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On the road to the IFA – 2023 March | Newsletter

Jasper Keus, Coordinator IFA 2023

Hello Everybody

Here we are in March: the second newsletter!

Here, where I live, we see the first signs of Spring but maybe you are in a very different part of the world. Some weeks ago, the IFA team had the first meeting on Zoom with you, the delegates.

It was great to see your faces: we are preparing this Assembly together! Have you already had your first meeting in your small group with other delegates? If so, great! I hope it went well. These little groups are a key part of the Assembly.

If you haven’t met up yet, please do! And enjoy reading this newsletter!

Don’t forget to use the hashtag #Larche2023

Kilkenny Delegates

(“hello” in Irish!) from us, Mary and Anne in Kilkenny, Ireland.

We really enjoyed the Delegates’ meeting in February, seeing people on the screen, hearing their names and where they are from. Afterwards, we sat down and thought how can we help our community to prepare for the IFA:

So... we told the Community Gathering about it; we booked the dates in June, for the Community to attend meetings where all are invited. Until June, all our Community Gatherings will focus on the IFA: news, pictures, activities.

Each week, one person in each house and work project will animate a few activities proposed in the Newsletter.

And we will put pictures on the Assembly’s Facebook.

That’s a start!

NOTICES

Delegates / IFA team meeting on 27th April, on Zoom

Password: Larche

Inclusive Videoconferencing formation

Please register your interest and your preferred session via assembly2023@larche.org by 7 April

SAVE THE DATE

17-18 April | 7:00 to 11:30 UTC | EN/FR

20–21 April | 15.00 to 19:30 UTC | EN/ES

Add your pictures to our Facebook page today, click the link below.

Muthiga Maurice, Communications Coordinator, IFA2023
Greetings!

Refueled for the journey! That’s my feeling today, after catching the Delegates’ enthusiasm and creativity in our shared zoom calls.

At the formations and Open calls we’ve sat down, got to know each other, shared questions (and some answers!). Thanks to each one for the privilege of walking together.

Great ideas are starting to flow in: in L’Arche Uganda, for instance, an additional pair of members (IFA witnesses) will remain close to their delegates so they don’t feel alone in the journey.

Check out our Facebook page to see the many smiles of L’Arche- and yellow clothes in all shades.

To download an additional resource sheet for the delegates click on the link above or scan the QR code.

Creative Corner

On the road to the Assembly 2023

Over the coming months, why not try out some of these ideas in your community:

Please do take videos and pics and upload them to the Facebook members page:

Let’s share our experience!

This month's creative corner:

Choose a space:

  • Find a space a shelf, a corner, mantle, nook, that can be designated for the Federation Assembly (this space may change over time).

Dream:

  • Give space to dream about what could be there, listen to other ideas, hopes, dreams.
  • Draw or show how you think the preparation space could look.

Wait:

  • Allow it to be an empty space. Let the space sit. Let it breathe, let it just be, holding its potential. (5 mins, 1 Day, a Week, Longer? How long to wait depends on those involved.)

Choose:

  • Choose one symbol to add to the space to represent how you are feeling now.

To download a resource sheet, click on the link below or scan the QR code.

Getting to know each other in the small groups

Some tips on how to be understood in a video conference:

Talk to the camera, not the big screen

Set up, not too far, not too close

Prepare your notes to remember what you want to say

To download a resource sheet click the link or scan the QR code:

Hello friends, we are Mackie and Tracy from L’Arche Arnprior, Canada.

At the zoom formation last month with delegates from elsewhere, Mackie learned a few good tips:

For effective conferencing in ZOOM - use a Fisheye lens!
Teddy bears! A great idea from Elizabeth and Tina, delegates from L’Arche Antigonish (Canada) who used them to describe their community!
On day two, we learned how to give a presentation inclusively.
The task: teach other communities how we celebrate Birthdays. It was terrific with the other languages: always good to discover how different communities celebrate!

federationassembly-2023.larche.org