I am herding sheep in the coldest peak of one the Caucasus Mountains in Azerbaijan. I loved helping my host community every time I had free time.
“Xinaliq is possibly the most remote village in Azerbaijan and at the time we visited the only way in was via a very rough dirt road only accessible with a 4WD vehicle. The villagers of Xinaliq speak their own language, called Ketsh.” - @PeaceCorps Volunteer Peter Mittelholzer
#PeaceCorps #Azerbaijan #hiking #culture #explore #travel #landscape via Instagram http://bit.ly/1HyqLyU
“I took this photo during a Diversity camp held by myself and my fellow volunteer during June in Lankaran, Azerbaijan. The photo shows students playing a form of tag where teamwork is essential. Both boys and girls join hands in this photo (which can be a rare occurrence here) along with PC Volunteers- and laugh and smile while working together to play the game.”
“This photo was taken while I was serving as an English teacher with the first group of PCVs in Azerbaijan in a remote village in Azerbaijan. We had to take an off-road ride in a UAZ (Russian-style Jeep) over rough terrain to get to this gem nestled at the base of the Caucasus Mountains.”
“This is my neighbor and her new grandchild. The head scarf worn by Grandma is a representation of women’s wear in Azerbaijan and in the yard where this picture was taken, women gossip and children chase goats, play hopscotch and eat “dondurma” (ice cream) during warm months” - @PeaceCorps Volunteer Sasha Kinney #Azerbaijan #baby #grandma #cute #travel #culture #peacecorps via Instagram http://bit.ly/1J6i7u1
Ter is the first to point out that his story is only partially about him, and equally about the many friends and ‘family’ members who have adopted him – and whom he has adopted – throughout his unlikely global odyssey, from northwest Kenya to sunny Florida to the cold mountains of Azerbaijan and back to academia in Boston.
It is a story of kindness. And it is the story, in its elemental sense, of thanksgiving.
I’m not crying, YOU ARE!
(Source: bit.ly)
A warm welcome to the 170+ Peace Corps Volunteers who were sworn in over the last month!
(Source: 1.usa.gov)
Peace Corps Community Development Volunteer Tim McNaught helped develop a medical records database for a humanitarian health clinic in Azerbaijan. Here he is fitting a young patient with new eye glasses.
“We want to get the young members of rural Azerbaijan to start thinking outside of their daily scope of how men and women are seen and valued in Azerbaijan, and move into what is possible for the future of their country.“
Peace Corps Volunteers Rick Wiersma and Roxann Brown are working with members of their community to promote gender equality. Recently Wiersma and Brown held a group discussion on gender and development with more than 25 Azerbaijani students and community members in southern Azerbaijan. They reviewed the role of gender within families, women’s rights and gender equality.
At the market in Azerbaijan - 2010
Peace Corps Volunteers Lead Gender Equality Discussion in Azerbaijan
“The goal of the presentations was to promote social awareness as well as critical thinking in local community members,” said Wiersma, a graduate of Liberty University who has been living and working in Azerbaijan since September 2011. “We want to get the young members of rural Azerbaijan to start thinking outside of their daily scope of how men and women are seen and valued in Azerbaijan and move into what is possible for the future of their country.”
(Source: peacecorps.gov)
Peace Corps Volunteer Julie Nelson shared this photo and story about making a difference in the life of one young woman in Azerbaijan:
“One of my students, Shole, has personally struggled a lot in the time I’ve known her. Her parents are divorced, her mother is absent, her father lives with his new wife, and she is being raised by her grandparents. Shole is very self-conscious about this situatio
n, and although she is a gifted student, it is very difficult getting her to commit to conversation clubs or other activities because of lack of motivation.
However, this spring, she seemed more upbeat than usual, and she participated in ‘Write On’ contest for the first time. Shole won first place in the 8th grade category! Even though she seemed happy at the time, I could tell that she didn’t realize the significance of this accomplishment.
A few months later, Shole participated in GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) Camp. I hadn’t seen her since the camp until she attended the Write On Awards Ceremony with me. It was a wonderful experience because she was absolutely glowing the entire time. She told me numerous times that she was happy and that she was thankful. Before leaving the ceremony, Shole said thank you again and that she loved me.
My counterpart has since talked to her grandmother who said that Shole is very different now than she was a few months ago. Now she is driven and even wants to study and apply for the FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) program!”
Learn more about FLEX here http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/flex.html
However, this spring, she seemed more upbeat than usual, and she participated in ‘Write On’ contest for the first time. Shole won first place in the 8th grade category! Even though she seemed happy at the time, I could tell that she didn’t realize the significance of this accomplishment.
A few months later, Shole participated in GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) Camp. I hadn’t seen her since the camp until she attended the Write On Awards Ceremony with me. It was a wonderful experience because she was absolutely glowing the entire time. She told me numerous times that she was happy and that she was thankful. Before leaving the ceremony, Shole said thank you again and that she loved me.
My counterpart has since talked to her grandmother who said that Shole is very different now than she was a few months ago. Now she is driven and even wants to study and apply for the FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) program!”
Learn more about FLEX here http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/flex.html
Happy 1st day of Summer! Here are some examples of the fun and empowering camps that our Volunteers are organizing around the world for girls and youth of all ages this Summer.
(Source: peacecorps.gov)