Hunter C.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

Prior to the Peace Corps, I worked as a child welfare aide and caseworker for two years. Throughout that time, I was centered on helping people and finding new and innovative solutions to support them. The Peace Corps caught my attention because of this. The opportunity to learn about another country and culture was also irresistible to me. I applied to “serve anywhere” and am beyond thrilled to serve in Saint Lucia. It has been a dream come true.

2. What projects are you working on?

My main project has been working with my school to re-establish a school library. When I arrived, I heard about the work the school had done in years past to start a school library. Initially it was an open-air library, which made it vulnerable to termites and water damage. During the pandemic the school closed. When the school re-opened the administration had to use the library space as a classroom because of increased class size.

After hearing this story from my counterpart and principal, we made it our objective to reestablish the school library. We started a portable library for reading month in May 2025. We mainly used the school hall where assembly takes place as a temporary space for the library but because it was also an open-air space, we had similar problems. So we began to plan to repurpose the former school computer lab as the permanent library space.

For this space to become the library required quite a few modifications so we decided to apply to the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP), a grant program to help Volunteers and their communities achieve their fundraising goals. We worked with local community members to figure out the costs of labor, shelving materials, painting, and furniture, and what we could do locally to help fundraise.

After months of discussion, we applied for the grant in September 2025 and were excited to hear we had been approved in October. The grant was posted on the Peace Corps website at the end of November, and we were ecstatic to discover that within two weeks, our grant had been fully funded! As we return from winter break, we are now in the midst of turning the computer lab into a wonderful new library space that will support the school, students, and community for years to come.

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

One of the first strategies I used to integrate into my community was walking around and introducing myself to community members. It was an easy way for people to get to know my face and recognize me as someone living in the community and not just a tourist. Also, I tried to learn Patwa/Kweyol (the local language) and speak it with community members. Although I wasn’t able to speak well in the language, my efforts earned me respect from the community. I also attend events in the community, whether religious or local holidays. This is a great opportunity to meet people I don’t tend to see on the walk to school or who don’t have children in school. Overall, it has helped me integrate into my community and feel more a part of it.

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

There is nothing greater than getting to work with students and being able to witness their progress and growth throughout the year. Teaching is a wonderful thing. It helps build rapport with students and makes me excited to see students every day. Although I’m not someone who likes a lot of attention, I can’t help but smile when I see my second graders run up to me and try to give me a hug, shouting, “Mr. C!” To have even the smallest opportunity to positively impact their lives is something I am grateful for and will never forget.

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

My favorite thing has been the rapport I have built with school staff. As someone coming from another country, I wasn’t sure how they would receive me but they have been nothing but kind and gracious. They have made me a part of school events and social activities. They check in and ask if there is any support or help I need to adjust to Saint Lucia. Knowing that I am not alone and that people around me have my back has made coming to work every day a lot easier.

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

One of the most important things I have learned is patience. Coming from work in the social services field, which is often a demanding position that requires constant work, I have found a much more laid-back work environment in Saint Lucia. My school emphasizes the need to to spread the work out so no one is carrying the brunt of it, to take things one step at a time, and to refrain from overwork. This has been a wonderful experience for me and has made me rethink how I will approach work in the future.

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

When I am not working on the school library, I support the grade 2 and 3 teachers in their English/language arts sections. I typically work with students one-on-one or in small groups to review phonics, sound and letter knowledge, literacy games, and more. Aside from in-class support, I help run the school library during lunch period and have helped start an after-school reading club for students, school choir, and chess club.

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

As mentioned, I cannot wait to get started on transforming the computer lab into the library. My counterpart, principal and I have been planning this project for over a year, and it hasn’t always been the easiest journey. Now that we are here, we are profoundly devoted to this project and want to do whatever we can to make it a whopping success. We have the community’s support in this and feel that together we will be able to accomplish it. I am looking forward to finishing my service and seeing this as one of the key milestones for my time in Saint Lucia.

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

I will likely return to social work for both schooling and future work. My time in Saint Lucia has underscored the importance of meeting people, families, and communities where they are at. And that it is important to respect cultural differences and not push your own philosophies about the “best” way to achieve something. I want to demonstrate the ability to be willing to listen and try to understand others with different views. At the end of the day, I want to be someone who can be a support and ally, regardless of the situation.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Eastern Caribbean.