Two can’ts make a can

Three different cooking spices appear in piles — Jamaica hopes to revitalize the spice sector to meet existing export and domestic demands for turmeric, ginger and pimento.

It wouldn’t be revolutionary for me to say, “two wrongs don't make a right.” But what if I told you that “two can’ts make a can”?

My involvement with the Peace Corps began when I applied to a position as an Eco-tourism Marketing Specialist Response Volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic. I was thrilled. The role fulfilled my desire to strengthen my Russian language skills, having grown up speaking the language fluently due to my mother’s roots. It also built upon my sector-specific knowledge in sustainability and met my goal of connecting career ambitions with social impact. The role was made for me, and it didn’t take long for the Peace Corps placement officer to think so, too. I was accepted to serve in beginning in January 2024.

Nicole joined the Peace Corps community as a Virtual Service Pilot Participant.

And yet, four months later, I found myself drafting a heartfelt note of resignation to the placement officer who supported me throughout my Peace Corps application process. I can’t go. Having successfully passed the interviews, medical clearance, and background checks, I never thought that I would be the one to retract my Peace Corps application. Due to personal circumstances, I could no longer partake in the assignment. I dejectedly handed in my resignation letter. I was forfeiting an incredible service journey instead of the day job I thought I would be giving up.

Little did I know that roughly 1,714 miles away, another "can’t" was taking shape.

I’m sorry, we can’t provide you an in-person Volunteer at this time due to your location is what I imagine the agriculture nonprofit in Kingston, Jamaica, heard when they asked for a Peace Corps Volunteer to support them in a project focused on food insecurity, economic prosperity, and social inequities.

I was never a traditional Volunteer with the Peace Corps and the nonprofit couldn’t receive traditional Volunteers. Yet here I am serving with the Peace Corps and supporting that same nonprofit as a Virtual Service Pilot Participant, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

My hands-on experience might look a little different from traditional Volunteers; I don’t have to trek through unfamiliar village routes, transportation systems, or language barriers. While the messiest I’ve gotten was experimenting with ginger, pimento, and turmeric in kitchen recipes—spices my counterparts hope to revitalize to boost Jamaica’s economy—my experiences of navigating unfamiliar territory have not been any less rewarding.

Pushing myself beyond the comfort of the familiar has led to personal growth and a broader global perspective. I remember how surprised I was when I learned there was no postcode system in Jamaica during my communications vendor research, highlighting the need to adapt communication networks to various global formats.

My virtual engagement has enabled me to further tie headlines with real-world, on-the-ground challenges, which I discuss with my counterpart. For instance, business publications spotlighted the biggest company to go public in 2024 was one principally focused on cold storage management. This information furthered my understanding of the challenges Jamaican farmers face with fragmented cold supply chain storage solutions when transporting spices. While spices are typically a dry good, they are often susceptible to contamination from pesticides or microbial pathogens. Depending on the distances they are shipped, cold storage can be a vital part of the export infrastructure required to keep specific spices quality controlled and safe from spoilage, especially in humid climates. The opportunity for a well-developed infrastructure, including ports, cold storage facilities, and transportation networks, remains vast.

"When I withdrew my application to be an in-person Volunteer, I remember the sinking feeling that I was giving up the transformative opportunity of a lifetime. Little did I know that through virtual service, I would be able to breathe new life into my passion for social impact and sustainability."

Nicole S.

My virtual collaboration with the nonprofit in Jamaica also reminded me that true generosity is generosity of spirit. During our weekly discussions, my Jamaican counterparts and I shared bits of our personal lives with one another. Whether learning more about their country’s carnival culture or realizing that one counterpart and I both dream of visiting Iceland, I forged surprisingly strong bonds with my Jamaican collaborators despite the virtual setting.

When I withdrew my application to be an in-person Volunteer, I remember the sinking feeling that I was giving up the transformative opportunity of a lifetime. Little did I know that through virtual service, I would be able to breathe new life into my passion for social impact and sustainability. And to think that the meaningful collaboration with my Jamaican counterparts would not have been possible without a few "can'ts" along the way.