By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 12:33 pm: Edit Post |
Katy Newbold, drafting major, joined the Peace Corps when she was 46 years old. She worked three years in Africa, starting out in a Muslim country in western Africa called Gambia
Katy Newbold, drafting major, joined the Peace Corps when she was 46 years old. She worked three years in Africa, starting out in a Muslim country in western Africa called Gambia
Mother volunteers in Africa
Peace Corps offers travel, look into different cultures
by Katrina Kirby
-Staff writer-
Katie Dalka/The Sentinel
Cathlyn Newbold, an active Peace Corps member who went to Africa, prepares to spend time in Korea.
More than 6,000 people are volunteering their time in 70 countries through the Peace Corps. It was founded in 1961 on the basis of John F. Kennedy’s words, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."
Since then 168,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps bringing clean water to communities, teaching children of all cultures, starting new small businesses and working to stop the spread of Aids.
Katy Newbold, drafting major, joined the Peace Corps when she was 46 years old. Originally from Michigan, she had received her degree in biology and worked for Fish and Game in Pocatello. She said joining was something that she always wanted to do but waited until her children were grown to do it.
She worked three years in Africa, starting out in a Muslim country in western Africa called Gambia. She worked in agri-forestry, specifically dealing with woman farmers, and helped with a clinic.
When her service was extended, she decided to move east to Zambia, where she helped educate locals on Safari revenues.
The goals of Peace Corps are to share their own culture, learn a new culture and share a skill. Newbold said she got the most out of learning from the cultures she had been exposed to.
"It broadens your horizons and makes you such a better person," she said. "It’s a privilege to live in another culture."
Newbold said that having to live as hard as the people she worked with and observing how they dealt with these situations made her appreciate what she had and showed her that everyone in the world has similar problems.
"You learn to get rid of all the excess baggage that you’ve been carrying around that wasn’t really anything," she said. "You distill yourself down to your essence and you find out how much you can help."
In 2001, the program Newbold was involved with was cancelled and she returned home to face the death of her daughter. It is something that is still difficult for her to talk about. She moved to Coeur d’Alene to be close to her brother and recover. She decided to return to school as a way to get her mind "off of things" and decided the drafting program was a good fit for her.
"I just kind of defaulted to it," she said. "It was available when I was available."
Newbold was named recipient of the Rotary Student of the Month for March. She will graduate this spring and plans to return to the Peace Corps this summer. She departs Aug. 20 for the South Pacific for a job dealing with marine and environmental protection and youth education. She won’t know exactly where until this summer.
Though she said she valued her experience in Africa, the 125-degree heat and rough conditions had been difficult. She is looking forward to the change in culture the South Pacific would offer.
"When you join Peace Corps, you should go where they need you, but I was hoping that’s where they needed me," she said. "I loved Africa but it was hot. The hardships were extreme. I didn’t want to live that hard again."
Newbold said she would encourage anyone to join the Peace Corps. Anyone interested is welcome to visit her in the drafting department.