June 22, 2004: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: Quad City Times: Hannah Cox took what she learned from her college social science classes and is applying it to the real world as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Dominican Republic: Peace Corps Dominican Republic : The Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic: June 22, 2004: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: Quad City Times: Hannah Cox took what she learned from her college social science classes and is applying it to the real world as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic

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Hannah Cox took what she learned from her college social science classes and is applying it to the real world as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic

Hannah Cox took what she learned from her college social science classes and is applying it to the real world as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic

1029856, Hannah Cox took what she learned from her college social science classes and is applying it to the real world as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic

From here to the Dominican Republic
By QUAD-CITY TIMES STAFF
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WALCOTT, Iowa — Hannah Cox took what she learned from her college social science classes and is applying it to the real world as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic.
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She lives and works in a small rural community, LaMeseta, in the southwest of the Dominican Republic near the Haitian border.
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“Economically and socially, things are tough for everyone here in the DR, especially the hard-working farmers in my area,” said Cox, who is from Walcott. “No government safety net is in place in the DR for those struggling economically and socially. The basic staples of life such as clean water, food, medicine, safe housing and clothing are quickly slipping out of people’s grasp. Basic helping organizations in my area are receiving no support for relief projects from sources they counted on not even four years ago. Essentially times are growing desperate.”
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Adding to the desperate situation for many is the devastating flooding and loss of thousands of lives experienced this summer in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

“Of course, the folks in my community share in the sadness of the lives lost along the border in the recent floods,” she said. “Luckily, in my community everything passed safely. However, many of the farmers lost crops due to the prolonged and strong rain.
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Also, many bridges have been washed out, making it even harder than normal to get around, she said.
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It is hard to tell when those bridges will be fixed, and the rains have also filled some dry river beds that have no bridges.
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“For example, to get to my community one must pass through a small river that is now full,” she said.
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Her volunteer work with the Peace Corps is no surprise.
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“Social justice means a lot to Hannah. That came across strongly in sociology courses she took from me,” said Gary Heath, interim associate dean at The Franciscan University, Clinton, where Cox graduated in 2003 with a degree in social sciences.
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Her parents are Jane and Les Cox of Walcott. She is a graduate of Central High School, Davenport, and also attended Scott Community College for two years before transferring to The Fransiscan University.
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Her invitation to her graduation party required guests to bring canned goods for a local food pantry.
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Cox arrived in the Dominican Republic in September and underwent three months of training in language, culture, tropical farming and small animal husbandry.
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She moved to LaMeseta, population 300, on Dec. 1.
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She is working with a non-governmental agency, Consejo para el Desarrollo Campesino del Suroeste, Inc., a council for developing the rural population in the two poorest regions of the country — San Juan de la Maguana and Elias Pina.
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“Together these regions have 87 percent of their inhabitants below the poverty line,” Cox said. “They represent 16 communities in all; that is 1,500 families, and 6,700 people.”
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Since the two regions are heavily agricultural, the organization works to improve farming techniques and help farmers gain competitive prices in local markets. Other projects are literacy and education, and the opening of rural health clinics for pre-natal and early child care.
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“Right now, they are raising funds to bring a sheep project into the two regions,” Cox said. “This project would not only improve the nutrition in the area, but also provide a new source of income through breeding.”
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She is in the process of finding long-term sources of financial support for the organization as well as funding for the sheep project. The TFU honor society, Alpha Tau Omega, donated $300 to the project.
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Cox also works with two women’s and one men’s group in her community.
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“With my women’s group, a combined membership of 43, we are working on starting an organic vegetable garden project. I also teach English classes two times a week, one in my community and one in the neighboring community. I am in the process of starting a youth group in my community that I hope to have established by the summer.”
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The city desk can be contacted at
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(563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com




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Story Source: Quad City Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Dominican Republic

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