Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Helene Ballmann Dudley can be contacted at helenedudleyayahoodcom
Country of Service: Colombia
Training Group: Colombia UCD 65
Cities you served in: Barranquilla, Colombia
Arrival Year: 1968
Departure Year: 1970
Work Description: Developed programs in CARE nutrition centers.
Other Countries you served in, Training Group Name Arrival Year, Departure Year, Work
Description:
Albania trainee, Feb-Mar, 1997, Slovakia SBD in Presov, Slovakia,
1997-1999 - worked in a small NGO that gave out small grants to
encourage community initiatives.
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
I have joined with Colombia RPCVs and friends to start The Colombia
Project -- a web-based (www.colombiaproject.org)pilot project to channel
direct aid to displaced families in Colombia. All the valuable NGO
experience I gained in Slovakia, has been extremely helpful in my work
with The Colombia Project.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
Interestingly enough, Peace Corps service has twice provided me with a
new career path. After Colombia, I landed a job with Children & Family
Services in Chicago, solely based on my Spanish speaking abilities. More
recently, my work on the SPA committee qualified me for my present job
as Grants Administrator at the Port of Miami. That's just more evidence
that we get so much more out of this experience than what we give. I
would do Peace Corps again.
Any message for returned volunteers?:
I would love to hear from any Colombia RPCVs who are interested in
helping.
Originally posted: January 30, 2002
