Troyesha P.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I was interested in the Peace Corps because I wanted to work and live abroad for an extended period of time. I got the chance to study abroad in Florence for a semester in college in 2021. I quickly discovered the difference between going on vacation and living and working with people in the community. A lot of global health projects are short term and rely on Western aid (such as money and donated items), which does not give sovereignty to the community. I like that the Peace Corps is more long term and we end up building a relationship with our community. I think one of the most important elements of any project is cultural respect for the people we are working with.

I am originally from Belize; I was born there but my family left when I was 6 months old and moved to New York. I had only been to Belize one time prior to the Peace Corps.

2. What projects are you working on?

I’m a part of the Youth Empowerment through Sports (YES) project. I teach different disciplines in a village in Belize. I work with boys and girls in primary school. For the girls participating in sports with the boys can help reduce gender stereotypes, improve their self-esteem, and give them different opportunities. I’ve noticed the boys wanting to play more with the girls instead of against them, and the girls being more confident instead of sitting out. It also helps that they see me, a woman co-leading with another woman (my counterpart).

In Belize boys are often cast aside and this leads to them getting involved in risky activities and behaviors. I try to talk to them about things they’re going through during life skills sessions because they’re often told not to express their feelings. I put the older ones that are too old to play in tournaments in leadership roles like leading warm-ups and acting as “co-coaches.” I don’t want them to feel discarded or pressured to grow up too fast. When we do life skills I try to talk to them about things I would have appreciated hearing at their age. I often give them real-life examples of what could happen if they choose violence over talking or don’t take school seriously, and why teamwork is so important. I always let them talk about their problems because I want them to feel like they have a voice. Throughout the year they’ve come back with medals and trophies from different sports tournaments.

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

I attend a lot of events with my host family. My host mom is a prominent figure in the community so I often meet people through her. I think the easiest way to become a part of a community is to spend time with them outside work. It is more authentic because you’re going out of your way to be with them. I always bid the time of day when I’m out walking so people realize that I live here and am not just on vacation. I also try to talk to people about their own lives instead of only talking about mine so they know I’m curious.

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

A highlight of my time in service is exploring Belize. I’ve seen so much and I love going to new places. My favorite place so far is Tobacco Cayes and its clear, beautiful water with stingrays and colorful fishes. I’m from New York City so I don’t see a lot of sea creatures. I also learned how to tread water that day. Some of my family members are Belizean so it's been cool spending time with family members I don’t get to see that often. My cousin came with me and fellow Volunteers on the trip and it was really heartwarming to see him interact with Volunteers. I keep some seashells in my room so I can anticipate more great days like that one to come. My mom is visiting Belize now and she’s planning on cooking with my host mom tonight.

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

My favorite part of my community is the Garifuna people. When I was a kid I would go to a park in Brooklyn where they would play the drums. I was always intrigued by the way people would dance and sing but it was always a background thing to playing around with my siblings. My father figure growing up and my biological father were Garifuna but they both follow Western religions and are less connected to the culture. I moved here during Garifuna Settlement Day and Garifuna food like sahou was offered to me (now one of my favorite meals). It was touching to see the Yurumein reenactment and how much perseverance they had coming to Belize. The parade was nice too, and all the clothes and items being sold on the streets. I heard the music from when I was a kid and it felt familiar.

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

The most important thing I’ve learned from my community is the phrase “So it go.” It means that things are going to happen and there’s no point stressing over what is not in your control. I try to remember this because I used to want everything to work out the way I planned. Often things happen here that are unplanned. For example our summer camp grant arrived late but I everything worked out in the end. It’s unfortunate when things like that happen but it's all a part of life. Service has prepared me to deal with life in a more adaptable way.

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

I spend a lot of time at a local beach, a short walk from my host family’s house. I go to some food festivals like Mango Festival or Lobster Festival so I can try new foods with my friends. I help out at a tutoring center in my neighborhood for students who need homework help. We do math, English, and Belizean studies. I often end up learning new things because when I didn't learn much about Belize in school. I like watching movies and TV shows with my host parents because they have a lot of funny and interesting commentaries. I also like to journal in order to remember my time in Belize.

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

I’m looking forward to meeting new Volunteers and reconnecting with previous ones. In my college readiness program in high school there was a quote, “It is not about you it is about those who are before and after you.” Past Volunteers paved a road for current Volunteers, making it easier to settle in because of their great recommendations on things to do and student activities. The new ones give me faith that the Peace Corps will continue achieving its mission.

I look forward to my friends back home visiting me. I post a lot of what I’m doing during service on Instagram and they’re so excited to visit. I also look forward to spending more time with my students, and I can’t wait to see some of them graduate because I know they’re going to do great things. Finally, I look forward to reading more literature about Belize.

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

I want to come back to Belize. I left Belize when I was really young and I understand the importance of keeping a connection as an immigrant to your home country. It might be because of the slower pace but I’m the least anxious I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve learned to enjoy each day and when things get hard, know that it won’t last forever. I will also be playing a lot of punta music because the songs are stuck in my head.

Want to learn more about serving in Belize? Connect with a recruiter today.