West Africa is a Muslim country, so Wilhelm will be required to abide by different rules than she is used to. She will have to wear an ankle-length dress and keep her shoulders covered at all times. "It'll be difficult at first, because I am used to speaking my mind and wearing what I want," Wilhelm said. "But I want to experience the culture."
April Wilhelm heads for Mauritania, West Africa as Peace Corps Volunteer
North Iowan starts Peace Corps training
By Samantha Donisi, For The Globe Gazette
Caption: April Wilhelm, 22, of Clear Lake left for Mauritania, West Africa, on June 28 to begin three months of Peace Corps training. (SAMANTHA DONISI/For The Globe Gazette)
CLEAR LAKE — While some college graduates are worrying about what in the world they will do, April Wilhelm of Clear Lake is thinking of where in the world she will be.
Wilhelm, 22, left for Mauritania, West Africa, on June 28 for two years of service with the Peace Corps.
Wilhelm will undergo three months of training in Mauritania, and then will be told where she will be stationed for the remainder of her service.
A recent graduate of Carlton College, Wilhelm was a biology major and will be working as a health and water specialist with the Peace Corps.
Her job will include working as an informal educator to the people of West Africa about water supply maintenance and HIV prevention.
The overall goal of the Peace Corps is to evaluate the health of the area she is stationed in, and to experience the culture of the area.
Wilhelm said she always wanted to travel, and saw the Peace Corps as a viable option after college, to help her figure out what she wanted to do.
Jill Wilhelm, April's mother, said she felt many different emotions when April first told her the news.
"I was a little bit scared, but proud that she is taking two years out of her life to go and help people," her mother said.
April applied last September, and was accepted in April.
In order to join the Peace Corps, she underwent a rigorous examination process that included a lengthy interview, a mental review and various physical exams.
Certain skills are required for entrance into the Peace Corps, and the skills a person possesses dictates where they are placed for duty.
Because Wilhelm was both a biology major and had a business degree, she was placed on the health and water committee, and was sent to West Africa because of her language skills that include fluent French.
"I didn't want her to go at first; I wasn't too happy about it," Jill Wilhelm said. "But we sat and talked about it, and she told me that traveling and helping people were something she had always wanted to do, and I didn't want to stop her from meeting one of the goals in her life."
Although members of the Peace Corps can request which country they are placed in, that is not always guaranteed, and no one knows where they will be living out their term until after they have completed training.
While in West Africa, there will be a few risks.
Malaria-carrying mosquitoes reside in West Africa, so Wilhelm must take anti-malarial drugs. Water contamination is also a major issue, so she will have to carefully filter any drinking water.
West Africa is a Muslim country, so Wilhelm will be required to abide by different rules than she is used to. She will have to wear an ankle-length dress and keep her shoulders covered at all times.
"It'll be difficult at first, because I am used to speaking my mind and wearing what I want," Wilhelm said. "But I want to experience the culture."
One of the main goals of the Peace Corps is to bring an understanding of the culture to others. Wilhelm takes that very seriously.
"People have a preconceived notion about Muslim countries, and I hope to fight the stereotypes," she said.
Faced with such a challenge, Wilhelm is optimistic.
"It's kind of scary, leaving home for so long, but it will be an adventure," Wilhelm said.
"I am really looking forward to the experience."
