We need your help to support Concilia and others like her with a learning disability living in our Communities in Uganda and Zimababwe.

Statuory funding for people with disabilities is rare in developing economies, and families with limited financial means are often unable to cope with a child with disabilities. As a result of this and the social stigma surrounding people with a disability in the parts of Africa, a child may be abandoned.

L'Arche provides care, support, friendship and a place of belonging for people who may not otherwise survive outside the community.

L'Arche UK needs to raise £84,000 to support the on-going costs of our projects in Uganda and Zimbabwe, which support 27 adults and 28 children with learning disabilties. These funds are supplemented by small local earnings from each of the Communities but it is not enough to sustain the running costs which is why we need your help to support them.

The adults and children we help have a range of learning disabilities. Some live in the Community (som ehave been with us for nearly 20 years) whilst others are welcomed in the day provision services, the workshops and the schools for the younger children.

Daily life in our Communities involves activities ranging from the preparation of food, bathing tending to the vegetable gardens to educational activities and physiotherapy to improve health and stimulate well-being.

What we want for ourselves, we want for Concila, Joshua and others...

In Zimbabwe, a small amount of local revenue is being raised through the sale of vegetable crops (maize, kale, onion and cabbage), production of avoacdo oil and chicken breeding. The Community plan to develop the growing of mushrooms, tomatoes and potatoes and would also like to expand the small chicken project.

In Uganda, the community has a farm and produces candles, textiles and jewellery for sale in a craft workshop. In the longer term our Communities are aiming to be self-sufficient through further local inititiatives but until then they do not have the resources necessary to sustain even the most basic needs. Any donation you can give is incredibly important to us and the survival of our Communities.

Your donations will be used for things like vital running costs, improvements to the homes, food, seeds and tools for the gardens, clothing, medical supplies and equipment, schooling and transportation.

You can help make a difference.