Brooke F.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I studied global health in college and wanted an experience that would allow me to spend an extended period in another culture to better understand how community health projects can function in distinct and remote environments. Peace Corps provided a unique opportunity to become deeply involved in a new community and form true connections with its people, outside of a work context.

2. What projects are you working on?

I am currently undertaking a Peace Corps small grant project to create a youth development center in my site. I am coordinating with local officials and health workers to build a space where youth can come in their free time and learn about health-related topics. The project will also include training sessions for parents and families about youth health concerns and how they can promote responsible recreational activities for youth in the community.

I also regularly work with community health workers to visit houses of high-risk infants and educate the families on healthy nutrition practices.

In the local high school, I train teachers to design and teach interactive classes about physical and mental health topics to the students.

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

I walk daily through my town’s only road and have met almost every community member by doing this. I make an effort to speak to each person I run into and always accept invitations to share a meal. I also attend community events like parties, religious celebrations, and service projects. My host family are my closest allies and spending time with them has also allowed me to become close with many other community members.

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

The highlight of my service so far has been getting my grant project approved and implemented. It was the result of lots of hard work and collaboration between all of the institutions in my town, and it all stemmed from the community diagnostic report that I completed during my first three months in town. Local authorities, teachers, doctors and parents heard about the youth-related issues like alcohol use and teen pregnancy that were highlighted in my report and rallied together to create a plan to address these issues. Despite several logistical complications and setbacks, the town persevered to create a plan that is both feasible and impactful, and it will be very exciting to see the results.

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

I love that my community is small and secluded because it has allowed me to get to know almost every single person who lives there. Being able to greet each person I see by name is special and makes me feel welcome and at home in the community. I also love that my town is located in the Andes Mountains where I am always just a short walk away from breathtaking views.

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

Living in my site has shown me the beauty of living in a close-knit community that looks out for one another. Many members are so generous, never hesitating to share with the rest of the community. It always feels safe walking in my community because each person I encounter knows me by name and I know I could turn to any community member for help if needed.

I have also grown to appreciate the slower lifestyle that my community lives. In the United States I often felt that down time was wasted time. In Peru, I have learned to appreciate the power of sitting together with others without motive and just appreciating shared company. A meal here can drag on for hours, but that time is not wasted because it is shared in the company of loved ones and is an opportunity to be fully present in the moment.

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

I spend lots of time reading, sitting in my hammock by the river, hiking, and coloring. My host mom taught me how to knit and I frequently pass afternoons sitting outside and knitting with her. I also spend time playing with my host sister and helping her with her homework.

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

I am looking forward to enjoying all of the local traditions like parties and festivals in my second year. Now that I am more integrated into the community and aware of the cultural importance of these events, I am excited to experience them again from a more local perspective and alongside all of the friends I have made in my community. I am especially excited for my town’s Fiesta Patronal, where we celebrate the history and traditions of our small community through dances, sports competitions and lots of yummy foods.

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

After my service I would like to take some Peruvian customs and mindset back to my life in the United States. Specifically, I will try to foster the same sense of selflessness and community connection that I experienced in my site in whatever new community I find myself in back home.

My Peace Corps service also gave me a love for education and a deep appreciation for how it can transform lives. I plan to take this with me into my career after Peace Corps, to make education accessible to as many people as possible around the world.