Alumni Blog

The Next Generation

Read current Intercordia participant Michael Hayes’ thoughts as he prepares to travel to Ukraine.

Do you remember how you felt as you prepared for your overseas placement?  Those mixed feelings of excitement and panic and fear that you will never finish your last essay before you go? That’s what the next Intercordia generation is feeling right now. Micheal Hayes, a student at the University of Toronto, is preparing to travel to Ukraine.

An excerpt from Michael’s blog:

The decision is in:  I’m going to Ukraine!
Yes, that’s right folks.  My placement next summer will be in Lviv, Ukraine! I will work with Faith and Light, which, according to their UK website,

”...is an International community movement bringing together people with a learning disability, their families carers and friends, particularly young people. It recognises that everyone has gifts to offer – the ability to welcome others with love and affection and a gift of Celebration. The communities are non residential and meet together regularly to pray , to share and to celebrate together. Friendships are formed and groups link to share outings and pilgrimages. The most important thing is to meet and listen to the man woman or child who is often marginalized in today’s society . In this way we get to know each other and nobody is left out.”  Faith and Light, UK

From what I hear, there is a great stigma attached to disabled persons in Ukraine. Often, they are shunned and neglected. This in spite of the reality they are often most in need of love and care and they have wonderful gifts of their own to share with the world.

You may remember from a previous post that my first choice was Ecuador, and Ukraine was my second. So, why did the Intercordia staff choose to put me in Ukraine? There were three reasons. First, most participants from the U of T made Ecuador their first choice. So, the staff need to place some people elsewhere. And since I have at times expressed my enthusiasm and appreciation for Eastern Christianity, Clara (Intercordia rep to USMC) thought that I wouldn’t be completely weirded out by the endless chant and incense so typical of Eastern Christian worship. This is quite true. I love the endless chant and incense of Eastern Christian worship! So, placing me in Ukraine wouldn’t be detrimental to my spiritual life as a practicing Catholic. But, what seemed to top it off was the placement itself. Although from the very beginning I would travel to Ukraine before I would any other of the countries, I put it as my second choice because I was not sure if I would be completely comfortable with the placement. But, Clara thought that since I was the more intellectual/analytical type, working with disabled persons would do me well. And, I think she is right.

I am very excited and I look forward to going to Ukraine.

-Michael

You can find the rest of his thoughts here: http://intercordia09.blogspot.com/