There’s no stopping Benito Mananquil of L’Arche Punla! “What activities do I love? Basketball, swimming, playing my guitar, leading the community choir – Even cooking supper for everyone on Saturdays!” Since joining L’Arche in the Philippines, 12 years ago, Benito has clearly not been wasting his time! “My goal? Independent living and a good job”. And according to Kits Codod, the new community leader: “As Benito reaches out, and takes new steps in his life, he is calling our community too to take new steps to help him reach his goals.”

For John Paul, another community member, new steps means one thing above all: dancing! For a man once told he would never even walk, the turnaround is truly extraordinary. During the years when his potential lay hidden, no-one could have imagined that one day he would be a source of such energy. “When he came to the community, in 2005, all John Paul wanted to do was just sit all day and watch TV,” says Kits. “So it is incredible to see the fantastic change in him: what made this change possible? Skilled therapy, ongoing warm encouragement, but let’s not forget John Paul’s own sheer guts and determination: now we sometimes need to tell him to slow down a bit!”