Posts tagged culture
Life is calling. How far will you go?
Have Rainbow, Will Travel: The LGBT Experience in the Peace Corps
Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, June 27 to get a glimpse at what it’s like for Peace Corps Volunteers as they adapt to overseas cultures that can be less than tolerant of their sexual identities.
(HT to the Washington Blade for the awesome photos of RPCVs marching in the DC Pride Parade!)
Cameroon - 2009
In honor of Mother’s Day, we are shining the spotlight on the maternal health work our Volunteers are doing around the world. Here’s a success story from two Peace Corps Volunteers in Albania!
Two years ago, Volunteer Barbara Stallings started a prenatal education program for expectant mothers and health professionals in her community. After her close of service, it was handed over to Volunteer Jessica Goodell, who continued to develop and grow the program.
Barbara found that the concept of childbirth education was a very novel one in her Albanian community, with many cultural barriers, leading to nervous expectant mothers who were more likely to have complications.
To address this issue, Barbara helped facilitate a program that successfully trained one Albanian “Childbirth Educator” with a background in nursing and physical therapy to teach classes. Eleven expectant mothers and one father participated in the classes. The participation of the one father during class is a separate success story itself!
After taking over the project, Jessica worked with Albania’s Ministry of Health, the Institute of Public Health and her local Directorate of Public Health to organize a “Childbirth Educator Training of Trainers” to increase the number of “Childbirth Educators” who can transfer skills and expand the scope of educated expectant mothers. She applied for accreditation through the Ministry of Health and was approved to conduct the training, with seven professional credit hours to incentivize health professionals to participate.
A total of 20 health professionals (nurse-midwives, midwives, nurses, and social workers) were successfully trained. Now there are twenty-one “Childbirth Educators” prepared to teach a childbirth education class to expectant mothers in this community.
Great job, ladies!
Happy Birthday Peace Corps!
Tuesday, 21 February, is International Mother Language Day which is 2012 focuses on other tongue instruction and inclusive education
“Multilingualism is our ally in ensuring quality education for all, in promoting inclusion and in combating discrimination. ” Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
I came across this bridge that had locks in formed into the shape of a heart. I learned from the locals that when you fall in love you take your significant other to the bridge lock on a new lock and then throw the key into the river to signify never ending peace and love.
Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer Tondraya Burton, Ukraine
FAQ - What kind of training does Peace Corps provide?
(Source: peacecorps.gov)
BOL 2007-D15 on Flickr.
Dancers in Bolivia
In this photo from Peace Corps Education Volunteer Alyssa Gaalema, family members pay homage to their departed loved ones with candles, singing and prayer on All Saints Night at the Grenada National Cemetery in St. Georges, the capital. Candlelight flowed down the hillside in a peaceful, incandescent glow.
A Chewa Tribesman participates in “Gule Wamkulu” (Big Dance) - Zambia, 2011
(Source: collection.peacecorps.gov)
