What is Metzineres
Metzineres is an innovative, and daring non-profit cooperative providing sheltered environments exclusively for womxn, that focus on human rights, gender mainstreaming, and which cover a full spectrum of harm reduction approaches.
With both a holistic and individualized framework, Metzineres emphasizes the uniqueness of each womxn and each situation. Access into Metzineres is immediate, with widely flexible responses that take into consideration individual expectations, concerns, interests and needs.
Supported by local community strategies, and the social and solidarity-based economy, the Metzineres model aims to be one that provides consistency, is reliable, pragmatic, cost effective, and one in which each womxn plays a central role.
Mission, vision and values
Mission
To promote communities that guarantee full access to the rights, well-being, and pleasure of womxn who are surviving violence, intersectional vulnerabilities, and that are affected by the war on drugs.
Vision
To seek out a comprehensive and holistic approach, based on embedding peers, providing trauma-informed care, and implementing harm reduction, while being anchored in community, intersectional feminism, and social and solidarity-based economies.
Values
Genuine Creativity
Radical Tenderness
Collective Resilience
Rogue Courage
Care Activism
Mutual Support and Complicity
Anti-prohibitionist Commitment
Evidence-based Transdisciplinarity
Transformative Passion
Approach
In the face of a war on drugs that continues to result in the widespread and systematic violation of the rights of womxn who use drugs, and who survive multiple situations of violence and vulnerability, Metzineres works for justice based on three cross-cutting themes:
Intersectional Feminism
Because gender inequalities interact with other forms of exclusion, discrimination and stigma. Different social positions interconnect in specific ways, generating multiple situations of violence and vulnerability, but also creating individual and collective strategies to navigate them.
Harm reduction
Because the well-being of people who use drugs, of their families and their communities doesn’t necessarily mean quitting. The full spectrum of harm reduction works where each person is, without judgment or coercion, addressing not only their consumption but structural factors such as housing, work, leisure, and bonds of trust, amongst others.
Embedding of Peers
Because people directly impacted by the war on drugs are experts in their realities and therefore must be an essential part of the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all those policies and practices that condition their life paths.
Our space
From our space in the Raval neighborhood, we provide environments of security, tranquility, and privacy. We offer holistic and individualized proposals, which promote the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of each person. At the same time, through a model of community and innovative intervention, feelings of belonging and collaboration are fostered and improve coexistence. We are privileged to be part of a rich neighborhood network and cooperative fabric that is nurtured by solidarity and mutual support.
Who we are for
Women and non-binary gender people who use drugs and who survive multiple situations of violence and vulnerability, find it difficult to gain access to and be supported by social services and healthcare networks. They are often excluded from services, including ones focused either on drugs or on gender-based violence. This lack of alternatives, the barriers to access, and these institutional gaps exacerbate social control, inequality, social injustice, and exclusion. Prejudice, stigma, and discrimination result in a systematic violation of their rights.
Metzineres welcomes all womxn by forming and adapting compassionate responses to their complex and changing realities. Rather than creating an exhaustive and exclusive list of entry criteria, emphasis is placed on reaching those facing multiple, simultaneous, and interconnected social variables that shape their experience and existence. Among all the womxn who have already joined us, they experience: drug-related problems, homelessness, migratory experiences, LGTBIQ+, sex work and/or sex for survival, imprisonment, mental health disorders, functional diversity, among other realities.
Sheltered Environments
Each and every person can be part of and wander through the various Sheltered Environments, according to their identified needs for personal well-being, their unique circumstances, uncertainties, desire to get involved, or any other requests. By cultivating trust and a sense of belonging — as well as eliminating expulsion as a form of conflict resolution or conflict management — the chance of failure is mitigated, which helps womxn avoid commonly experienced re-victimization or secondary trauma.
Environments
The Cover
Caring and healing
A space to cover basic needs: hot meals, washing machines and dryers, showers, wardrobes, access to computers and Internet, and a space for accompanied consumption. It’s a place to relax and unwind, with beds and lockers for safe-keeping. Self-care tools for health and well-being are also offered: natural cosmetics, hairdressing, yoga — all accompanied by specialized social and psychological care. Pets are welcome.
The Powerful
Self-protection and strength
A meeting point between allies, which encourages solidarity and mutual support, where experiences, knowledge, and realities can be shared, as well as strategies for survival and protection. It reinforces the ‘Peer to Peer‘ approach that acknowledges womxn as the primary experts in their realities. Legal advice and support are provided, and training is given to help address the many situations of vulnerability: drug information, overdose prevention and management, feminist self-defense, care resources network, among others.
The Ivy
Community and neighborhood
Community texture and neighborhood alliances are key for these womxn, who participate in and lead initiatives that enrich the neighborhood and unite the diverse realities that inhabit it. Collective and inclusive spaces are built that improve coexistence, break stigmas, and increase feelings of security. The Pa’ella on Fridays has become a weekly meeting place, where womxn can also take part in the radio space and urban art activities.
The Howl
Participation and activism
For participants who face impeding labor markets, we promote professional merit, entrepreneurship and satisfactory job opportunities. Skills are enhanced, self-sufficiency and self-management are promoted, inspiring personal growth, stimulating job options and workplaces with regular and stable income, both inside and outside of Metzineres. mujerxs y sus comunidades. Se trabaja en red, codo con codo, con entidades de carácter local, nacional e internacional.
The Bold
Production and entrepreneurship
Activism and the fight against situations of exclusion becoming lingering afflictions; actions of awareness, protests, demonstrations are encouraged. Under the motto "Nothing about us, without us", they attend conferences and seminars, organize informative talks, and participate in the development of policies and plans that — directly or indirectly — condition the realities of womxn and their communities. They work in a network, side by side, with local, national, and international organizations.
Artisana
Arts and creativity
Culture is consumed and produced through fun and creativity: dance, theater, music, photography, painting. Womxn can experiment with multiple artistic expressions in workshops, take part in organizing the neighborhood festivities, enjoy good work, and be part of a multitude of parties. They never say no to a good circus, concert, or show.
The team
Metzineres is made up of people with both academic training and life experience. This is one of our most relevant values; all of these roles are equally important and necessary for our collective nourishment.
Specialized Intervention Service (SIE)
Since September 2020, the Metzineres premises have been recognized as a Specialized Intervention Service of the Government of Catalonia. The SIE-Raval has a multidisciplinary professional team made up of people with degrees in psychology, social work, social education, law, and employment. We are part of the Comprehensive Care and Recovery Resource Network in the process of recovering and repairing womxn who survive or have survived situations of gender-based violence, and their children. It also focuses on prevention, awareness, and community involvement.
Objectives
Main objective
Offer information, care, and recovery to womxn, who are vulnerable in myriad ways, who have been or are in the process of gender-based violence, and to promote specific and comprehensive prevention, assistance and repair programs.
Adaptation
Adapt the model of social, legal, and therapeutic intervention to the process of womxn, vulnerable in myriad ways, who have survived or are surviving violence.
Social and therapeutic care
Provide specialized and continuous social and therapeutic care in relation to the process of experienced violence.
Coordination
Work in coordination with external services, attending to the specific process of each of the womxn.