What challenge inspired this recipe?
This initiative has been taken by volunteers for volunteers over the years. We (the volunteers) noticed that in a house with several people, organisation was needed for household chores and living together. It seemed important to create a monthly meeting with all the people living in the same house, as well as visual aids to explain this to new arrivals.
The practice has existed for several generations of volunteers and continues with the new ones, being improved and adapted according to the needs of the new generation.
Ingredients :
Pens and paper to takes note, someone willing to ‘’direct’’ the meeting.
Step by step guide
What is a house meeting ?
It’s a meeting of all the people that live in the house to talk about the house, what is good, what is not, what needs to change, what can improve, what is to ban completely. It is there that usually you make the planning for the cleaning tasks.
When to do one ?
Once a month if there is no serious problem but it can be possible to have an emergency one if things are really bad. It usually take one hour, less if everything is good and more if there is some stuffs to be told. It’s important to take this time to talk with your housemates.
Why do it ?
Because when you live with people (one or ten it’s the same) it’s important to communicate and that the house is a nice and comfortable place for everyone. The house meeting is there to give a voice to every person in the house and to connect with your fellow people.
How to do it ?
First, the house meeting is not only about the bad things, it can be also to tell that the house this month was very clean or that you felt safe and comfortable in it. Second, it only works if everyone is involved and wants to improve the house.
1. Find a time where you are all available and in the house for at least one hour
2. Gather, say welcome to the new members and choose a note taker that will write the problems and solutions on a paper that will be on the wall where eve-ryone will be able to see it
3. Round table where everyone has it’s time of speech and the others don’t inter-rupt. When the person is finish talking, there can be reaction, debate and re-marks but still in respect and cordiality.
4. We find solutions to the problems together and everyone has to agree or at least the majority. Attention : a house meeting is not the place to settle scores with someone. If there is a particular problem, discuss it directly with the person and not in front of everyone, as this will not add anything constructive to the meet-ing.
We put the solutions we choose either now or we decide of a time to do so and/or the person who has to do it/who is volunteer to do it.
The support created are here to help (both the organization and the volunteers), there is one with logo and less text that can be on the wall of the house, and one with more text to explain in details for the organizations but also the volunteers that wants to know more.
When doing the cleaning task schedule, it’s important to design a House Inspector. Their role is very important because it will be their job to make sure everyone is doing their tasks of the months, but also to buy the common things for everyone (ex : toilet paper, spices, etc…). They don’t have a cleaning task.
Important to highlight!We (the volunteers) are using it every month and it really helps for the organization of the house but also the well-being of everyone. Because when someone is not feeling good in the house for whatever reasons, we then change things and decide all together to a better solution. To upgrade : |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
Sometimes people don’t respect the time of speech of people so it’s important to be reminded of this every time.
Everyone has to be willing do to it and put efforts.
© CBB – Association des Compagnons Bâtisseurs Belgium
