4 Volunteers explain why they joined the Peace Corps

Rebeca started a track and field club for students and youth in Cameroon. — Rebeca started a track and field club for youth in Cameroon.

1. Rebeca C. (Cameroon)

“Growing up in a multicultural household made me deeply curious about cultures. Our home was a melting pot of traditions, each celebrated with fervor and friendly rivalry, from my Mexican grandma's customs to my American grandpa’s strange meal hours, and the diverse ways holidays were celebrated among my school friends … I’ve never lost the pride I feel in my cultural inheritances.

My mom, a social worker in Mexico, showed me early on how some people have more opportunities than others, and how huge disparities in social privilege could be. This early exposure fueled my passion for creating social programs aimed at bolstering local economies, empowering women, and aiding migrants with legal matters, among other causes.”

2. Kunta K. (Liberia)

“When I was 12 years old [in The Gambia], my family hosted a Peace Corps Volunteer named Cris, who was instrumental to my educational success. Cris shepherded me and encouraged my parents to support my studies instead of pulling me out of classes to help on our subsistence farm. His intervention and constant appeal paved the path for me to become who I am today…

Ever since my early interactions with the Peace Corps, I have wanted to be a part of this program. I am glad my dream of becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer is now realized and I can give back what was given to me…”

3. Joleen X. (Cambodia)

“Being a first-generation American, I know that [learning English] is something my parents wished for as kids. My parents were born in Laos but, unfortunately, due to the Vietnam War, the Hmong people (like my parents) were kicked out of their villages and forced out of Laos. After living in refugee camps for a couple years in Thailand, their families were finally sponsored to move to the United States. I am beyond blessed with this life; it can’t even begin to compare to what my parents had as kids. This is why my biggest dream was to come back to Southeast Asia to get the chance to make even the smallest difference in some of these kids’ lives through teaching English and in the relationships built in my two years of service.”

Joleen serves as an education volunteer in Cambodia — Joleen's parents were forced from their homes in Laos and eventually sponsored to come to the U.S. She joined the Peace Corps to make a difference in the lives of Southeast Asian youth.

4. Blessing U. (Guinea)

“In the summer of 2016, my brother and I traveled to visit our extended family in Nigeria and saw how differently people lived … In Nigeria the electricity is not consistent. The lights would be on for a few hours and then randomly cut off, but I saw how my grandmother adapted and went about her day either using a flashlight or candle … I realized I wanted to do something to reduce poverty and boost economic growth on the continent … Ultimately, my experience in Nigeria solidified my decision to serve in the Peace Corps.”