Alana S.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I was a junior in high school when I learned that deaf people can become Peace Corps Volunteers in a different country for two years. I immediately became super interested in this opportunity. I began researching and read “The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness and Africa,” by Josh Swiller, for a book report. I was so fascinated to learn how American Volunteers were transformed by living in a country so different from the U.S. I wanted to pop the bubble of my privileged life and felt that joining the Peace Corps was my calling. Throughout college, I met more deaf Returned Volunteers and became even more motivated to join the Peace Corps.

2. What projects are you working on?

For my first two years, I was located at a school for the deaf in the Eastern Region, and I taught in primary six in mathematics, science, creative arts, and English. Most of my small projects were hosting programs at my school focused on American holidays, National Math Day, D.E.A.R. Day, International Menstrual Hygiene Day, and so on.

At the end of my second year, I completed a big grant project to rebuild and repaint the entire wall around campus with many murals of Ghanaian Sign Language signs in three months.

I wanted to do more for deaf Ghanaians, so I decided to extend my service for a third year. I relocated to a deaf school in the Greater Accra Region to continue teaching mathematics to junior high school students, while commuting to Accra weekly to work at Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD). At GNAD, I am working with a committee to organize a new deaf camp for 18 deaf and inclusive schools around Ghana. The purpose of the camp is to promote future deaf leaders.

3. What strategies have you used to integrate into your community?

When I first arrived, I encouraged myself to say yes to most events the community invited me to. Since I live with my students at the school, I often join them on weekends to play various card games and sports. My colleagues often invite me to friends' and family's weddings. I made myself visible and stayed open-minded when I interacted with my community. If I confronted something questionable or challenging, I always asked a trusted community member for assistance.

4. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

So far, the highlight of my time in service is hosting a Halloween party at my school. There was face painting, balloon making, pumpkin carving, mask making, and various arcade games where students competed to win candies. Every single student got the opportunity to be involved, and they all had huge smiles on their faces. Later that night, we had our first movie night, during which the kids brought their mattresses to the dining room and watched a couple of Halloween movies with popcorn and candies. This is a night they will remember forever.

5. What have you enjoyed most about the community where you are serving?

Definitely the students. They are the reason why I love serving here. They are so curious and hungry to learn more about the world, giving me the fire to continue advocating for them. Since I live at the school with the kids, they often visit me to ask all sorts of questions about the world or what a word means. Every morning, when I go to the classroom, many students swarm around me and hug me. They have made me feel like I am part of a big family.

6. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from your community?

Share. Share your food, your time, your things, and your stories. Spending time with my community has taught me the true value of sharing. Sometimes, we may not have enough, but we should share regardless of what we have. From there, we share a bond that makes us appreciate our moments together more. Being selfless is a huge aspect of being part of the community.

7. How do you spend time when you are not working on a project?

Besides spending lots of time at school, I join my students and play board games or volleyball with them. I often join the school’s programs to show my support for students wherever they go.

I have also enjoyed cooking many Ghanaian foods with my close Ghanaian friend. Once in a while, I explore the beautiful parts of Ghana with other Volunteers or Ghanaians. Most of the time, after school, I recharge by reading books or calling my family.

8. What are you looking forward to in your remaining time as a Volunteer?

I look forward to continuing to create meaningful connections with students at my school. With my love of volleyball, I can’t wait to coach the students again this year to improve their skills and gain confidence in competing with other teams. I look forward to sharing more connections between deaf American students and my students through the Peace Corps’ Global Connections program. Mostly, I look forward to completing my projects and seeing the positive impacts they will have on my site and other schools from the camp.

9. Once you finish your service, what will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

I will dive into my career in the U.S to continue teaching at a deaf school but I would love to continue to connect with Peace Corps Volunteers at deaf schools in Ghana and other countries with deaf education, so both groups of students can interact and learn about each other’s culture, language, and lifestyle. I would love to be involved with deaf education at an international level, such as participating in the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf to advocate for deaf children/adults in developing countries.