poster to invite other women to participate in our research (possible collaboration with Group3). We will also use the opportunity to get an idea of what’s happening inside the container during working hours and will talk to the caretakers.

Some other set dates:

1st May (thursday): Meeting with design academy planned to exchange research. Maybe develop final questions for women for friday.

2nd May: Friday, Final meeting at Living room in the afternoon to say goodbye to women and last questions.