Lucy S.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps, specifically the VSP program?

In general, I have always been interested in Peace Corps service since earning a bachelor’s degree in international development and Spanish in 2019. In early 2024, I was in my late twenties and realized I was approaching 5 years at a corporate job I hadn't intended to stay at for that long; I had an epiphany. I always wanted to do the Peace Corps—what better time than now? I applied and took the plunge!

After being accepted as a Response Volunteer for Peace Corps Guatemala I was offered the opportunity to participate in Guatemala’s VSP program in order to begin collaborating with my Response partner early. I loved the idea of collaborating with them before arriving in Guatemala because it would allow me to build the relationship, gather important background on the project, and ease the transition to in-person work.

2. What projects did you work on?

I supported Glasswing’s Jóvenes con Propósito project, which is part of the larger Central American Service Corps (CASC) initiative supported by USAID. Jóvenes con Propósito aims to institutionalize youth service learning in Guatemala by connecting diverse, vulnerable youth to a year-long program that is divided into three phases: 3 months of academic, technical, and soft skills training, 6 months in community service internship, and 3 months of transitional support related to continued education and connection to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. It is exciting to work on a project which, despite being so large scale, is committed to serving Guatemala’s most vulnerable and historically disadvantaged populations.

3. What were the results of your collaborative work with the community?

Concretely, I met with the Glasswing team 5 times, reviewed 12 manuals related to the initiative, and proposed strategies to strengthen implementing partners and practice organizations involved in the initiative.

Even more important than the manuals I reviewed were the relationships I built with work partners before arriving and the project background I acquired. Since arriving in Guatemala, I have continued to focus on capacity-strengthening strategies for implementing partners and practice organizations. I have also collaborated on a partnership strategy for local authorities and universities.

4. What was a highlight of your VSP experience?

The highlight of my VSP experience was taking the collaboration from virtual to in-person asI began my Response position. I met both of my counterparts in real life on the pre-service training work partner day. When we met, my counterpart Arnoldo, said “LUCY!!” and ran up and gave me a hug. At that moment I was so happy to have been able to meet them virtually before coming.

5. What strategies did you use to meet the challenges of a short-term and remote experience?

Once I began meeting with my partners in October, I knew that we did not have much time before I was to fly to Guatemala to begin my Response service. Given the short-term nature of the engagement, I made sure I was as prepared as possible for each meeting by reading all materials they shared, preparing questions, and sharing progress updates. We met once a week for an hour and stayed in contact via a messaging platform throughout the week.

6. What did you bring away from your experience as a VSP Participant?

I was in the unique position as a VSP Participant transitioning to a Response Volunteer with the same project. In that sense, my biggest takeaway from my experience was an excitement to arrive in country, continue work, and experience Guatemalan culture. I was lucky to have found out which community I would be living in during my virtual service, whereas two-year Volunteers typically don’t find out until the end of the three-month pre-service training. In that sense, I was able to visualize my site beforehand and come in a little more mentally prepared, not just for the work but for everyday life in Guatemala.

7. What would you say to someone considering the Virtual Service Pilot?

VSP is a great way to connect to the Peace Corps mission and principles in a more approachable manner. I would recommend it especially to someone who has not been a Volunteer before and wants to learn more about Peace Corps’ approach to development and intercultural exchange.