ACTUALITIES

Workcamp in Modletín for the Third Time!

"Chantier", this French word is already very familiar to us. We can automatically visualize the amazingly beautiful encounters with the lovely people from Brittany and the huge amount of work we do together.

This year we could enjoy three weeks of this very special time together. It was exceptional, also because aside from the people from L´Arche there was a group of bricklayer trainees with their teachers present, who helped us in order to complete the practical part of their training. A bit unusual to do that 2000 km away from home, but it was a great help for us! We have now managed to build a new entrance to our Modletin premises plus a fence around a half of the allotment. We have also progressed with the renovation of the former baths, readied the material for building the timber fruit drying kiln, completed a stone wall, worked on the orchard, plus many other things. Thanks so much to all the lovely French and Czech people for all their support and sense of community. A very special thanks to all those that are core-members in L´Arche, the people in the centre of the community, the people with disabilities.

Under this link you may view more photos from the workcamp:
http://benediktus.rajce.idnes.cz/Workcamp_2011/

We are Renovating the Former Baths (Aperát)

Ever since we came to Modletín it has been our dream to renovate the historically significant building of the former baths. Our vision is to restore the building in such a way so that it can be used for the life and work of people with disabilities. Our project "Preservation of the Building of the Former Baths in Modletín – First Stage" has been selected to receive EU funding administered by MAS Podhůří Železných hor o.p.s within the framework of guideline III.2.2: "Protection and Development of the Rural Cultural Heritage".

In the first stage of renovation the building will be statically secured and it will get a new roof. It will be temporarily used for storage and as a space for the cultural events that we organize in Modletín. We would like to continue with further renovation works on the building in the future.

L´Arche Delegate Coordinator Baska Pestka visits Benediktus

For the second time this year, Baska Pestka visited us in November. Baska has taken over the role of L´Arche delegate coordinator from Maria Biedrawa after three years. Both visits were a source of great encouragement and allowed us to advance in our work. We talked about what we have achieved at Benediktus. We also planned the next steps in the process of our integration into the international federation of L´Arche. During the time of Baska´s visit we also met with various interesting people who want to support the foundation of L´Arche in the Czech Republic, for example the founders of the community house for people with disabilities, Villa Vallila, or the representatives of the Brno Faith and Light movement. Both meetings were somehow challenging, because we needed to work hard, but we felt very happy to spend time with such a lovely person like Baska. Baska worked for 11 years in the Scottish community of L´Arche and for 7 years she was a community leader of L´Arche in Poland. Currently Baska is working as a L´Arche delegate coordinator for Bangladesh, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Meeting of the pre-project groups of international organization L´Arche of Central and Southern Europe in Croatia in July 2009

International organization L´Arche arranged meeting of pre-project groups, which want to establish community of L´Arche in their country. For the first time Benediktus was invited too. This time meeting took place in Croatia on small island Kosljun.

Meeting had a double aim: to create both the links and conditions for mutual support, and to make progress in our own preparation of a L´Arche foundation, in our culture. During the meeting we spoke about tools and methods that L´Arche recommends in order to prepare a foundation and then we worked on inculturation.

We shared experiences of different situations in our countries. There were 10 countries at the meeting. During the meeting we worked hard, but we had time for mass, celebrations, dance, swimming in the sea and talking.

At the meeting we met new friends and good relationships were set. Whole meeting was very important and beneficial for us.