Sisters Michela and Valentina Devescovi both join Peace Corps
Last month we reported on the first known three-generation Peace Corps family where grandmother, mother, and daughter had all served as volunteers. This month read and comment on a story from the Loudoun Times-Mirror on Sisters Michela and Valentina Devescovi who are both joining the Peace Corps and departing overseas in June. Valentina Devescovi, 25, is assigned to the country of Benin in West Africa. She leaves Friday. Her younger sister, Michela, reports to the island country of Madagascar June 17.
Daughters of Italian immigrants, the sisters have spent much of their lives abroad, moving with their family as their father pursued his Navy career. The Devescovis lived in the Philippines, England and Italy before coming to Leesburg, Virginia when the sisters were teenagers. Valentina has a master's degree in Spanish literature from the University of Florida; she applied to the Peace Corps after a tech company she worked for went out of business. Michela has a bachelor's degree in French, Spanish and communications from George Mason University; she is taking a break from graduate studies there in special education. Read the story at:
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'I'm going to change the world' By Scott Cissel 06/03/2003
Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Michael J. Kacmarcik PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS: Sisters Valentina, left, and Michela Devescovi leave this month to volunteer for 27 months in Africa with the Peace Corps.
Two sisters from Leesburg will depart the county in June to spend 27 months in rural Africa as Peace Corps volunteers. Both women,graduates of Loudoun County High School, will teach English to public school children.
Valentina Devescovi, 25, is assigned to the country of Benin in West Africa. She leaves Friday. Her younger sister, Michela, reports to the island country of Madagascar June 17.
Even though both are confident that they can make a difference, they agree that their work is part of a long-term goal of helping poor nations.
"I'm going to change the world and make it a better place," said Valentina.
"But it doesn't happen in a single day," said Michela.
"We won't see immediate change, but the fact we are going is pretty cool," added Valentina. "It will be enriching to the core ... I've decided I've got to do it, now or never."
Daughters of Italian immigrants, the sisters have spent much of their lives abroad, moving with their family as their father pursued his Navy career. The Devescovis lived in the Philippines, England and Italy before coming to Leesburg when the sisters were teenagers. For the past seven years the women have worked temporarily as swimming instructors at Ida Lee Park.
Valentina has a master's degree in Spanish literature from the University of Florida; she applied to the Peace Corps after a tech company she worked for went out of business. Michela has a bachelor's degree in French, Spanish and communications from George Mason University; she is taking a break from graduate studies there in special education.
Caption: Valentina Devescovi is assigned to the country of Benin in West Africa.
Michela said their experiences with different cultures and overseas travel will help them during their first days in Africa.
"We've never done anything like this, but at least we know we're going to experience culture shock," she said. "It will be very humbling."
Their villages will have no running water, sewers, electricity or phone lines, and all communication will be by mail. Most of the villages are facing famine and AIDS crises.
"They face a reality that is very different from our own," said Michela.
The sisters' first three months will be spent with other volunteers in language and cultural training. Previous Peace Corps volunteers have recommended they bring long-term supplies of certain items, such as toothbrushes, baby wipes and batteries, as well as enough underwear for two years, a shortwave radio, plenty of favorite music recordings and an extra pair of glasses.
"This is not a normal trip," said Valentina. "It's kind of like you're going home, but you're not going home."
She added that her parents and grandparents have often talked about going hungry during World War II and growing up in a home with 10 people to a single room.
"We grew up with them saying we had everything we need," said Valentina. "Maybe we will have a chance to appreciate what we now take for granted and what our parents have said we take for granted."
The women agree that their time in Africa will be a life-changing experience, and they anticipate difficult challenges. Most volunteers take on many tasks not directly related to their first assignments when they arrive. Some volunteers have started soccer teams, organized fund-raisers for abused women and led small construction projects. One volunteer in Africa, abandoned by his community when the village well went dry, notified his supervisors and simply moved on to volunteer with other villages.
"You've got to like roughing it for a while," said Valentina.
Caption: Michela Devescovi reports to the island country of Madagascar June 17.
The sisters said that the adults in their villages will normally value farming and making profits in the market over formal education, so the challenge will be to persuade the community to appreciate the sisters' work.
Like all volunteers, the women will receive a small stipend for their work, comparable to the wage in their countries. In Benin the per capita gross domestic product is about $1,040 a year. After the women complete their service, each will receive a stipend of several thousand dollars.
The sisters said their father, Daniel, loves the idea of their trip to Africa, whereas their mother, Ivana, is worried about them, "like a typical Italian mother."
"She can't stay away from her babies too long," said Michela. "Thank God our brother is here."
Their brother, Tiziano, or "Taz," plans to visit them some time during their assignment.
"I think everybody is going to meet them," said Taz. "I would rather they not go, but I'm really proud of them."
Valentina and Michela plan to meet each other during time off to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the tallest mountain on the continent. The mountain is a part of their earliest childhood memories, when they learned an Italian song called "Vatusi," about a tribe of tall Africans who compare their heights to the mountain.
In the summer of 2004 the women will have time off to return to Leesburg for several weeks.
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Benin; COS - Madagascar
