Cooperative Living March/April 2021 - 25

BuildingCommunity | Story courtesy of StatePoint Media
What Being a Peace Corps
Volunteer is Really Like
At 60, the institution remains a valued partner
around the world
F
or many, Peace Corps service is a first step toward a
career or the continuation of a life's work. " The idea of
the Peace Corps - that volunteers could serve their
country for the cause of peace by living and working in other
countries - struck a chord with thousands of Americans in
Agriculture volunteers work with
farmers and families to increase food
security and adapt to climate change
while promoting environmental
conservation.
Anna Brettman
volunteered in a
Zambian village,
helping secure
equipment needed
to keep cattle
disease-free. She
says, " It will take
time for the farmers
to grow their herds again, but this
should provide support for years to
come. "
Community Economic
Development volunteers work with
development banks, nongovernmental
organizations and municipalities to
promote local
economic
opportunities.
They teach skills
and work with
entrepreneurs
to develop and
market their
products.
" My business career took me to
countries where I saw firsthand what
many political and class systems do,
and more importantly don't do, for
the majority in need. The agency gave
me the opportunity to do something
meaningful, " says Ken Kodoma, who
volunteered in Namibia, facilitating
business workshops.
co-opliving.com
the early 1960s. That enthusiasm continues today, " says Peace
Corps director Jody K. Olsen.
But what's the experience really like? As the agency explains,
selected volunteers are placed overseas in service in one of six
sectors. Here's a bit about each, as well as volunteer insights:
Education is the Peace Corps'
largest program area. Volunteers may
inspire students in
elementary, secondary
or post-secondary
schools, work as
resource teachers
or teacher trainers,
or develop libraries
and technology resource centers.
" I taught mathematics, biology and
citizenship, led science clubs, helped
increase literacy and worked with
my Cameroonian counterparts in
developing a book for math teachers, "
says Jomara Laboy Rivera, a returned
volunteer who now works in the Peace
Corps' Office of Programming and
Training.
Environment volunteers lead grassroots
protection efforts and strengthen
understanding of environmental issues,
empowering communities to make their
own conservation decisions.
" In the Pacific, residents deal with
the effects of climate
change, such as
large storms, and
also see ocean
pollution, coral
bleaching and
coastal degradation
up close. I liked using my creativity to
spread awareness about Tonga's waste
problem to help come up with solutions
there, " says Breanna Kazmierczak, a
volunteer who served in Tonga.
Health volunteers promote
nutrition, maternal and child health,
basic hygiene and water sanitation,
malaria prevention and work in
HIV/AIDS education and prevention
programs.
" Working with the municipal water
authority, we came up with a plan to
maintain or
improve water
quality in 15
communities.
Most communities
wanted help in
treating water
to prevent parasitic infection and
exploring better use and storage
techniques, " says Nicole Bryer, who
volunteered in northern Peru.
Youth in Development volunteers
promote youth engagement and active
citizenship, including gender
awareness,
employability,
health,
environmental
awareness, sports and fitness programs,
and information technology.
" I helped with the film club at the
youth center, which combined fun
with opportunities for growth. We
encouraged the youth to analyze the
works we watched and gave them an
opportunity to write and produce their
own work, " says Dominick Tanoh, who
volunteered in Morocco and also ran
soccer and basketball workshops. ■
To learn more about the Peace Corps volunteer sectors, visit peacecorps.gov.
March-April 2021 | Cooperative Living | 23
PHOTOS COURTESY PEACE CORPS
http://www.peacecorps.gov http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living March/April 2021

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