麻豆视频

In fall 2019, Hayley generously shared her experience with us from West Africa.

Q: From New Hampshire to West Africa 鈥� how did your service evolve?

Hayley: When I was 12 years old, I started getting into Amnesty International and human rights, and then discovered the Peace Corps. I kept that in my mind all the way through my schooling and when senior year at Riv finally arrived, I could apply. I was accepted and have been in-country since September 2018. Following three months as a trainee, I was sworn in as a volunteer for two years of service. My current post is in Cameroon, West Africa.

Q: What are your mission and goals?

Hayley: I serve in the health sector, which means that my project under the Peace Corps is maternal and child health. My main goals are working on malnutrition, HIV/AIDS testing and education, and encouraging women to come to the health center, especially to give birth. Another focus is malaria. I鈥檝e given presentations and counseled women individually on the disease, why breastfeeding is important, and why they should sleep under insecticide treated bed-nets. My village鈥檚 鈥榟igh school鈥� no longer has an English teacher, so I will most likely start teaching English classes there. A new goal will be to get an Education Volunteer placed in my village.

Q: What are the most significant challenges in the community you鈥檙e serving?

Hayley: There are a lot of challenges in my community, but one of the biggest is lack of education. This is especially prevalent for women, as they are even less likely to receive education than the men. Another big challenge involves food. Malnutrition is a big issue. There really aren鈥檛 any vegetables and few fruits in the village. The most common, easiest, and cheapest food made here is fufu. Often times, it鈥檚 a staple in every meal; people think that it鈥檚 part of a good meal nutrition-wise. In reality, there鈥檚 really no nutritional value, but because it鈥檚 filling and can feed big families, it鈥檚 the most common thing made.

Q: What are your biggest challenges鈥攑ersonal and professional?

Hayley: Language is a challenge. The main languages in Cameroon are mostly French and some English, but there are more than 250 different dialects spoken. In my region, Fulfulde is the main language. I don鈥檛 speak that much of it, so I can鈥檛 do anything work-wise by myself. This also makes it difficult to make friends, since the majority of women only speak Fulfulde. Going along with language, there are feelings of isolation and loneliness, since I can鈥檛 communicate with others as much as I would like to. The culture here is very different, and that鈥檚 one of my biggest challenges. I live in a very conservative, Muslim聽village. There鈥檚 polygamy, child marriage, young girls giving birth, and women not being able to even leave their homes without their husband鈥檚 permission; these women can鈥檛 even go to the health center to give birth without their husband鈥檚 permission. It鈥檚 different and very difficult.

Q: What impact has your service had on the community and on you?

Hayley: The impact volunteers have on the community they serve isn鈥檛 always seen during our time here. Change takes a lot of time, and while two years seems like a lot, it鈥檚 often not enough time for us to see those changes, but the volunteers who come after us will. Peace Corps has had a big impact on me. While this has always been my dream, it is so far out of my comfort zone it鈥檚 a shock to many (including me), that I鈥檓 able to do it. I鈥檝e learned I鈥檓 capable of a lot more than I thought I was, and I鈥檓 a lot more resilient.

Q: What are your plans after the Peace Corps?

Hayley: Right now, I鈥檓 leaning towards law school. I鈥檓 interested in international and comparative law or law and social change so that I can do something with human rights. I鈥檝e also thought about going back to school for a double major in global health and international affairs.

Q: Any advice for others considering the Peace Corps?

Hayley: Something I heard a lot before coming here was, 鈥淥h, I wanted to do that when I was younger,鈥� and 鈥淚 wish I knew about that when I was your age.鈥� There鈥檚 no age limit to the Peace Corps. To anyone who might have wanted to do it when they were younger, you still can!