Branden N.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I was considering medical school following my undergraduate degrees, but as time progressed, I realized that I wanted to do a gap year before medical school. A professor in college who had been a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho was passionate about the organization and felt it could be a potential path for me to take after graduation. I realized that Peace Corps was an amazing opportunity with a strong mission and goals that aligned with my personal convictions and orientation toward global service. I continued to research more about the Peace Corps and became increasingly interested in the health sector positions, ultimately leading me to choose Vanuatu as my preferred post.

2. What projects are you working on?

One of my main projects is co-facilitating a protein and micronutrient awareness session at a local clinic alongside my nurse counterpart Nako. Education about micronutrients and protein is important as they can be difficult to incorporate consistently into local people’s diets.

I am partnering with local leaders and clinic staff on this project as well as a grant proposal to renovate a health clinic. There is only one admission room for patients, which can cause crowding that can be dangerous for newborn babies and mothers who sometimes are forced to share a room with sick patients.

Lastly, I am working closely with my counterpart and the health center midwife to create tracking tools with Excel and am partnering with the local health ministry to ensure that the most effective data collecting tools are being used appropriately and consistently.

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

Integration is very important to me. From the start I was very intentional about being active within my large host family and by participating in different cultural events, excursions, and village traditions. I also learned the local dialect spoken in the area so that I can connect better with my host family and community members. This strategy has been most helpful and interesting. Through my language learning I also learned more about local culture and history. I also dined with as many local families as I could. Bringing food or contributing in some fashion to the dinners helped me feel welcome and integrated in my community.

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

One highlight so far was building a canoe from scratch with my host family. It was very interesting to learn the importance of the canoe both now and historically. I was excited to build something alongside them that would last long after I am gone. It was very rewarding.

I also felt very glad to have the chance to assist the clinical and provincial groups in distributing mosquito nets and providing awareness sessions on malaria and other health topics. I was even able to help establish a relationship between our clinic staff and more remote villages using my host family connections in other villages. Facilitating these activities was easier since I already knew people in most of the villages in our area of the island.

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

I am very fortunate to have a site very close to the water and equally lucky to have a host family that is as interested in fishing and diving as I am. Some of my favorite times have been joining my entire host family and extended family to fish on a small island.

I have also enjoyed the customs and culture of my community. I have had the opportunity to learn many new things. For example, I’ve learned how to refer to each member of my extended host family. This can be complicated at times and can change depending on whether they are on the mother or father’s side.

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

One of the most important things I have learned from my community is the importance of village chiefs. In local communities the chief acts as a leader that anyone can go to for cultural ceremonies or to settle any issues. The chief can act as a mediator by sitting down with both parties when there is an issue and helping them find mutual agreement. They act as a first line of authority which people can consult before going to a formal body such as the community safety team or the police. There is also a national council of chiefs called Malvautumauri, which provides input to the government.

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

Whenever I am not working on a project, I spend most of my time in the water, whether it’s diving, swimming, spear fishing, or surfing. I also recently finished making a canoe from a breadfruit tree, a project I spent a lot of time working on. I also enjoy playing soccer with the kids in the village and reading books. The primary and secondary school are very close to the clinic so sometimes I get to help out at the school with tutoring or speaking on a health topic. Religion is also a very strong part of the culture so I spend time in church and help with church events as well.

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

In my remaining time I am looking forward to working on the maternity ward update at the health center. This project will be immediately beneficial because many mothers travel from surrounding villages to give birth at our clinic. Additionally, I am looking forward to spending time with my host family and the friends I have made in the community. I am excited to keep fishing, diving, and gardening with my host family. Making memories and continuing to prioritize capacity strengthening, maternal health, and WASH will be the focus for my remaining time.

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

After service, I will definitely take more time to relax and participate in outdoor activities. In Vanuatu “spell” means to relax and hang around. Upon returning the U.S. I will continue to make time to spell and relax with family. I also will continue to prioritize family and cultivate strong relationships with family both here in Vanuatu and in the U.S. I also will continue to volunteer in my community and do my part as a global citizen.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu.