Join us Wednesday, April 16 for a panel discussion with 5 returned Peace Corps Volunteers! This is a great way to learn the real deal about Peace Corps experiences, and the valuable lessons they learned from their time with the Corps. Our panel will be led by Rob Orton, Peace Corps Regional Recruiter and returned volunteer.
You may know the Peace Corps as an organization to promote world peace and friendship, but might be surprised to hear that becoming a volunteer will help develop your career and professional skills.
Did you know Peace Corps volunteers can work in a variety of industries? Volunteers have worked in finance, education, environmentalism, public health, business development, HIV/AIDS prevention, agriculture, youth in development, and more!
If you have an active interest in joining the Peace Corps, or just want to hear stories and experiences from former volunteers, don’t miss this panel!
Wednesday, April 16 :: 5:00pm in Lancaster Lounge, Moulton Union
Panelists, in their own words
Tatiana Nieuwenhuys
“I served in Ecotourism, a sub sector of the Community Economic Development Program in Senegal, West Africa from Aug. 2010-2012. I helped local artisans market their jewelry in the village, bring income generating projects such as gardening and Shea butter production. Halfway through my service, I was approached by the only female elementary school teacher in Ethiolo, my village, about teaching safe sexual practices. She was concerned about the growing numbers of young grils becoming pregnant and not finishing school. In collaboration with the local nurse, we held trainings to teach students, mothers, and the younger generations about safe sexual practices, and the basics of the reproductive systems. I enjoyed teaching about health that upon my return to the States, I decided to pursue a career in nursing. I am finishing up my prerequisite courses in Maine and hope to begin nursing school very soon!”
Mary Hill
“I was in Botswana 2009-2011. As a teacher (MEd U of Maine), I was placed under the Ministry of Education in Botswana, with a primary focus of working in the elementary schools, as well as with the village clinic and Village Improvement Committee, as well as with individual children and families, with a primary focus of HIV/AIDS education. The Ministry had a new Life Skills curriculum and textbooks they were especially needed support in bringing this forth country wide. I lived in a small rural and very traditional village as their first PCV. I was the only Caucasian in that area. It was an awesome experience I certainly recommend! I represent the Baby Boomers and Beyond, whom the PC was actively recruiting at that time. I turned 70 in my village and my village chief came to my birthday brie!”
Laura Higgins
“I was a TEFL volunteer in eastern Ukraine from 2010-2012. I worked in a K-11 school in a town the size of Portland. I did teacher and curriculum development along with some youth development type projects. I ended up doing a lot of community development related projects since my counterpart spoke English like a native speaker and was head of the regional English Dept (so clearly didn’t need much help in that area). I worked a lot with the school’s psychologist on HIV and healthy living projects for the older kids and I wrote the kindergarten English curriculum/workbook/best practices guide for our school district. I was the only American in my district and learned/spoke Russian even though my school was Ukrainian Literature and Language focused.”
Amanda Similien
“I served in Haiti 1999-2001… although feels like yesterday! I was an Agro-forestry volunteer, but my assignment turned more into small business and community development. I had attended college at The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA- small liberal arts college similar to Bowdoin. Got a BS in Geology; long story short, I am now a catering chef!”
Patty Nickerson
“I was Mali 87 – 89. I taught math at the Lycee de Sevare, which was a regional high school serving students in the Mopti region. In the summer I worked with another volunteer to plant live fencing for a garden in a resettlement village for displaced Tuareg and Bella. I learned a lot that summer about the difficulties around nomadic resettlement and the politics of different ethnic groups in Mali. I am still grateful for all generosity shared by so many people in Mali. Like many volunteers, I feel the local population gave so much more to me than I was able to give in return.”
