by Lucy Clarke

21.10.2024

I arrived in Edinburgh on the L'Arche Internship programme almost four weeks ago now. I was very unsure and nervous about moving across the UK to be part of something that sounded so beautiful on paper but surely difficult in practice.

Immediately, stepping out of my boarding gate at Edinburgh Airport, Brenda was there to greet me, holding a piece of paper with my name on it. In that simple moment, when Brenda smiled at me despite my hours of delay, I felt my nerves soften.

It was my first hint that at L'Arche Edinburgh, people genuinely care about each other, no matter how new or unfamiliar they might be.

The magic of L’Arche, as I’ve come to realise in my time here so far, is its power to find joy whenever it can.

What has surprised me about my time at L’Arche is the immediate warmth and intent to make you feel at home, no matter who you are meeting here—members with learning disabilities, assistants, or people at the office. These moments of smiles and little chats that are gifted to everyone in the Community really made me see that L’Arche’s mission to celebrate people is easily achieved through moments of joy.

Now, living in a L’Arche house called Creelha, for anyone who doesn’t know, we love to dance and sing here, and we do it any chance we get. In fact, Creelha feels like a place where music and laughter are essential as soon as you step foot in the door. Whether it’s a brief prayer before dinner or watching a serious amount of Tom Jones with his biggest fan, Avril. Her joy when he starts singing is infectious—it’s impossible not to join in singing along with her.

It seems maybe such an obvious thing to say, but it is something that I’ve really been missing in my life before L’Arche. In a world that feels weighed down by challenges, choosing to laugh, dance, and find lightness in small moments almost feels like a quiet act of rebellion. It’s a reminder that joy can be a form of resistance. To me, it feels like we’re all intentionally choosing to find the positive in the light despite the difficulties we’re faced with. This is an incredible strength that I truly believe makes the world a better place, as it allows connections and relationships that persevere against all challenges.

Every day at L’Arche, you feel the intention to smile and laugh and to share that with others. It's in these small, everyday acts of joy and connection that I see how a true community is built—not just by living together but by genuinely seeing and celebrating each other.

The L'Arche Internship