The sixth-grade class at the Tower-Soudan School has continued to explore the culture and peoples of Kenya, thanks to a three-year long correspondence with Peace Corps volunteer Erin McGillivray



The sixth-grade class at the Tower-Soudan School has continued to explore the culture and peoples of Kenya, thanks to a three-year long correspondence with Peace Corps volunteer Erin McGillivray

Tower-Soudan students have a Kenyan connection
By Jodi Summit

The sixth-grade class at the Tower-Soudan School has continued to explore the culture and peoples of Kenya, thanks to a three-year long correspondence with Peace Corps volunteer and Iron Range native Erin McGillivray.

The exchange process has been facilitated by Erin’s aunt, Bergetta Indihar, whose daughter Rachel is a member of the sixth-grade class.

The exchange began three years ago, when Erin first left for Kenya. Over the past three years, the students have corresponded with Erin, as well as Kenyan penpals they have met from schools that Erin has worked with. Indihar has introduced the students to African culture and invited guest speakers into their classroom to introduce African folklore and legends.

Students have exchanged letters, photographs and small gifts. This year the sixth-graders make birchbark outlines of Minnesota to send to the students of the Maynard Primary School, in Wandayni, Kenya.

The Kenyan students have written to the class members using their newly learned English. For many of these students, English is their third language.

The Tower students have watched as Erin took a hike in the Masai Mara National Park, escorted by Masai warriors in traditional dress. They have met the teachers at the Maynard School and learned about their lives and childhoods.

Erin is just finishing up her stint in the Peace Corps, but before returning home to Minnesota she will be climbing Mt. Kilimajaro, another adventure to share.

She has written about her adventures, her stint as a camel racer, and the difficulties encountered during day to day living in an African country, such as facing an hour and a half walk home when it rained enough to make the road too muddy for her bicycle. She has also shared the joyous reception she has received as she travelled to different school helping train teachers and teaching students about HIV and AIDS.

“Even though I’ve lived in Kenya for over two years now, the very young children still get extremely excited when they see me,” she writes, “Last week as I was walking up to the school, 30 of them ran to greet me and surrounded me with their hand outstretched to receive mine in a handshake. It will be different to be white like most everyone else when I get back to Minnesota.”

This spring she will be visiting the Tower-Soudan School, to share more stories about Kenya and to finally meet the students she has been writing to these past three years. To help welcome Erin home, the sixth-graders are creating a safari-full of African animals, using papier mache´ and recycled materials.

Indihar is hoping this experience has opened up the students’ eyes to life in other countries, and perhaps, inspired some of them to reach out across the continents when they reach adulthood.

Learn more about the Peace Corp at www.peacecorp.gov.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

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December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV remembers Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga 17 Dec Maoist insurgents in Nepal release Swiss aid worker 17 Dec RPCV Alison Williams exhibits portraits of Malian people 16 Dec Former Brazil Medical Director convicted of drug charges 16 Dec RPCV Joseph Opala researched slave trade in RI 15 Dec Vasquez sees resurgent interest in PC 14 Dec Senator who wanted duel with RPCV joins Fox 14 Dec NPCA planning National Day of Action for PC funding 13 Dec RPCV "Harry" Chandler votes in Electoral College 13 Dec Critic says Moyers delivered neo-Marxist propaganda 13 Dec Micronesia RPCV Walter Cavanagh has 1,496 credit cards 13 Dec PC "Survivor" Julie Berry headed for California 11 Dec more top stories...

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Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

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Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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