L'Arche
Encyclopedia
L'Arche is an International Federation dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities (or learning disabilities as they are known in the UK
). It was founded in 1964 when Jean Vanier
, the son of Canadian Governor General
Georges Vanier
and Pauline Vanier
, welcomed two men with disabilities into his home in the town of Trosly-Breuil
, France
. Today, it is an international organization operating in 40 countries, and on every continent.
Worldwide, L’Arche is organized into regional and national groupings of independent, locally operated agencies which it calls “communities." Each L'Arche community normally comprises a number of homes and, in many cases, apartments and day programs as well. Currently, there are approximately 150 L'Arche communities and official "projects" affiliated with the International Federation of L'Arche.
people with disabilities, and those who assist them, live together in homes and apartments, sharing life with one another and building community as responsible adults;
everyone is believed to have the capacity to grow and to mature into adulthood, and to make a contribution to society, regardless of the physical or intellectual limitations with which they may be living; and
the important goals of achieving personal growth and maturing socially as an adult are things which are understood to be nurtured most effectively within the context of a community whose policies and practices support and promote, among other things:
to make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities (or learning disabilities as they are known in the UK),
to foster the development of communities that respond to members' changing needs, and
to engage with local cultures while working toward a more human society.
In pursuit of this mission, L'Arche strives
to create small faith-based communities of friendship and mutuality between people who have disabilities and others;
to develop life-long support systems with people who have disabilities, especially with those who are extremely vulnerable due to old age and/or multiple disabilities; and
to highlight the unique capacity of persons with disabilities to enrich relationships and to build communities where the values of compassion, inclusion and diversity are upheld and lived by each person.
that whatever their strengths or their limitations, people are all bound together in a common humanity;
that everyone has the same dignity and the same rights, including the right to life, to a home, to work, to friendship, and to a spiritual life;
that a truly just and compassionate society is one which welcomes its most vulnerable citizens, and which provides them with opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the communities in which they live; and
that systems of belief--be they secular or religious--make the world a better place only when they promote the dignity of all human beings, inspiring us to be open to people of different intellectual capacities, social origins, races, religions, and cultures.
For more information about the vision and mission of L'Arche, see the "Charter of L'Arche”
priest Father Thomas Philippe, Vanier became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Vanier felt led by God to invite two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and share their lives with him in a household in Trosly-Breuil, France. He named their home "L’Arche", which is French for "The Ark", as in Noah’s Ark.
The first community in Canada was founded in 1969 in Richmond Hill
near Toronto
, Ontario
. The first community in the UK
was founded in 1973 in Barfrestone
, Kent
through the efforts of Vanier's sister, Therese. L'Arche Kent has since grown into a thriving L'Arche community, the first in the UK.
Although L'Arche communities are found in many different cultures and reflect the ethnic and religious composition of the locales in which they exist, they share a common philosophy and approach. People with developmental disabilities and those who assist them live and work together to create homes. The L'Arche Charter says, "In a divided world, L'Arche wants to be a sign of hope. Its communities, founded on covenant relationships between people of differing intellectual capacity, social origin, religion and culture, seek to be signs of unity, faithfulness and reconciliation."The charter further outlines the objectives, the principles and the identity of L'Arche. All the Communities of the International Federation of L'Arche are committed to living these principles.
In March, 2008, the international councils of L'Arche and another organization for disabled people founded by Vanier, Faith and Light
, met for the first time in joint meeting in Lviv
, Ukraine
. The international council of L’Arche was represented by 30 people from 14 countries, and the international council of Faith and Light was represented by 19 people from 17 countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, India, Canada, USA, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Brazil, Uganda, New Zealand, Philippines, and Italy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). It was founded in 1964 when Jean Vanier
Jean Vanier
Jean Vanier, CC GOQ is a Canadian Catholic philosopher, humanitarian and the founder of L'Arche, an international organization which creates communities where people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them share life together...
, the son of Canadian Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Georges Vanier
Georges Vanier
Major-General Georges-Philéas Vanier was a Canadian soldier and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 19th since Canadian Confederation....
and Pauline Vanier
Pauline Vanier
The Honourable Pauline Vanier, PC, CC, DStJ , born Pauline Archer in Montreal, married Georges Vanier on September 29, 1921. Georges would become one of Canada's first professional diplomats, Canada's first ambassador to France and Canada's first Canadian-born French-speaking Governor General of...
, welcomed two men with disabilities into his home in the town of Trosly-Breuil
Trosly-Breuil
Trosly-Breuil is a village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Today, it is an international organization operating in 40 countries, and on every continent.
Worldwide, L’Arche is organized into regional and national groupings of independent, locally operated agencies which it calls “communities." Each L'Arche community normally comprises a number of homes and, in many cases, apartments and day programs as well. Currently, there are approximately 150 L'Arche communities and official "projects" affiliated with the International Federation of L'Arche.
The L'Arche Model
L’Arche homes and programs operate according to a not-for-profit “community model” which is distinct from "client-centered", medical, or social service models of care. At L’Arche,the development of long-term, mutual, interdependent relationships;
the maintenance of a stable, life-giving home environment;
the training and ongoing formation of those who provide assistance to community members with disabilities; and
cooperation with outside professional care providers.
The Mission of L'Arche
The mission of L'Arche, as defined by L'Arche International, isIn pursuit of this mission, L'Arche strives
L'Arche as a "Faith-Based" Organization
As a faith-based organization, L'Arche maintains, promotes, and strives to act upon the following principles:For more information about the vision and mission of L'Arche, see the "Charter of L'Arche”
History of L'Arche
In 1964, through his friendship with DominicanDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priest Father Thomas Philippe, Vanier became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Vanier felt led by God to invite two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and share their lives with him in a household in Trosly-Breuil, France. He named their home "L’Arche", which is French for "The Ark", as in Noah’s Ark.
The first community in Canada was founded in 1969 in Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
near Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The first community in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was founded in 1973 in Barfrestone
Barfrestone
Barfrestone is a hamlet in East Kent, UK between Shepherdswell, Eythorne and Nonington and close to the pit villages of Elvington and Snowdown...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
through the efforts of Vanier's sister, Therese. L'Arche Kent has since grown into a thriving L'Arche community, the first in the UK.
Although L'Arche communities are found in many different cultures and reflect the ethnic and religious composition of the locales in which they exist, they share a common philosophy and approach. People with developmental disabilities and those who assist them live and work together to create homes. The L'Arche Charter says, "In a divided world, L'Arche wants to be a sign of hope. Its communities, founded on covenant relationships between people of differing intellectual capacity, social origin, religion and culture, seek to be signs of unity, faithfulness and reconciliation."The charter further outlines the objectives, the principles and the identity of L'Arche. All the Communities of the International Federation of L'Arche are committed to living these principles.
In March, 2008, the international councils of L'Arche and another organization for disabled people founded by Vanier, Faith and Light
Faith and Light
Faith and Light is a cross-denominational Christian charitable association built to help those with learning disabilities and their friends and family by meeting together for friendship, prayer, celebration and sharing...
, met for the first time in joint meeting in Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The international council of L’Arche was represented by 30 people from 14 countries, and the international council of Faith and Light was represented by 19 people from 17 countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, India, Canada, USA, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Brazil, Uganda, New Zealand, Philippines, and Italy.
Funding
L'Arche communities are funded differently, depending on where they are located. In Canada, the UK, France and other developed countries, they are funded by the relevant governmental body. In less economically developed countries they rely more on local donations and on donations from other L'Arche communities.National & Multinational L'Arche Websites
An up-to-date listing of all national and multi-national L'Arche headquarters can be found here.
Below is a list of direct links to some of the key national and multi-national L'Arche websites:
- L'Arche in Latinamerica / El Arca en Latinoamerica
- L'Arche Canada
- L'Arche en France
- L'Arche in the United Kingdom
- L'Arche USA
- L'Arche Zimbabwe
L'Arche Community Websites
An up-to-date listing of all L'Arche communities worldwide can be found here.
Below is a list of direct links to some L'Arche community websites:
- L'Arche Cape Breton
- L'Arche Chicago
- L'Arche in Clinton
- L'Arche Daybreak - Richmond Hill, Ontario
- L'Arche Kent
- L'Arche Bognor Regis
- L'Arche Greater Washington, DC
- L'Arche Winnipeg
- http://www.larchemobile.org
- http://www.larchecleveland.org
- L'Arche Dunaharaszti, Hungary