Stéphane Valeri visits L’Arche facility in Grasse

On Thursday 26 May, L’Arche Jean Vanier de Grasse hosted a visit by Mr Stéphane Valeri, Minister of Health and Social Affairs. 

The association manages two medical and social facilities on a beautiful Provençal estate in Grasse. These facilities support 30 adults with learning disabilities (21 live on-site, and nine benefit from day provision). The staff includes employees from the Alpes-Maritimes region, Var department and Monaco. 

Mr Stéphane Valeri, accompanied by Mr Jean L’Herbon de Lussats, President of the Monaco Friends of L’Arche Association (Amadarche), was welcomed by the President of the L’Arche Jean Vanier de Grasse association, Mr Pierre Schorter, and its Director Mr François Leroy. During the morning, the Minister had an opportunity to see the various workshops in action, including cooking and baking at “Chefs”, gardening and DIY at “Cactus” and art and piñata at “Zen’it”. He then shared lunch in the Blue house, one of the three residential units, which is home to residents with learning disabilities, members of the teaching team and young civic service volunteers alike. 

This “shared living” is one of the things which makes the L’Arche association and facilities in Grasse unique. The Grasse association is part of the federation of communities founded by Jean Vanier in 1964. Specialist educational support is combined with the experience of sharing daily life, from domestic chores to high points for the community. Decisions affecting each house or the community are also shared. 

On behalf of the Monaco Government, Mr Stéphane Valeri confirmed that the Principality would provide financial support. This support was announced at the gala concert organised in aid of L’Arche by Amadarche in Monaco on 16 January. During lunch, the Minister also shared his passion for football and AS Monaco FC with a young German volunteer who supported Borussia Dortmund, and the L’Arche residents. He then invited a group from L’Arche to join him for a match at the Louis II Stadium once the Ligue 1 championship gets going again.