A Different Kind of Intercordia Business

With all of this talk about fund raising and travelling and volunteering, it is easy to forget about the other part of Intercordia. That is, the academic portion. In the midst of the Christmas fund raising drive and exams, we had our first academic seminar this evening on the campus of the University of St. Michael's College.

I have had a somewhat difficult time explaining to myself and to other what exactly Intercordia is. So, this is what the syllabus says:

"This course, offered in conjunction with the seminars and service learning experience coordinated by Intercordia Canada, will raise critical questions of social justice and international development from diverse religious and disciplinary perspectives. The course will consist of seven academic seminars, six of which will be held before the international placement and one thereafter."

The course objectives are:

1. To demonstrate critical understanding of and engagement with diverse religious and disciplinary perspectives on social justice and international development;

2. To develop strong connections between theoretical understanding and practical application before, during and after the service learning experience;

3. To strengthen academic skills in careful reading, critical analysis, and clear written expression.

This is what the academic part of Intercordia is all about, and this is what we will earn a university credit for. As for the diverse religious and disciplinary perspectives, they are diverse. The required reading list, in the order we will read, is:

Amartya Sen, Development as Freedom
Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo rei socialis (On Social Concern)
Dorothy Day, Loaves and Fishes
Malcom X, The Autobiography of Malcom X
Jean Vanier, Becoming Human

We will read the whole of each of these texts, and we will be required to write a short reflection paper for each of them. Also, we all are required to give a 15 minute presentation on one of these documents. I will present the late Pope's encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis. Surprise surprise!

The course also includes two papers. The first is a research paper on some person, event, or organization which is important to the country to which we have been placed in terms of social, political, and economic development. This paper is due before we leave.

We will also write an integration paper once we return. I am not sure to the exact nature of this assignment but it will include reflecting on our experiences while at our placements in the light of what we studied in the academic portion of the course. It is due in September.

That is a brief overview of the academic portion of Intercordia. I am sure that without it our experiences in our placements will be less meaningful.

-Michael