Luiz G.

1. What were your primary responsibilities during service?

I lived and worked in a city in central Morocco, where my primary responsibility was to connect with the local youth center, teach English, and provide youth development programs. I arrived with 113 other Volunteers to provide support in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2010. Our first task was to connect with the community directors (mudir or mudira). Every day, I went to the youth center, taught English, and made it fun; I always told students to think outside the box. One thing I loved about the Peace Corps was cultural integration—learning from the community to improve our programs and projects.

2. What projects did you collaborate on with your community?

In addition to my primary project, I helped connect Moroccans with USAID projects, university resources, and nonprofits. Many Peace Corps Volunteers had secondary projects beyond teaching English, such as arts, murals, and business initiatives.

My biggest project was organizing a ping pong and chess tournament for 10 villages with the help of Korean volunteers who were part of a national program in Korea, called KOICA. We saw that women weren’t participating in these types of activities, so I secured a grant from USAID to support their participation. The grant funds provided transportation for attendees. We were able to increase the participation of women, thanks to our counterparts and all the monetary support.

I carried out one smaller project with Injaz, my counterpart in Morocco. We traveled to Rabat and partnered with a French organization called Injaz, which teaches Moroccans how to be entrepreneurs. The connections Injaz helped me make were amazing, and if it wasn’t for her, my service wouldn’t have been quite as wonderful.

3. How did Peace Corps service influence your professional development?

Peace Corps made me look at the world differently, in terms of how different our cultures are, and yet how we’re all connected. Service did so much to help me understand other people from a different culture.

It also helped me put my social skills to better use, especially in connecting with other Volunteers who come from different parts of the U.S. Everyone has different personalities, and Peace Corps taught me how to understand and interact with those personalities. Service really opened my eyes in that way.

I’ve always been interested in foreign affairs and international relations. I haven’t gotten a graduate degree yet—just haven’t gotten there—but this is the third country I’ve lived in, and the experience made me realize how we can learn from and support other countries, as well as improve things in America.

Service also gave me a pathway to apply for the Department of State later, using my NCE eligibility.

4. How do you use some of the skills you honed during service in your current job?

I’m a civic engagement associate at Denver Elections, working in the Clerk and Recorder’s office, which is a nonpartisan role. The skills I use now are similar to those I developed in the Peace Corps. For example, in Morocco, people often thought I was Moroccan because of my appearance, but looked down on me because I didn’t fully understand the language. I would explain, "No, I was born in Brazil, but thank you for the compliment!" Despite my limited language skills, I integrated well. In that environment, I had to become resourceful.

In my current job, I recruit election judges, give civic engagement presentations, and do outreach to show that elections in Denver run smoothly when everyone is involved. I’ve done a lot of Democratic campaigns in the past, but now I work in a bipartisan team, reaching out to Republicans as much as Democrats and unaffiliated voters. It’s similar to my Peace Corps experience—getting to know people with different ideologies and backgrounds. The goal in Peace Corps is always to create a common project or mission, and in my current position, it’s ensuring election transparency for everyone.

5. How have you shared your experience to help those at home understand the value of Peace Corps service and communities abroad?

Back when I applied, Peace Corps assigned you to a region. Morocco wasn’t my first choice, but by the end of my service, I absolutely loved Morocco.

Moroccan hospitality is something Americans could learn from. Every house I visited in Morocco, I was always fed, given tea (a lot of tea with lots of sugar!), and made to feel like family. It didn’t matter where I went in Morocco, whether it was a house or a gathering like a "huffla" (party), I was always treated like family, and that’s something I’ll always take with me.

I promote Peace Corps wherever I go, but I also make sure people have a well-rounded understanding of what it’s like.

I've participated in Peace Corps recruitment picnics and panel discussions at universities like NYU. I use the old slogan, "It’s never too late to serve," and people even reach out to me on Facebook asking about my experience. I always tell them that everyone’s Peace Corps experience is different, especially in a place like Morocco. For example, I can’t speak to a female Volunteer’s experience, and I always make sure people understand that my experience might be different from someone else’s. I give a realistic picture of the challenges, but also the positives, like the fact that you can now choose your country of service.

6. What Peace Corps benefits have been useful to you?

The noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) was useful. With it, I got into the Department of State, but unfortunately, with the former administration, I was laid off.

The adjustment allowance helps as well. Peace Corps Volunteers have to restart back in the U.S., so the assistance is important.

7. How have you remained involved with the Peace Corps community following service?

I’m getting involved in the Peace Corps community here in Denver. I really loved the New York RPCV group; it was very interconnected, especially the one in upstate New York. It’s very community oriented.

I’m still in touch with my counterpart from Morocco. She’s now living in Spain. I also keep in touch with my Peace Corps friends. When I was living in New York City, I knew five people who served in Morocco, although not at the same time. I still have good connections with the people I served with.

8. What tips do you have for Volunteers just returning from service?

It’s important to start networking early, as that’s extremely important for landing a job. The United States isn’t just waiting for you to come back. I learned from a friend in New York City who was fantastic at networking. She showed me the value of starting your networking six months before coming back to the U.S. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing a job and being productive when you return. When I came back, my Peace Corps friends let me stay with them until I could get settled. Not everyone has that kind of support but having a network and a foundation can make a big difference.