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Become a L’Arche assistant

Do you want to make a difference with your life? Are you looking to make a meaningful career change?

 

Don’t just take our word for it!

An experience in L’Arche can change your life. You will be transformed by getting to know people with intellectual disabilities and you will make lifelong friends.

You will gain skills that will enhance your resume and make a real impact. It is often also a way to deepen your spirituality and the meaning of your life. Sometimes it is an opportunity to travel and learn a new language.

In short, L’Arche is an exceptional adventure. 

Watch L'Arche Canada "Why Join L'Arche Canada?"

A career choice

Most assistants choose to stay for one or two years in L’Arche, developing transferable skills that provide building blocks for careers in fields such as social work, psychology, medicine, ministry and speech and language therapy to name but a few. For some it becomes a career of life-long learning and personal development.

What to expect? 

To share life in a L’Arche home, workshop, day activity or as part of a broader support network with members with an intellectual disability and other assistants.

To support people with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of life according to their needs.

To make a commitment for one year.

To learn new skills about caring, through our training and formation programs. In most countries L’Arche is a registered charity and must meet national standards in professional care.

Your own unique outlook on life will be respected, whatever your religion or philosophy; in return, we ask you to respect the spiritual dimension of L’Arche and other community members and where possible to take part in community celebrations.

To experience daily life with people who are different to you, and discover how much you actually have in common!

Who can apply?

You don’t need previous experience of working with people with intellectual disabilities to apply to L’Arche – we just ask that you are friendly, inquisitive, empathetic and committed. Training is provided.

As members of an international federation, an important part of L’Arche’s mission is to welcome assistants across cultures and nations. L’Arche is committed to celebrating diversity in every capacity: welcoming assistants from different cultural experiences only makes communities stronger and more accepting to all.

Our communities are also subject to Covid-19 restrictions and visa applications.

How to apply?

We encourage you to first apply to be an assistant in your own country. If you want to be an assistant in another country check out whether countries are accepting applications from foreign nationals by clicking on the country you are interested in. You will be directed to their website or to an application form.

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