Jacob R.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to do something that would make a positive impact on the world. That desire increased after I spent a month in Kenya teaching school students in 2016. After my time in Kenya, I decided that international community service is what I want to do as a career. I found out about the Peace Corps after I returned from Kenya during my senior year of high school and decided to go to Hiram College, where there is an active Peace Corps Prep Program. This program, along with the courses that I took for the program, only made my desire to join the Peace Corps stronger.

2. What projects are you working on?

As a Health Volunteer, my main role is to support weekly health education sessions for HIV-positive pregnant women at my clinic. I also conduct TB education sessions and home visits with stakeholders at different villages across my region. The purpose of these sessions is to support people who live far from the clinics. As a side project, I have started a garden at the clinic I work at, where we recently planted a variety of fruit trees. The main purpose for the garden and the fruit trees is to promote a healthy lifestyle for clinic staff and for the patients seeking medical services.

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

The main strategy I have used is greeting people in the local language, especially children and the elderly. Children love being greeted in Rukwangali, the local language spoken in this area. For the elderly, greeting in the local language is a sign of respect. Other strategies I have used to integrate into my community are joining my colleagues when they do field work and simply walking around town as often as I can, which has helped me make new friends.

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

The main highlight of my time in service so far has been traveling to the different villages in my region to conduct health activities. These take place outdoors under community trees or in courtyards of family compounds. These activities make a profound and positive impact on the individuals who live in these villages. Most importantly, I have truly enjoyed working with and becoming friends with the staff at my clinic and ministry office, who have helped me throughout my service.

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

It is a beautiful, peaceful, and quiet town. During the rainy season, everything turns green and the river overflows its banks. After dark you can hear the frogs and the crickets throughout the night. The people who live in my town are very nice and friendly and help make my community peaceful. I also enjoy the fact that everything is within walking distance.

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

One of the most important things I have learned in my community is to be more thankful for the things I have and for the people I have met. I’ve also learned to take things more slowly and be open to new things. Taking things more slowly has helped me learn a lot about both myself and the community I live in. Maintaining an open mind has pushed me to try new things, which has had a positive impact on my service.

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

I spend time talking to my friends in my community, my host family and my family back home. I also enjoy going to the gym and going on walks. Going to the gym helps me stay healthy both physically and mentally. I also enjoy going to the river to take in the beautiful scenery and to take photos of the landscape and any birds I see. Being able to practice photography, which is my main hobby, is something I truly enjoy.

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

I am looking forward to taking care of our garden and our fruit trees. I am also looking forward to continuing the HIV and TB sessions with stakeholders at the different villages. Most importantly, I am looking forward to spending time with my friends and my colleagues at site in the time I have left. Throughout my service I have made relationships that I will cherish forever. I am looking forward to making more lasting memories.

9. What will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

When I return to the U.S., I will do a few things differently. I will not take things for granted and I will spend more time with the people I care about. Being a Peace Corps Volunteer has made me want to continue humanitarian aid work as my career. I will continue to take time every day to be more thankful for everything I have and for the relationships I have developed through my service as well.

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