This experience wants to become an event, an

CULTURAL AND SPORTING ENCOUNTER
“PATAS ARRIBA” (UPSIDE DOWN) 2008
ANPIS – UNASAM – ADESAM
NOVEMBER 25 – 29, 2008
Why are we organizing Patas Arriba?
As it has happened in many countries of the world, in Argentina transformations are
also taking place in the system that cares for people with serious mental illness.
These changes emerge from a critical view of the insane asylum’s model of chronic
lock up and isolation, and the mechanisms on which sustains itself. The new
perspective involves moving towards a mental health system based in the
community. These changes rest on the need to substitute mental health as part of
an integrated health care system for the mechanism of the illness-reproducing
model. The fundamental idea is based on the recognition of the citizens’ rights of
those who suffer mental illness.
Who is proposing Patas Arriba?
ADESAM, Asociación por los Derechos en Salud Mental (Association for the Rights in
Mental Health), has worked for the past two years in this direction. All members of
our association also work in different projects that promote more adequate and
human practices.
ANPIS, Associazione Nazionale Polisportive Dilettantische per l´ Integrazione
Sociale, is a renowned institution for its trajectory in Italy, its territorial extension
and its extensive experience in implementing practices that promote community
integration through sports and culture.
UNASAM, Unione Nazionale delle Associazione per le Salute Mentale, established in
1993, unites consumer and family associations from diverse regional and local
realities to work towards the same goals: to struggle against discrimination, and to
recognize the dignity and citizens’ rights of the people with mental illness. This
association represents all the regions and provinces of Italy.
The encounter “Patas Arriba” will offer an extraordinary opportunity for sharing
personal and social histories. It seeks to approach mental health through diverse
activities. It will bring together people involved in cultural, civic, and political life,
and other people also interested in sharing this rich and meaningful experience. It
is about carrying out an activity of great visibility and impact on the community
that will make public the problems of the chronic confinement and the restitution of
the citizens’ rights to the people with serious mental illness. Local, Latin American,
and European participants in this event have experience in working in favor of
social integration.
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
Tuesday 25
La Plata, Pasaje Dardo Rocha. Plaza. 2:00 PM.
First encounter
Outside recreational and artistic activities. Collective assemblage of
banners, posters, signs and charts to utilize in activities during the week. Bands
of street musicians. City tour.
Wednesday 26
Mataderos, City of Buenos Aires. 3:00 PM.
Arts and crafts fair, gaucho activities, sack- jumping race, ringlet race,
horse-back riders, folkloric music.
Thursday 27
City of Buenos Aires.
Morning: Legislatura de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. 9:00 AM to 14:00 PM.
Meetings of governmental authorities with renowned local and foreign
individuals.
Afternoon: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Informal meeting with consumers, families,
mental-health workers and the community at large to exchange experiences,
opinions and proposals at the Centro Cultural General San Martín
Friday 28
City of Buenos Aires.
Plaza: La Boca. Soccer field. Approximate time 15:00 PM.
Soccer game between mixed teams of consumers and professional players.
At the end of the game, around 6:00 PM, party at “Caminito”. Popular “Milonga”
in the street. “Tango”night.
Saturday 29
City of Buenos Aires.
Closing Day. Activities between Avenida 9 de Julio and Plaza de Mayo. 4:00PM.
A walk will start from the corner of Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida de Mayo.
As the walk moves towards Plaza de Mayo, bands of street musicians, candombes,
circus, etc., will join it at different points in Avenida de Mayo.
For those who prefer to wait for the march in Plaza de Mayo
there will be artistic activities arranged in the four corners of the plaza.
After the arrival of the walk, around 7:00 PM, a closing party will start
with a recital of invited musicians until the candles stop burning!