L'Arche
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| Motto | "Changing the world, one heart at a time!" |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 4, 1964, by Jean Vanier, France |
| Type | International not-for-profit organization |
| Location |
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| Services | Operating homes, programs, and support networks with people who have developmental disabilities |
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Members
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5000+ |
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Key people
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Jean Vanier/Raphaël Simi/Phillipe Seux, Founders |
| Website | www |
L'Arche is an International Federation dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities. 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 organisation operating 147 communities in 35 countries, and on all five continents.
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.
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 mission of L'Arche, as defined by L'Arche International, is
In pursuit of this mission, L'Arche strives
L'Arche is rooted in Christianity, but is open to people of any faith and people with no religious affiliation.
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”
In 1964, through his friendship with Father Thomas Philippe, a Roman Catholic priest of the Dominican order, 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. A collection of audiovisual material from L'Arche Trosly-Breuil is available at the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto.
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Wikipedia