Volunteer Experience: Peace Corps
My Peace Corps Experience
Joining the U.S. Peace Corps was truly a life changing experience and is what I consider to be the most pivotal in my life.
As a volunteer:
- I worked on Environmental awareness programs dealing with deforestation, and dune movement in the Sahel region of the Sahara Desert.
- I worked with women’s groups to promote health and equality through education on female circumcision.
- Through interactions with youth groups, I worked with HIV and AIDS educational programs.
- I taught English at the local elementary, middle, and high school.
During this time, I had experiences that really opened my eyes to things in this world I never could have learned any other way. I was posted in a small and extremely rural village. I lived with no electricity or running water. I was told by the elders of my village that I was the first “yovo” (colloquial for white person) to ever visit. It became very evident what it is like to be in the minority of a community. I learned very well that a community must act like a family in order to provide the necessary assistance to keep all of its citizens healthy and able to promote its own growth and sustainability.
My Crisis Corps Experience
The U.S. Crisis Corps (recently renamed Peace Corps Response) is an elite group of returned Peace Corps volunteers which are chosen to fill heavily needed positions in crisis areas. There are normally between 30-60 Crisis Corps volunteers active in the world at any given time.
As a volunteer:
- I was the Director of Education at the “Mwange” Congolese refugee camp.
- Managed the daily operations of 6 preschools, 4 elementary schools, and 1 secondary school.
- Supervised 180 teachers, 11 headmasters, and 10 educational staff.
- Managed a $1.5 million budget including pay-roll duties.
This position was extremely challenging and proved to be a wonderful growing experience. I learned to think quickly on my feet and to work as a team in order to accomplish goals. Most importantly, I learned to listen to others' opinions and ideas before making decisions.
