Gloire G.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I was introduced to the Peace Corps during my senior year of high school, when I worked as a teaching assistant at Soccer Without Borders in Baltimore. At the time, Emily Sherman, who was the program director, mentioned her Peace Corps service in Zambia a couple of times.

Later on, in college, I started looking into it as a possibility after graduation. I followed up with Emily Sherman to determine if it would be a great fit for my career path and at the moment it is.

2. What projects are you working on?

At the moment, I’m securing grants for a few big projects in the village. One is a community hall that will also serve as an evacuation center. Currently, most meetings happen in people’s homes because the village doesn’t have a proper space.

Another big project is building footpaths and installing streetlights in the village for safety and accessibility.

I’ve also been helping with smaller projects, like supporting the youth club in securing a small grant, and beekeeping for one community member. I’ve helped a few women in the women’s group secure jobs in town. A lot of my work is helping people get started with income-generating ideas that can support their families

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

A couple of strategies I’ve used are staying open-minded and making myself comfortable around everyone. I try not to judge and instead learn how things are done in the village. Spending time with people, listening more than talking, and showing up consistently has helped a lot.

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

One highlight was going back home for the holidays and spending time with my family. I showed them pictures and shared stories about what I’ve been doing and the kind of work I’ve been involved in. Seeing how proud and happy they were for me meant a lot. They kept encouraging me to focus on things that will benefit the village in the long run and to finish my two years strong.

Another highlight is spending time with other Volunteers when we meet up, sharing what we’ve been working on and learning from each other. Hearing what others are doing gives me ideas for how I can do things better when I get back to my community.

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

What I’ve enjoyed most is how open and welcoming people are. I can go to almost any house and just sit and talk for hours. Even if my language skills aren’t perfect, being there with them matters a lot.

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

I’ve learned patience, and the importance of community. People rely on each other here, and decisions are made together. I’ve also learned that progress can be slow, but relationships come first. When people trust you, that’s when real work can happen.

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

When I’m not working, I spend most of my time playing volleyball and rugby with the kids and sometimes working out with the village team. In my downtime, I watch movies and listen to music. Recently, I also joined a soccer team in the town where I shop, which is how I spend most of my weekends. It’s been a good way to stay active, connect with others, and do something I enjoy outside of work

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

I’m looking forward to finishing at least one of the bigger projects before I head home. I also want to keep helping with smaller projects, like assisting with grant applications and facilitating a few classes. Mostly, I want to be helpful where I can and leave something positive behind.

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

Greet everyone more warmly. And if I ever run into a Fijian outside of Fiji, I’ll definitely say “Cola vina (hello)!”

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