Kaitlyn P.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

My interest in the Peace Corps began with a desire to work and sharpen my professional skills abroad. I appreciate the opportunity given by the organization to do meaningful work within communities, while also building language skills and gaining a new understanding of a culture different from my own. After speaking with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers within my social circle and hearing their stories about the Peace Corps, I began to seriously consider becoming a Volunteer. At the time, I was completing an international internship for my master’s in social work degree and wondering what the next steps were for me. These conversations and my experience abroad inspired me to take the leap and apply.

2. What projects are you working on?

Since beginning my Volunteer service, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to a variety of impactful projects, many of which are club-based initiatives aimed at developing life skills, vocational competencies, and community engagement among youth. Currently, I lead multi-level conversational English clubs that integrate life skills development, as well as a study skills club that supports academic success. I’ve also participated in two youth camps, including a weeklong overnight camp centered on leadership development and civic engagement.

In addition to these efforts, I’m actively collaborating with my counterpart and colleagues on a grant application for a community-driven project. This opportunity has been especially meaningful, as it reflects the expressed needs of the community. I am grateful for the experience deepening my understanding of the grant writing and implementation process as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

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

I have been enjoying getting to know the people in my community. Different strategies include continuing my language learning lessons with a local tutor, spending quality time with my host family, going out in the community and interacting with different businesses, and doing my best to get to know the youth who come to my organization. These strategies have made me feel more comfortable and less alone within my site. Additionally, the great relationships I have built with my coworkers at the youth center have been key to my integration. These relationships have allowed me to be more active in the community and meet many interesting people.

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

It is hard for me to give only one highlight, as my service has been filled with so much excitement and many amazing experiences. If I had to choose, I would say the highlight of my service is all the wonderful people I have met. The Peace Corps Armenia staff, my fellow Volunteers, my host family, the youth I work with, and my local friends and colleagues have truly made my experience unlike anything I’ve done before. The opportunity to connect with so many people I would never have met had I not done the Peace Corps is one I will forever cherish. Other highlights of my service are due to these connections and friendships.

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

What I enjoy the most about where I live in Armenia is the kindness of people in my community. I have never felt more welcomed than when living in Armenia. The people of my community are kind, supportive, and caring towards one another. Not to mention, the food in my region is phenomenal. No other place in Armenia has food like you can find in my community!

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

Something my community has taught me, and I find very important, is the value of having a shared identity and a community within that. The relationships and dynamics I have seen within my community have taught me the beauty of having strong community ties and feelings of belonging. My work at the community youth center has shown me the importance of ensuring youth have the opportunity to build soft skills. And the importance of building these skills in a non-formal and/or recreational space.

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

When I am not fulfilling my role at the community youth center, I like to spend time nurturing relationships, going for walks, or traveling within Armenia. I enjoy spending time with my host family, going to Lake Sevan, visiting relatives, and eating ice cream on our patio swing in the summer. I also love spending time with my local friends and fellow Volunteers. I’ve been able to visit interesting places and travel to different regions. I’ve also been able to occasionally hike and explore new places within Armenia.

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

I am looking forward to implementing my grant project with my counterpart. This will be an exciting and new experience for me, as I have never applied for and implemented a grant before. I am confident that my counterpart and I will be successful and learn from this experience. He has previous experience in this area, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from him. It will be exciting to see the impact this project will have on the youth and the community. I am optimistic that the impact will be positive and transformative.

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

Being a Peace Corps Volunteer has significantly altered my perspective and approach to life’s challenges. Living and working within a culture different from my own has caused me to do a lot of self-reflection and grow, both personally and professionally. My goal since beginning my adult life has always been to work as a social worker, helping others through service. As I have grown and experienced new things, this has become more specific. In the future, I hope to work within the global practice field of social work, serving vulnerable populations wherever they may be. The Peace Corps has given me many tools to be more compassionate, seek new perspectives, face challenges, and adapt to changing circumstances. When I go back to the U.S., I will bring these tools with me to use not only for myself, but to serve others.

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