My boss asked me to write a vignette so send to Peace Corps Washington, since I already wrote it I am now using it as a blog! Here you go:
When I first received my site
placement I was filled with a mixture of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and
awe. This was it, the moment that my 10
weeks of training had led to, I was going to visit my new home for the next two
years. As all new volunteers do my
friends and I quickly began comparing site placements and it was only then that
a new emotion entered my mind, intimidation.
All of my friends had been placed in sites at least twice the size of
mine, many with existing groups awaiting their arrival. I was heading to Valois Rivarola, population
approximately 120, with only one family expecting me.
My first year in site was spent
getting to know families and building important relationships. I quickly learned that the small town, like
most small towns, loved gossip and did not believe in their ability to work
well with one another. I was told time
and time again that committees and groups were pointless because they would not
accomplish anything. Year two I decided
it was time to prove them wrong. I went house to house inviting everyone to an
interest meeting about forming a committee. I was met with doubt and in some
cases full on laughter when I stated my intentions. The meeting resulted in a small women’s group
forming, with 11 official members. Together we received governmental
recognition on the local and departmental level as well as implemented a
sustainable egg production project. With help from a Peace Corps Partnership
grant 8 chicken coops were built and each family received 25 chicks.
The group met every two weeks for
over six months before implementing the project. Meetings involved lectures on various topics,
brainstorming possible projects, as well as fund raising. Each family is in charge of growing corn and
beans in order to make their own homemade chicken feed to reduce costs and
increase the sustainability of the project.
While watching the project take effect it has been amazing to view the
impact in more than just the physical sense, the nontangible results. The women not only received physical
assistance from the Peace Corps Partnership grant but also a sense of
empowerment. This project has given them
a new potential form of income allowing them to provide for their families in
new ways. The group has also requested
tree saplings, as well as seed, from a local source to help prevent
deforestation and to replace the trees cut down in order to build their chicken
coops.
The women now look forward to
meeting every two weeks and want to rewrite their constitution to strengthen
the group. They are considering opening
the group to include other members of the community, the naysayers who now wish
to join after seeing the project’s success.
This project means more to the community than just a few chicken coops;
it is an example of how they can band together and make positive impacts on
their lives. My hope is that they
continue to work together, expanding the group to include more members of the
community. As my two years of service
come to a close I cannot help but be thankful that I was placed in such a small
community; although my impact may not be much in terms of numbers and raw data
I know that it has had a huge influence on the lives of the members of this
community.
