Preparation Seminar II

Yesterday I attended the second of four day long preparation seminars. I think it was successful. Despite the lousy weather, everyone was in good spirits. We also had a guest from the University of Waterloo. She missed her seminar last week so she came to ours to make it up. Furthermore, we were in a much more suitable room than last time. Last time we were stuck in a small board room around a board table. This time we were in the Senior Common Room at St. Michael's College, which is much larger. And we didn't have a table separating us from each other.

We watched a powerful documentary which discussed Jean Vanier's vision of belonging and humanity. Everyone is dependent on others, everyone needs to belong. The idea that someone can live completely independent of others is completely false. We need family, friends, neighbours, parishioners, etc... in order to fluorish. When people separate themselves from their loved ones, regardless of reason, they lose a lot. For example, when Bay Street CEOs forget their family and friends to pursue six or seven digit salaries, or when African families are forced to flee their homeland due to political unrest, they leave everything behind, and find it very difficult to cope in their new life. The documentary included the story of a family which moved from Canada to northern Oklahoma so the father could have a better career and make more money for his family. This strong family which was rooted in the life of their parish and neighbourhood had to leave after only nine months and come back to Canada. They left behind their family and friends for what was supposed something better, but, they couldn't do it.

The documentary touched on other important themes. But this idea this idea of belonging will extend especially to our experience next summer. We will be completely uprooted. We will be sent from our comfortable Western home where all of our family and friends live to a place in a third world country where living conditions are often very simple and where there can be political and social unrest. We could be sent to Ghana, Honduras, Bosnia, or a whole host of other places. We will be away from our family and we will be in a place with customs and etiquette completely different than those of southern Ontario. The family in the video found it difficult to live in Oklahoma! That's nothing compared to the places we will be going to. This is something to think about and to reflect on as our departure date looms nearer.

This took up most of the morning session. After lunch, we got down to some serious business (as if the morning session wasn't serious!). Clara (the Intercordia rep to the University of Toronto) went through all of the placements. After this, we had the opportunity to choose our top three countries. These are my top three:

1. Ecuador
- There are many placements in Ecuador. There are medical clinics, schools, community centres, and numerous others. If I am awarded this placement, I will fill out a subsequent placement form to determine what specific thing I will do. This is run through Fundacion Reto Internacional: http://www.fundacionretointernacional.org.ec/.

2. Ukraine
- The placement here is in Lviv. I will work with Faith and Light (Віра і Світло). Part of this placement is to be at a centre where mentally and physically disabled people can come attend workshops and learn to do some basic carpentry, reading, writing, and other important skills. In Ukraine, there is still a stigma attached to the disabled so these kinds of centres are often neglected and underfunded. The website for Faith and Light is http://www.foietlumiere.org/site/english/

3. Ghana
- If I go to Ghana, I will teach at a rural public school which serves numerous surrounding villages. I could end up teaching anything. Some one last year ended up teaching native African religion! The schools are run the Ada Region Ministry of Education, Ghana. No website is available.

This was probably the most important part of the day. After it we discussed fundraising ideas. We will probably carol during the Christmas season in front of high end stores on Bay Street and Bloor Street and maybe the Eaton Centre. Apparently this has been very successful in the past. Remember, you can donate to me specifically at http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=2529.

During the very last part of the day the first round of people told their 'life story.' Part of the group building process is for each one of us to give a brief 5-10 minute story of their life. This will help us get to know each other better, it will help us understand where each one of us is coming from, and it encourages us to trust each other. Three of the eight of us went yesterday, myself being the first.

So, that's a brief overview of our seminar which went from 10:30-5:30. I think it was very successful. To be honest, I am much more confident about the goals of Intercordia now, especially after the video we watched on our founder's vision.

So, that's it for now. I will keep you updated as the weeks go by. Our next seminar will take place in early January.

God bless,
Michael