Unlike organisations such as Handicap-International that work in the field of physical and intellectual disabilities, L'Arche's work concentrates on people with an intellectual disability. In everyday language often used as a synonym for impairment or handicap, the international community has not agreed on a standard definition of the term. As describes by the World Health Organisation in its International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/):

“A variety of conceptual models has been proposed to understand and explain disability and functioning. These may be expressed in a dialectic of “medical model” versus “social model”. The medical model views disability as a problem of the person, directly caused by disease, trauma or other health condition, which requires medical care provided in the form of individual treatment by professionals. Management of the disability is aimed at cure or the individual’s adjustment and behaviour change. Medical care is viewed as the main issue, and at the political level the principal response is that of modifying or reforming health care policy.

The social model of disability, on the other hand, sees the issue mainly as a socially created problem, and basically as a matter of the full integration of individuals into society. Disability is not an attribute of an individual, but rather a complex collection of conditions, many of which are created by the social environment. Hence the management of the problem requires social action, and it is the collective responsibility of society at large to make the environmental modifications necessary for the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of social life. The issue is therefore an attitudinal or ideological one requiring social change, which at the political level becomes a question of human rights. For this model disability is a political issue.” (WHO, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, p.20)

Due to L’Arche’s focus on the gifts of the person with a disability, as well as on the relationship that one may have with others, regardless of one’s abilities or disabilities, the conceptualisation of the term disability loses its importance. The question of terminology, however, is also a challenge for our Federation. While Australia, New Zealand and parts of the US use the term intellectual disability, Anglophone Canada and other parts of the US use the terminology developmental disability. Both terminologies are synonymous for the term learning disability which is used in the UK.

You might find different terminologies on this website and in our documents. Yet, they all describe those at the heart of L'Arche and for whom L'Arche was founded.

L’Arche is about people, with and without an intellectual disability, who share their lives in homes, workshops and day programmes which are grouped into what L’Arche calls communities. Small communities might consist of two houses and possibly a little workshop. The original community of the Federation in Trosly-Breuil encompasses today nine houses and a workshop with more than 100 workers.

People with an intellectual disability need help in their daily lives. In exchange for the many gifts they offer, people who share their life “assist” with the daily tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, hygiene or medical care. An assistant can be a volunteer, an employee, somebody sharing life in a house or a person working in a workshop. L'Arche communities welcome many young assistants who decide to spend a limited time with us. Others commit themselves for longer periods.

L'Arche was founded in a village in France in the Roman Catholic tradition. Generally the communities reflect the predominant faith tradition or traditions of the local population. Thus, with the foundations of the communities of Daybreak in Canada and Asha Niketan in India, the Federation became first ecumenical and then interfaith. Most communities today consider themselves as Christian, some are ecumenical, some identify as Anglican or Protestant, and the majority are Catholic in their practice. The four communities in India and the project in Bangladesh have an interfaith character. All communities of the Federation welcome people of any or no faith and seek to respect and support members in their particular faith choice.

Initially, L'Arche was the name of the house in Trosly-Breuil, France in which Jean Vanier welcomed Raphael and Philippe. The emerging community in Trosly-Breuil then took over the name, showing the way for all the other communities that were to follow and that usually added a local identity to the name “L'Arche”.

L'Arche communities who have been welcomed as probationary or permanent members form the International Federation of L'Arche Communities. L'Arche International is sometimes used as a less bureaucratic synonym for the Federation. Usually however, we use this term to describe the International Secretariat and the different activities carried out on the international level.

The International Federation of L'Arche Communities is governed by the International Board and the International Coordinator. The Executive Committee acts for the Board in between Board meetings. The Federation is divided into nine zones which are often divided into several regions. Each region reassembles a handful of communities. All levels of the structure have a similar government to the International Federation, that is, a Board and a Coordinator.

L'Arche communities are independent legal entities. Their financial income depends on the country in which they are situated. European communities usually benefit more from government subsidies than communities in North America. Communities in the developing world often depend entirely on donations.

L'Arche International is financed through contributions from its members, donations and the L'Arche foundations without which L'Arche would not exist.

For online donations, see:

L’Arche Canada Foundation: http://www.larche.ca/en/donate/about/
Fondation des Amis de L'Arche en France: http://dons.arche-france.fr/

Donations to L’Arche International:
10, rue Fenoux
75015 Paris
France

IBAN (International Bank Account Number): FR76 30003 00678 00037262645 67
BIC (Bank Identifier Code): SOGEFRPP

If you wish to become an assistant in a particular community or country, if you seek information for a relative with an intellectual disability in your region, if you want to become a friend of a community close to you ... please contact the community of your choice or, if there is one, the national or regional office.

L'Arche International can be contacted for any other question through the contact form on this website.