L'Arche Belfast

\"We are a community, a group of people of different ages, creeds, capacities, social and ethnic backgrounds, connected to one another through our belief that everyone irrespective of their circumstances, can make a difference and has the capacity to change the world. Together we are working to build a world that recognizes the unique value of every person and our need for one another. The lifestyle and activities of the community are focused on bringing the gifts of fragile humanity, often hidden in the margins of life, into the centre. At the heart of the community there are people who have ‘learning disabilities’ often referred to as ‘Core Members’. Because of their simple and authentic way of being in the world and their dependence on others in the ordinary activities of daily life they have much to teach us about welcome, hospitality, our shared humanity and our need for one another. They invite us into relationships that are about interdependence and that transform our hearts. In this way the community is a ‘school for the heart’ and through mutually transformative relationships we are moved into new and more meaningful ways of belonging in the world - as family, friends, neighbours and citizens\".