Domaine Nature: a welfare and leisure centre located in Alsace (France), open to all disabilities

The idea: Answering an important need

The Domaine Nature organization was created in 2006 in Mulhouse (Alsace/East of France) by Jacky Lechleiter. On July 4th 2007, it was recognized for its general interest. Its aim is to make easier and succeed the reciprocal exchange and the shared opportunities between the able-bodied people and the people suffering from disabilities.

Domaine Nature wants to create the first living and leisure centre, accessible to each form of impairment and based on a central issue: nature. The welfare and leisure activities centre has also a therapeutic vocation. It will be located on the slag heap "Alex" near the small towns of Feldkirch and Ungersheim.

Jacky Lechleiter, the manager of the project and an experienced businessman, has already organized humanitarian trips through the West of Africa in 1988. He has got two sons. One of them - Jim - is born cerebral palsy in 1993. So Jacky Lechleiter knows well which difficulties people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers are come up against.

In order to solve these day-to-day difficulties, he decided in 2001 to set up the organization named Handicap Sports Aventures. This first charity is aimed at offering children with disabilities some activities mainly open to non-disabled people.

Handicap Sports Aventures also targets adults by proposing the discovery and the practice of a sport. It also organizes trips and "adventure raids".

Rapidly, Handicap Sports Aventures pointed out the huge needs of the disabled people. These needs are not satisfied enough. Many things have to be done in order to give some help and leisure activities to people with disabilities - child as well as adult.

In the light of those observations, the idea of creating a living and leisure centre for all the kind of disabilities appeared. Domaine Nature proposes a range of numerous solutions.

Domaine Nature is a project of general interest which is innovative in the world of disability. Its main goal is to create more shared moments and encourage each one to blossom. It also will permit the inclusion of the disabled people. The project is sponsored by numerous companies and organizations as well as by both the towns of Feldkirch and Ungersheim and some political actors. Several local and national sports champions also support the project.