As I Am

Rejoice in who you are as you are

People with intellectual disabilities continue to be perceived as undesirables. This is one of our world’s significant injustices. And it is one we can change. L’Arche International’s #AsIAm Web Series invites you imagine the world differently.

Why #AsIAm?

In 2014, the success of two short films, “I am Musa” and “Stop Ableism”, inspired a storytelling project to share the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In the “I am Musa” film, a young man named Musa is introduced as someone whose disability “is probably having abnormal joy.” Musa rejoices in being loved, “as I am.”

Every video in the #AsIAm series embraces this joyful spirit, celebrating each one of us – exactly who we are, as we are.

If we all watched one video like this a day, I think we’d start seeing the world very differently, and become our better selves.

Discover the 12 incredible stories of L’Arche members around the world

These funny, inspiring and deeply touching videos invite you to see the world from fresh, often ignored perspectives: the ones of people with intellectual disabilities.

Subtitles are available in 7 languages on YouTube

The web series is translated in Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Polish and Spanish.

How to activates the subtitles

The unremarkable encounter

Have you seen the remarkable story of Santos and Pipe, from L’Arche Honduras? Check out the 3-part series that tells the story of their lives and the unremarkable encounters that lead them to where they are now.

First Waltz

Marcos, from L’Arche Argentina, is in love with Ines, but he isn’t ready to share that fact with his friends and family. This film tells the story of his feelings for her, his fears about letting them be known, and the courage needed to love out in the open.

On my own?

When Katherine was 57, she lost her mother, leaving her parentless in the world. She journeys toward independence while trying to avoid its pitfalls by staying close to a loving community, in L’Arche Australia.

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Nineteen Paper Cranes

L’Arche Japan’s response to the largest mass murder in their country since World War II.

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We remember

When a life is over, we grieve. But there are certain lives, even certain populations, which society would have us forget. Discover L’Arche India’s As I Am film.

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Beyond the wall

When wars break out, many heroes go unnoticed. We share the story of Colonel N’Da, from L’Arche Côte d’Ivoire.

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If I were a color

Nagat, from L’Arche Egypt, explains how she and her brother faced societies’ attempt to disable their humanity.

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Google Larry

Larry, from L’Arche Northern Ireland, finds a limit to the gift and reaches the edge of the internet.

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Take care of you

What is meant by the word disability? For Raffaella, from L’Arche Italy, it means when your father grows old.

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Let The Birds Loose

Bogdan, from L’Arche Ukraine, grew up under a government that denied his existence. He explains his method of civil resistance: joy.

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No Lions in Paris

Musa, from L’Arche Kenya, takes us where dogs dress like humans and humans eat like goats.

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5,000 Broken Gifts

There is a gift in brokenness… if you can find it. Mateusz, from L’Arche Poland, shares an inventive way of giving.

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Love #AsIAm? Here’s what you can do:

Host a screening

Interested in sharing this film in person? Contact us about how to host a screening at home or in a public place.

Contact us

Have a discussion

Use our viewing guides to have a discussion. These guides offer behind the scenes information and discussion questions to help you explore the themes of the #AsIAm films. Ideal for use in classrooms and small gatherings (religious groups, film clubs, etc.)

Have somethingto share?

Send us your response to the film series.

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