Jenny E.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I was first introduced to the Peace Corps during my senior year at university. I was talking to a professor about how I wanted a career that applied what we were discussing in class (theories and principles around global development and poverty eradication). She asked if I had ever considered doing the Peace Corps. I hadn’t, but after she mentioned it I couldn’t shake the idea. I decided to apply and the rest is history.

2. What projects are you working on?

I’m located in a town in central Namibia. After conducting several needs assessments in town my counterpart and I determined that many businesses were thriving but needed individual help to get to the next level. So we created the Community Support and Help Desk where people can come and get help with their business or job search during office hours once a week. This includes assisting with business plans, CVs, cover letters, marketing, digital literacy, etc. The project has been very successful and we’ve assisted over 75 individuals.

Another big project is an annual trade fair that takes place in my town and two neighboring towns. The fair is a development initiative that links small medium enterprise (SME) and other vendors with established cooperatives and companies. Selling at trade fairs is a great opportunity for SMEs without their own brick and mortar locations. It provides them with a centralized platform to market and sell from. I am on the planning committee, working with SME vendors to promote their businesses.

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

I’m in a mid-sized town that is relatively walkable. When I first arrived, I committed to walking everywhere, making a point to never take a taxi. In Namibian culture greeting is extremely important, so on my walk to the shop I greeted every street vendor, shop owner and elder along my route. I became a familiar face in town.  This slowed me down but greatly facilitated my integration into the community.

With my job at the town council, I am in a unique position to integrate well, as the town council is the local governing body. Most people know employees of the council as they are in the public eye. In addition to working in my department (Local Economic Development) I spent a few days working with other departments (Technical, Water, Sewage, and Town Planning) to familiarize myself with the work of the council as a whole. I think this helped with integration as it gave me the knowledge to assist anyone who walked into the council, not just individuals visiting my department.

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

I’ve always believed that home is where you make it and not where you’re from. I was expecting this to also be true in Namibia but was surprised at how fast it happened. Home for me is based on relationships, and Namibia is a country where relationships are valued above all else. People quickly considered me part of their family and included me. Within a matter of weeks Namibia felt like home. The inclusivity of the country has been a highlight and one of my favorite aspects of Namibia from the start. It gave me confidence and validated my decision to come here.

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

I’m located in a multicultural town, meaning all the Namibian tribes live here. Namibia is an extremely diverse country and it’s incredible to be able to live in a town that represents that diversity. I feel extremely lucky to be able to learn about the cultural groups, languages and traditions of all of Namibia, not just one area. It has given me a great appreciation and understanding of the country as a whole.  Additionally, the size of the community made it relatively easy to get to know most people. You feel like a person here, not a number.

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

Prior to living in Namibia I had a pretty one-sided view of what we as humans want out of life. Very quickly I realized that our individual experiences shape the perspectives we have, our expectations, and our desires. This has caused me to take a step back and consider someone’s experience when trying to understand their perspective and views. This is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned here, and it’s a lesson I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

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

I’m based in a town in central Namibia at the start of the Namib Desert. The town is surrounded by the beautiful Erongo Mountains. In my free time I like to spend time hiking, running and walking through the desert and mountains. Additionally, I have a close relationship with my neighbors so often I will be over at their house cooking, watching soccer, celebrating birthdays, and assisting at their farm. They are a Herero family, and the emphasis on family is a huge part of Herero culture. I am always introduced as one of their own when meeting new members of their extended family.

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

I am at a point in my service where I feel fully integrated and comfortable with my job. I have an established client base that I have been working with over the year on their businesses.

This said, the trade fair will be taking place in our town this year for the first time ever. It’s exciting to not only be hosting such a monumental event in our community but it’s even more exciting that our local SMEs will be better represented this year. I’m looking forward to seeing the SMEs I regularly work with participate in the trade fair this year. Many of them are already approaching me and the planning committee about participating.

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

Living in Namibia has fundamentally changed the way I see the world and approach problem solving. Before moving to Namibia, I saw a problem and came up with a solution to fix the problem. After living here for a year and a half I’ve realized most problems are not so black and white, and that the obvious solution, or the one that provides the best data or seemingly best outcome, may not be the right one. I’ve learned that individual perspectives and experiences need to be included in developing a more wholistic solution to a problem the community is facing. This approach takes significantly more time and effort but is worth it in the long run and overall has a greater impact.

Interested in learning more about serving in Namibia? Connect with a recruiter today.