L'Arche in Paris runs its structures
(residential and day time activities)
in Paris 15th district.

Th eproject of L'Arche in Paris is a
community .

project, The community brings
together a large diversity
of members who take part in
the life of the community,
in keeping with their abilities
and needs.

Structures

The projects run by l'Arche in Paris take place in Paris' 15th district.

Three residential homes and a home for ageing community members.
              Moriya (click here for a visit),
              Le Gué (click here for a visit),
              Namasté (click here for a visit),
              Viim (click here for a visit).

A day centre (CAJ) :
              L'Atelier (click here for a visit)

A social support team (SAVS) :
              Le Service de Suite (click here for a visit)

Day time activities :
              Les Beaux Sieurs (click here for a visit)

Offices :
              Le Bureau (click here for a visit)

Locality :

Community project

The aim of l'Arche in Paris is to offer people with a learning disability and assistants joining them, a homely, supportive, family type environment where they can develop personal strengths, friendships and celebrate the meaning of life: in short, to create a communal way of life!
It is life in community which provides members with the opportunity to build relationships based on mutual respect and exchange based on mutual respect and equal exchange.
Each member is invited to participate in the community as best he or she feels able, bringing strengths and accepting weaknesses.

L'Arche in Paris combines the deepening of an understanding of community with the development of support skills and the desire to live a nourishing spiritual life based on mutual respect for the beliefs of each.

A large diversity of members

The community is made up of many different people

People with learning disabilities

They are at the heart of the community.
Each has their own life story, their struggles, their gifts, their dreams...
Some live in a home, others live independently in flats or with relatives, some have day time activities in the larger community, others work in Paris or have retired.

L'Arche in Paris is committed to the enabling the development and seeking out the potential of each.




Assistants

They share their daily life with people with a learning disability. They contribute to the running of the residential, day time or other services within the community. Some are paid workers and others are volunteers. They are from different backgrounds, countries cultures. They are single, in couples or families. Some commit to l'Arche for a year or two, others remain in l'Arche for a lifetime.


Friends
They have committed to participating on a regular basis to a certain aspect of the life of the community.

For example they help out with cooking a meal in one of the homes.

The community benefits a great deal from the loyalty, respect and support of its friends towards the people with a learning disability and the assistants.



Management Committee

The management committee is responsible for overseeing the financial and legal affairs of the community.
They are the trustees of the project.

Each member of the management committee contributes to the running of the community with his or her particular skills, contacts and experience.

Each member of the management committee is inspired by and the mutual respect and sense of sharing that characterise all aspects of life in l'Arche.


Long distance members

Some friends or former assistants in the community can no longer participate in the daily practical life of the community for a number of reasons. They maintain nevertheless a spiritual connection with the community through a variety of ways, including emails or visits.