Who are we ?
Les Sapins is one of the hundred worlwide l'Arche communities and is a member of the international federation of l'Arche wich was founded in 1964 by Jean Vanier in Trosly-Breuil, a small village situated in the north of France.
The aim of l'Arche is to create communities which welcome people with learning disabilities. We aim to live a community where assistants and people with learning disabilities share the same house and work. We aim to be a place where assistants and people with learning disabilities can grow to their full potential in their spirituality, independence, skills and relationships.
Les Sapins is situated in south-west of France, in a rural area full of vineyards. We currently have 3 houses with an average of 8 people with learning disabilities living in each one. The handicapped members of the community either live in one of our homes or in their family. A few of them live by themselves, in their own apartments. We have 4 workshops : a horticultural project, landscape gardening contracts team, vineyards and a therapeutic wordshop. We are a community based on Christian beliefs, predominantly Catholic in France, however we welcome people with learning disabilities and assistants of any faith or none. We do ask that everyone has a respect for the spiritual life of Les Sapins and offer the possibility for everyone to deeper their spiritual life.
- Time to take a step back from the stress and competition in today's society.
- Non judgemental friendships with people with learning disabilities who will accept me for who I am, complete with all of my weaknesses and qualities. Helping others to develop to their full potential helps us to develop at the same time.
- Lasting friendships with other volunteers from throughout the world, all of whom will have similar values to mine about building community and living on a daily basis with adults with a learning disability.
- A sense of being welcomed into the heart of a warm and enriching community setting.
- Time to reflect on what sense I want to give to my life and more practically what I want to do with my life. My stay at l'Arche provides great work experience if I decide to follow a career in any social or educational setting.
- An amazing (life) experience which will help me to understand and celebrate life whatever my future holds.