Live and work alongside people both with and without intellectual
disabilities in one of 30 L’Arche communities located in towns and cities from Cape Breton to Vancouver! You will live in a home with people with disabilities and assistants, sharing daily life. At L’Arche, people who have an intellectual disability teach us daily about the beauty of simple and true relationships. Come and discover this experience yourself!
Placement: L’Arche Canada
Intercordians have the option of choosing to do a placement in any L’Arche community across Canada!
L’Arche was founded in 1964 by Canadian humanitarian and social visionary, Jean Vanier. Distressed by the institutionalization, isolation and loneliness of people with developmental disabilities, Jean Vanier invited two men from an institution to live with him in a small house. He called the house ‘‘L’Arche,’’ a French word for ‘‘the ark’’ in the biblical story of Noah and the flood. L’Arche grew quickly and spread around the world, attracting many young people who
wanted to help and open new homes and workshops. L’Arche began in Canada in 1969. Today, there are over 130 L’Arche communities in 34 countries on six continents. All of these communities are part of the International Federation of L’Arche Communities.
In L’Arche:
– People who have developmental disabilities and those who come to assist, share every day life and daytime activities together in family-like settings that are integrated into local neighbourhoods.
– Canada has nearly 200 homes and workshops or day programs. These are grouped into what L’Arche calls ‘‘communities.’’
– There are 27 communities of L’Arche located across Canada from Cape Breton to Vancouver Island and 2 projects that hope soon to become communities.
– An environment is created where people can reach their full potential, lead lives rich in relationships of mutuality, and have a valid place in society where they can contribute.
Students are able to live …in a costal community like Cape Breton, Nova Scotia …or Vancouver, British Columbia …in a French speaking community in charming, historic Trois-Rivières …or a prairie city like Lethbridge, Alberta! The choice is yours!
Guaranteed Bursary: At the completion of your placement L’Arche gives you a $2,000 bursary.
Programs available
A. 12 weeks: May-June-July Learn More
A typical day in L’Arche Canada
Stories from the Heart
“My time living at L’Arche has taught me that every human being has a story. I don’t think I have really accomplished anything that most people would consider significant. I bake dessert on the weekend and fold laundry. I sit on the couch with Kristina. I take the bus to the mall with Patrick, and I have a good laugh with Debbie. Each core member here at L’Arche is so full of life, each with their own way of perceiving the world around them. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery. Dinnertime is easily the most important part of our lives here. For Vanier, sharing a meal reveals that beneath it all we are all human and we all long to belong. At L’Arche, sharing a meal is the simplest time to be with others, rather than doing for others. The emphasis is not on giving but rather on learning to receive from others. As assistants, our role is to support and reassure, to acknowledge everyone’s gifts and help them as they live out their lives and grow as unique human beings. Sharing life together is a part of what makes each of us whole. My time living at L’Arche has taught me that every human being has a story and moments of vulnerability to share. Living at L’Arche is about sharing and enjoying life with others who happen to have a disability.” (Tiago | USMC | L’Arche Canada 2013)