WORK & LIVE IN L'ARCHE DC

At L'Arche, people with intellectual disabilities are the "core people" of the community, a community that tries to respond to the fundamental needs of the human heart--- a secure home, fulfilling work, a chance to learn, an opportunity to contribute, time to have fun and a place to belong. The people who help the core people build this community are called assistants.

Assistants are expected to create home with the core people and to support them in dignified, meaningful activities that enable them to reach their full potential and to use their gifts in the neighborhood and city .

As an assistant, the journey begins with an invitation to make your home in one of the L'Arche Greater Washington, DC homes. There you will accompany core people in their activities of daily life. It is important to note that core people are not clients and assistants are not staff. Rather, you are members of a supportive community where you share your gifts and build mutual relationships.

“L'Arche is a learning experience, a life experience, and a love experience that doesn't fit into any of the boxes into which we try to neatly categorize and make sense of what we go through. And that is also the joy and wonder of it all.”
– Amy Roth, former assistant

Assistants, who are asked to make an initial one-year commitment to L'Arche, receive room, board and a stipend in return for joining the L'Arche Greater Washington, DC community. Assistants who are eligible can also receive an Americorps education grant.

An assistant's practical responsibilities vary widely according to the needs of core people, for example:

Teaching new life skills such as cooking, shopping, using public transit and so on.
Accompanying core members to medical appointments or community activities.
Helping, if needed, with bathing, dressing and eating.
Sharing in household chores, including cleaning, shopping, cooking and driving.
Working with your Home Life Coordinator as part of the household team of assistants.
Participating in and contributing to L'Arche community meetings, retreats, celebrations, and worship.

TO APPLY, PLEASE:

Read the L'Arche Charter and the North American Mission & Identity Statement.
Read the assistant role description.
Complete the application and email to: dkelly at larchewashingtondc.org.

Interested in finding a L'Arche community near you?
Go to http://www.larcheusa.org/directory.php for a listing of other communities.