Belonging to the community
ARCG is more than just an organization: it is a close-knit community, a place of grounding where older members of the community find listening, recognition, and solidarity.
Year after year, the sense of belonging grows through authentic connections, nurtured by shared experiences, common values, and a collective commitment to everyone’s well-being.
Belonging is expressed in the small everyday gestures: a smile shared over a coffee chat, a helping hand offered during accompaniment, or an open conversation during a group activity.
These relational spaces help break isolation, strengthen self-confidence, and build a collective identity rooted in pride, mutual support, and kindness.
Social engagement, volunteering, and collective action
At ARCG, social involvement lies at the heart of our philosophy, with the organization run by its members: administration, facilitation of social activities, and community support and accompaniment services.
In their own ways, members contribute to this collective endeavor that is ARCG. Engagement allows for self-expression, personal growth, and the strengthening of self-esteem, giving true meaning to one’s actions.
Pride
The principle that every human being is noble forms the foundation of pride. It develops through an awareness of one’s own value and self-respect, and through the cultivation of self-esteem.
Ideally, this is expressed through the desire for achievement and personal growth, as well as the refusal to engage in actions that might undermine the positive image we hold of ourselves.
At ARCG, pride is particularly expressed as the pride of being an older gay man.
Solidarity
Solidarity drives a person to act as if they are directly confronted with the problems of others; without it, the future of the group—and therefore their own—could be at risk.
The goal of this solidarity is to fight against inequalities that grow with globalization, and it represents one of the forms of solidarity at ARCG. Solidarity can also be expressed around shared interests.
At ARCG, the need to come together among peers—among older gay men—allows members to connect in a safe, warm, and accepting environment. This supportive space can contribute to their personal empowerment and well-being.
Mutual aid
Mutual Aid is the act of helping one another and acting together.
It can take the form of organized or spontaneous assistance, freely offered, between people to help overcome the challenges they face. Mutual support is a positive sign of social cohesion.
At ARCG, it is expressed either reciprocally or without expectation of anything in return. It occurs among members, and between members and the organization. Mutual support is the help we give to one another.
Dignity
Human dignity is the principle that a person should never be treated as an object or a means to an end, but as an intrinsic being.
Every individual deserves unconditional and inalienable respect, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental health, social status, religion, or ethnic origin.
At ARCG, human dignity involves respecting and protecting each person as a free being with a unique life story. No one ever loses their dignity—neither the most serious illness nor the most oppressive circumstance can make a human being undeserving of it.
Dignity enables the full development of every person by recognizing their unique personality and their participation in the community.
Respect
Respect is the concern for consideration and esteem shown to a person in their entirety, regardless of differences, with the aim of treating them with the same regard given to any other human being: lifestyle, values, beliefs, appearance, physical health, mental health, financial situation, social status, marginalization, and more.
Mutual respect is one of the foundations of social peace and interpersonal relationships. It helps foster a harmonious environment within a group, family, or society.
Respect nurtures kindness toward all people and all things, regardless of the moment, mood, place, individual, or object. It encourages refraining from causing harm to anyone or anything.
ARCG
Philosophy
ARCG’s philosophy is based on a “by and for the members” approach.
ARCG encourages social engagement, full civic participation by its members, and collective management of the organization.
Each member contributes in their own way, in an atmosphere of warmth and kindness, to provide services chosen by and for them. This engagement is expressed through both individual and collective volunteer contributions, which lie at the heart of our community life. It reflects the members’ ownership and self-determination within ARCG, across all areas of the organization, including administration.
This member-driven approach extends to mutual support, accompaniment, and peer assistance