Help Adults with Disabilities in Mexico Create Art

Greetings from Querétaro dear friends and supporters!

Many changes have taken place since our last report to you. Some of the dedicated staff and volunteers have left for new horizons, and new faces are around the workshop, experiencing the challenges and joy of working with people with intellectual disabilities. Although they have come to be instructors of some areas of the workshop, it is indeed our beneficiaries who are the teachers, guiding them in opening their hearts, stretching their patience and experiencing the world of disability with new eyes.

Andrea, whom some of you might remember, has also gone through some transitions. A while ago, she lost her grandmother to whom she was very attached. She started losing interest in her work and became less active in her painting and socializing spaces. But came the preparations for the International Federation Assembly, a gathering of delegates from all communities of L’Arche in the World. The Assembly takes place every five years, and is a time of getting together, celebrating the diversity of the larger El Arca family, and of voting for the new leaders of the federation and the mandate, among other things. This year and for the first time, the assembly took place virtually. Andrea was asked to prepare ahead of time material to motivate members of all communities to participate during the weeklong gathering on-line. She was filmed painting about the four elements, water, wind, fire and earth; then she was invited along with Laura to travel to France as the representatives of the Spanish-speaking communities. Andrea gladly accepted the invitation, as traveling was one of her dreams! She enjoyed very much meeting new faces and new places (including a visit to the Louvres museum) and getting to participate in the animation group. Realizing that members from many communities were watching her and others, she assumed her role very seriously and in a very responsible and mature way. Andrea is now back home and attends the workshop with renewed energy and interest. This experience has certainly boosted her self-confidence and has shown her family and us the level of maturity and autonomy that she has acquired lately.

Today, we celebrate the achievements of Andrea and that of other members of our community who continue to grow in abilities, confidence, and autonomy. We also celebrate the presence of friends and supporters like you around us, who permit us to continue providing a safe and nurturing environment to our beneficiaries.

 ¡¡¡Gracias, thank you, merci!!!

Warm regards and best wishes for a happy and restful summer/winter,

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