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L’ARCHE BRUXELLES

 Name L’arche Bruxelles

Location Brussels

Dates Permanent project.

Minimum participation of 3 months. It is possible to carry out a project lasting 6 to 12 months, but this is only available to EU volunteers (for visa reasons). In this case, the participation costs will depend on the number of months.

Type DISA – EDU – INTE – SOCI

Age 18+

 Volunteers 4

Fees 1-month program: 287€ 2-month program: 387€ 3-month program: 487€ The conditions (participation fees, visa, accommodation, food, dates and cancellations) are subject to change.

Presentation of the partner L’Arche communities are places where adults with intellectual disabilities live and work together with assistants – salaried or volunteer. These communities aim to create relationships that go beyond care, emphasizing “living with” rather than “doing for.” Each L’Arche home is built on four dimensions: community life, professional support, spirituality, and openness to the world. Volunteers contribute to the shared life of the home, participating in daily routines, celebrations, and community projects, helping to create an extraordinary environment that enables people with intellectual disabilities to take their rightful place in society.

Volunteer work Volunteers will contribute to daily life in the home, including: Morning routines: assisting residents with waking up, household chores Daytime tasks: grocery shopping, accompanying residents to appointments, activities, or sports Evening routines: preparing snacks and meals, helping residents with personal care and bedtime Night presence and participation in 2 weekends per month Supporting residents in day center activities and individual projects Participating in community celebrations, team meetings, and gatherings

 Accommodation Volunteers live on-site in small-scale homes, each housing 6–9 people with disabilities and 4–5 staff members. Each volunteer has a private bedroom, while bathrooms are shared. Homes feature common spaces such as kitchens, living rooms, lounges, and gardens. Houses are located in safe, lively neighborhoods with good public transport connections.

 

Food All meals are provided and prepared collectively with residents and staff, creating important moments of shared life. SVI will provide participants with €200 in pocket money for meals.

Language The project is conducted entirely in French. Volunteers should have basic knowledge of French or a willingness to learn.

Leisure and activities for volunteers Outside working hours, volunteers can: Participate in cultural and social activities organized by the community Explore the local town and surrounding areas Visit nearby cities

Meeting point Rue du Poirier, 8, 1348 Ottignies-Louvain- la-Neuve, Belgium. Arrival days are from Monday to Friday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Outside these hours, we recommend you to take a hotel room on your own. To get to the meeting point you can take the train from the airport: https://www.belgiantrain.be/en

Location L’Arche has several communities in Belgium: Aywaille: 35 people in 4 homes, rural setting near the town center, 20 km from Liège. Bierges: 18 people in 3 homes, semi-urban setting, 20 min from Brussels, 10 min from Louvain la-Neuve. Brussels: ~40 people in 4 homes, urban environment in Etterbeek. Namur: 23 people in 3 homes, on the outskirts of the city, accessible to the vibrant student city center

Nearest airports: Zaventem Airport (Brussels Airport) – 14 km Brussels South Charleroi Airport – 60 km Nearest train station: Central Station - 200 m