Andrew L.

1. What got you interested in Peace Corps?

I was volunteering with the Sudan Volunteer Programme where I was placed in a Sudanese community and partnered with local institutions to build an English Language community and program courses. As a program volunteer, I relied heavily on Arabic immersion and community integration to build strong relations and trust within my community, which fostered many life and professional opportunities during my time in Sudan.

I decided to join the Peace Corps to continue building my skills in cultural diplomacy, intercultural relationship building, and youth development, as I believe in Peace Corps’ global peacemaking through partnerships. Three months of intensive cultural-linguistic training, two years of integrating and working in a community, plus all of the Peace Corps resources and connections… How could I say no?

2. What projects are you working on with your community?

I co-founded an association with two other counterparts focused on empowering and expressing the indigenous Amazigh youth identity of Morocco. For our first project, we recorded and translated 50 words spoken by youth in their indigenous language. We are actively creating partnerships with local institutions and programming to preserve and redefine the Amazigh youth identity in my host community.

Additionally, I am managing a beginners' English club, French club, Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) club, Boys Respect Others (BRO) club, and an English leadership certificate program. Through mentorship and training, I have created a train-the- trainer program, where the youth are learning how to be active leaders in running these clubs.

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

In Morocco, the dominant language is Moroccan Darija Arabic; however, people in my site speak Tamazight and/or Tachelhit as their first language. When I switched from speaking in Darija to Tamazight/Tachelhit with my community, I was able to integrate a lot faster; it felt like discovering a whole new community, despite having been in my community for the six months.

Additionally, I am very active in youth centers and have built good relationships with trusted community members, which has given me a strong reputation. Many youth use Instagram in my community, so I use Instagram to engage with my community and even teach them English. I make sure to attend community gatherings such as dinners, weddings, funerals, and concerts to celebrate and honor life with my community.

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

I took seven youth leaders from my community to a professional workshop training in a faraway city, co-designed by myself and the cofounders of L'blend, a well-known and successful nonprofit organization in Morocco.

The workshop included presentations from youth business owners, training on creating a nonprofit organization, a tour of L'blend, a special seminar on intercultural communication, a mentorship session, a tour of the Cinematography Museum of Tiznit, team bonding activities, and discussion of youth empowerment initiatives.

The goal of this workshop was to expose the youth of my community to successful Moroccans who had founded a non-profit organization, and to create mentorship between the L'blend community and them. The exposure and mentorship were extremely beneficial for my youth in the process of designing their own nonprofit organization. Throughout this training, I could see the light grow in the eyes of the youth, the growth of the partnership between L'blend and the youth, and the increase in grassroots partnership building among Moroccan communities.

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

I have enjoyed watching myself integrate and become accepted by my Moroccan community. Having served more than a year in my site, I have developed strong bonds with my students and counterparts. They see me as a community leader. Additionally, I have met a lot of individuals from surrounding villages and cities. I feel like I am a woven into the fabric of the community.

I also enjoy seeing the growth of the youth that I have worked with. I encouraged a young woman to get a job in the capital despite the challenges she faced as a woman, I helped individuals overcome their fears and empowered them to become leaders, and have helped people with no English skills master the basics of English communication.

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

I learned how important education can be in an individual’s future trajectory and success. I am learning that teaching life skills and having the opportunities to develop these life skills through projects are crucial to sustainable development in communities. Even though I may not see the direct, tangible results of my work in the community, I know that the seeds I plant will one day come to fruition. I am learning to evaluate my work through the eyes of sustainability, and not just through immediate, tangible results.

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

When I’m not working on a project, I am most likely playing music at an arts cafe. I play guitar and drums with my friends, and have also picked up the gimbri, which is a Moroccan spiritual instrument. I also visit friends and family for tea and dinners. Sometimes, I go hiking in the mountains and make Instagram videos with my friends. Additionally, I have self-care nights where I drink Japanese green tea, listen to music, and relax with candles.

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

This summer, I will take a team of youth to document and record the cultural traditions and indigenous languages of the Atlas Mountains. We will train youth to film, interview, document, write reports, and edit videos and pictures. We will publish several documentaries and maybe a book. This project aims to prepare the youth for the workforce by having them plan and implement cultural preservation and storytelling programs to affirm their indigenous identities.

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

In the U.S., society is very fast-paced and focused on efficiency. While working in Morocco, I have learned the power of flexibility and taking things slow to appreciate the current moment. Now, I feel that I have a balanced approach to working in different cultural environments. allowing me to approach assignments and challenges with creativity and with a solutions-based approach.