Summary What is L'Arche becoming? - Arche Deutschland

Lala and Benito from L’Arche Punla
Chido from L’Arche Harare ©
Raimonda Sidaraite
As you may have heard in the media
the Philippines have been hit by heavy
floods in the past few days. Here is a
little report based on conversations
with Mike Noonan (Zone Coordinator
for Asia West Pacific) on the situation
in the local L’Arche community.
The community was caught in the floods but were able to all
shelter upstairs in the workshop. The waters have now receded
but they had risen so quickly even rats and cockroaches couldn’t
get away fast enough so could be seen floating dead on the water.
It is the worst flood in 30 years and several people have died. The
community was extraordinarily lucky. The workshop is safe.
Sylvia Montilla, the Zone President, and Mike Noonan were at
Punla. When they were talking the waters rose so Letlet, the
community leader, evacuated the house. When Raymond (the first
person with a learning disability welcomed in the community) was
carried up to the workshop upstairs, water was waist high, and
by the time Lalal (another person with learning disabilities) was
carried up, the water was chest high. They were able to rescue an
old lady and an old man.
They cleaned up the mud which was everywhere in the house and
began to move things back. A lot of the educational material from
... Important reading
Situation in the Philippines
the Day Care Centre though has been lost. Everything was damp
but the sun was shining today (Monday 28 September, red.) and
the mattresses have been dried. As Sylvia and Mike drove out of
Cainta (the area where the community is situated) people had
their belongings on the wayside.
The whole community came into their own. The people with
learning disabilities managed the adverse circumstances
extremely well offering help and support. Mari Flor, a woman
with learning disabilities, helped the old woman the community
rescued, sitting her down immediately she came in and making
her a cup of tea. She knew exactly what to do in a crisis.
The community is now cut off as there is no electricity – which
also means they are in the dark once the sun sets – and so no
phones or computers work. There has been more torrential rain.
Another typhoon is expected this weekend so there is a risk of
further flooding but they don’t think it will be as bad.
Lala had asked for a swimming party for her birthday which was
that day so people kept teasing her saying, “You got more than
you bargained for this time!” (good to see they kept their sense
of humour!).
news from L’Arche Zimbabwe
Father David Harold-Barry SJ, founder of the L’Arche Zimbabwe community, and now its chaplain, visited
London in September and addressed a gathering organised by L’Arche Overseas Development Fund.
He described conditions in the country as “very slightly better” than this time last year. The transition from
the Zimbabwe dollar to the US dollar had been effective in stabilising the economy and there were now more
goods for sale in the shops. However, only people who actually had US dollars could benefit, which excluded
great swathes of the population. Even if salaries are now all paid in US dollars, and goods in the shops priced
in them, this excludes access to all who are unemployed, and the unemployment rate is extremely high. So
there is still widespread poverty, malnutrition and even starvation.
The L’Arche community is coping despite the very difficult conditions still prevailing. The long awaited project of adapting and improving
the second house, is now well underway, although more money will be needed to complete it. Local salaries have risen sharply over
the year and the community suffers badly when good experienced assistants leave for better paid employment elsewhere. Donation
income from outside the country remains vital to the community’s continued existence, and it is unlikely that locally generated income
will pick up much, until there are significant improvements to the local economy and to local purchasing power. Father David described
the community as “fragile” and asks for the continued prayers and support of L’Arche around the world.
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