L'Arche is an international network of faith-based communities centered around people who have developmental disabilities (or learning disabilities as they are known in the UK). L'Arche communities typically include homes and day programs. L'Arche 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.

The name “L’Arche” is French for "The Ark," as in “Noah’s Ark.” L’Arche is a worldwide organization welcoming people from many different faith traditions, as well as people who have no formal affiliation with any particular faith tradition.

In 1964, through his friendship with a Dominican priest, Father Thomas Philippe, Jean Vanier became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Jean 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 real home in Trosly-Breuil, France. He named their home L'Arche. From this original community in France, 130 other communities have been founded throughout the world in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North and South America.

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 Jean Vanier's sister, Therese.

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 are committed to living these principles.

In March, 2008, the international councils of L'Arche and other founded by Jean Vanier movement for disabled people Faith and Light met for the first time in joint meeting in Lviv, Ukraine. The international council of L’Arche was represented by 30 persons from 14 countries, and the international council of Faith and Light was represented by 19 persons from 17 countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, India, Canada, USA, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Brazil, Uganda, New Zealand, Philippines, and Italy.

Fundraising effort

The Mobile, Alabama chapter of L'Arche became involved with a nationwide fund raising project called "Fiddy2," in which Dane Rauschenberg ran one marathon each weekend during 2006, with the goal of raising funds for the local chapter, which noted that "the money raised by Dane’s efforts will help us reach this goal" of raising funds and informing the public about the organization. Rauschenberg completed the 52-marathon project — which involved traveling to three marathons in Canada, as well as one in Alaska, and one in the Cayman Islands — and raised $43,000 for L'Arche.

L'Arche Communities are funded differently, depending on where they are located. In the UK and in other developed countries, they are funded by the relevant government body. Other Communities rely on local donations and donations from other L'Arche Communities.

Bibliography

Challenge of L'Arche, 1982, Jean Vanier A Blessed Weakness: Spirit of Jean Vanier and L'Arche, 1989, Michael Downey

Arc for the Poor: The Story of L'Arche (L'Arche Collection), 1995, Jean Vanier

Encounter with Mystery: Reflections on L'Arche and Living with Disability, 1997, Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd, editor Frances Young

The Miracle the Message the Story: Jean Vanier and L'Arche, 2006, Kathryn Spink

Enough Room for Joy: The Early Days of Jean Vanier's L'Arche, 2007, Jean Vanier and Bill, S.J. Clarke

Community and Growth, reprinted 1989, Jean Vanier, Paulist Press

References

http://www.rcdow.org.uk/cardinal/default.asp?content_ref=276

External links

• L'Arche International
• L'Arche Canada
• L'Arche Atlantic Region (Canada)
• L`arche Cape Breton
• L'Arche Daybreak - Richmond Hill, Ontario
• L'Arche USA
• L'Arche in the United Kingdom
• L'Arche Chicago
• / L'Arche in Latinamerica / El Arca en Latinoamerica
• Podcast of American Public Radio's Speaking of Faith episode about L'Arche