Staff Blog

New Intercordia Staff Joins Students in Swaziland This Summer

I’ve been asked by Intercordia staff to introduce myself.  My name is Lauren Nagler and I’ve just joined the Intercordia team and am incredibly excited to be a
part of this work. Currently, I am a campus rep for St. Thomas University in Fredericton and this summer I’ll be in Swaziland as a mentor to the four Intercordia students that will be there.

I graduated from King’s University College at The University of Western Ontario in 2007, with an honours degree in Social Justice and Peace Studies and Psychology. Outside of Intercordia I am a live-in assistant at L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill. I love living, learning, and being in community with people with disabilities. 

I’m excited to be a part of Intercordia for many reasons. Perhaps first and foremost I’m thrilled that I get to share my love of travel with young people.  My own travel experiences in Europe, Central America, and Africa have shown me how enriching relationships across cultures can be. My travels have opened my eyes to realities very different from my own while providing me with a deeper awareness of myself and my culture.  My exposure to poverty especially has helped me to see that everyone on this planet is interconnected and equally valuble, and that I need to live my life with consideration of the ways in which it effects others.

Also, during my travels I’ve often felt that I’ve learned more from the people I met than I’ve given to them. I’ve learned that simply being with people and giving of myself is the greatest gift with the most lasting impact.  I love that this is one of the the primary goals of Intercordia!

Finally, I must say how energized I am by my connections with the Intercordia students. Their motivation, enthusiasm and willingness to put themselves in new and challenging situations is inspiring! I wish everyone heading away this summer safe and rewarding travels.