Brigitte tries to pose for the camera while working in the garden

Ateliers (workshops) are a recent addition to the daily life of L'Arche de la Vallee. Every day, the people with handicaps attend workshops depending on their interests and abilities. The workshops are facilitated by assistants and employees of l'Arche de la Vallee. Though the subjects vary from basketball to shopping, from feeding the donkeys to body care, the physical tasks to accomplish are not as important as the opportunity that they allow for the people to work together and use their minds to explore, learn, and create new things.

atelier d'expression verbale...

Veronique in the marketplace beside an animal vendor

This is always a neat atelier because the people are encouraged to speak. For example, we recently wrote a story about a princess with a dirty dog (that speaks and likes jewellery?), who goes to a castle to search for her prince, and therein encounters the evil snake charmer. A battle ensues and the princess wins... again, the tasks to accomplish are not as important as the process! The other day, we went to a marketplace, and the people were instructed to pay attention to the actions of the vendors. Upon returning, we attempted to imitate the various people. It was quite amusing.

atelier d'animaux...

Alain Blaise gives the donkeys a kiss on the cheek

One Friday afternoon, I found myself feeding donkeys, collecting chicken/duck eggs, and then cleaning rabbit cages. If I'm not mistaken, that was the precise moment where I first asked myself, 'How the heck did I ever end up here?!'.

ateliers artisanat...

A neat place to go and make decorations, jewelry and all sorts of whatnots.

atelier de bois...

Alain Bonin happily sandpapers his napkin holders

This workshop allows the people to use their creativity to build objects out of wood, such as sculptures, picture frames and napkin holders.

sortie de groupe...

Choosing a movie to view

A few times a year, we take a Friday to visit another town, where we dine in a restaurant or watch a movie. It's a way to allow the people to observe the society outside of the L'Arche bubble. And the people love cinemas and restaurants, and so do I!