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Newsletter # 11 January 2012
Intercordia’s Newsletter “Voices” is most often made up of testimonies from participants and alumni. I believe this is the best way to transmit the mission and the fruitfulness of the program. This newsletter will begin with a testimony, written by one of our alumni, and follow with some other “organizational” news:
“Intercordia isn’t about me going to a poor country to build someone else a school or something. It’s more like stripping me of my comforts that I have taken for granted for most of my life and becoming dependent on others just to make it from day to day. Intercordia isn’t about being a hero but about being vulnerable. In North America there is so much to fall back on and so many luxuries that I don’t know any other way of living. I want to know what it is like to live in another place and live another way. I want to be vulnerable.”
This statement so simply captures the invitation we give all our participants throughout the On-Campus Formation Program. However, thinking about being open and vulnerable seems like a good way until through circumstances we actually become vulnerable! At that moment, we want to return to being in control! It is a gift when we either cannot regain control or consciously choose to stay in the hard moment and discover the gift that can be available through living hard and even fearful moments. That’s the challenge of Intercordia!
Other News: Intercordia is making a determined effort to increase our public profile and become more known through the following initiatives:
◘ We are embracing social media and strengthening our web profile in the hopes of attracting more participants. Please take a moment to “like” us on Facebook Through you we hope to reach out to more students who will apply to the Intercordia Program;
◙ We are now renting a “Hot Desk” at the Centre for Social Innovation which will place us in the context of many other small not-for-profits and give us the opportunity to participate in an exciting exchange of ideas and resources. Intercordia will work out of CSI for 2 days each week;
◘ We have recently compiled a book of Alumni testimonies and pictures called “My Intercordia.” You can download it at My Intercordia or read excerpts at Intercordiacanada.org;
◙ Our On-Campus Seminar Formation Program has been formalized into a Course book which will soon be available through Intercordia Canada and is being used this year on all 5 university campuses;
We need your support:
◘ We are concluding our funding partnership with the McConnell Family Foundation who were instrumental in helping Intercordia get off the ground as well as with one other major Canadian foundation who requests anonymity. We are searching for two new foundations, which would partner with us for the next phase of our history and provide a total of $45,000 a year for three years. As well, we need $25,000 to meet our budget requirements for this year. If you can or if you have connections with foundations or individuals who could play a role in helping achieve our revenue needs, please share this information with us.
◘ We continue our partnerships with 5 Canadian Universities (St. Thomas/Fredericton; University of Toronto; Wilfrid Laurier/Waterloo; Kings @ UWO/London and St. Thomas More/Saskatoon) but are challenged to develop new partnerships with Canadian universities and colleges. If you have connections with universities or colleges who may be interested in partnering with Intercordia, please share this information with us.
Finally, with enrolment down this year and funding sources more difficult to obtain, Intercordia remains vulnerable for the long term. There is a positive challenge to living on the edge, which we welcome! It keeps us nimble and humble! Yet, it is also important to have a strong foundation to ensure sustainability. Your support through financial contributions, sharing your networks and simply being in solidarity with us is particularly important at this time.
Peace, Joe
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