Rebecca Perkins teaches a class in Senegal as a Peace Corps Volunteer



I’ve tricked them into forgetting this is class. The kids are snapping their fingers into the air, telling me how hard it is here, how the families are so big, how if you don’t give money to someone they’ll say you’re evil - a significant element in such a community-based place. I ask them how the game - or a real business - would have played out if someone came asking for money throughout. Or if they had bought more soda. They knew these answers as well. But in a slightly frustrated defense, we came to, "But it’s not the same as it is in your white countries."

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Rebecca Perkins teaches a class in Senegal as a Peace Corps Volunteer

African mission: Big rewards, small steps

By Rebecca Perkins

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Caption: Stratham resident Rebecca Perkins teaches a class in marketing, calculating profits and financial planning as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.
Courtesy photo.

[Excerpt]

Recently, I taught a class to high school students, an audience that ranges from about 17 to 24. (Here, you have to pass an exam every school year to advance, and you only get two tries. High school is an elite class.) The lucky will continue to university, and the rest will just finish school and try to start their lives. We played the same game, and the second time they got it and finished with plenty of money. As we wound down that day, we had a few minutes left, so I sat down on the table at the front of the class while arranging the last bills.

"So, who won?"

Hoops and hollers, a couple begrudging acknowledgments through smiles.

"Well, what did you do? What was your strategy?"

"We bought as much stuff to sell as we could afford."

"OK, good. Does anyone know the name for this?"

Hesitation. A raised finger: "Investment."

"Good!" I write on the board, Investissement. "Can you explain what that is, more specifically?"

"When ... you spend a bunch of money on the business."

"Good, but there’s one piece missing. Anyone have ideas?" Thirteen thinking faces. "Where does this money you’re spending come from? Why do you have money to buy stuff for the business?"

Bing, one kid gets it.

"It’s your profit. You made a profit, and you spend it on your business."

"Great!" I say. I write this on the board, and give them a minute to write it down.

"What usually happens when someone has some extra money in Senegal? You go out and buy something to resell?"

They know I know the answer to this.

"We buy soda."

"Or clothes."

"Or someone asks us for some."

I’ve tricked them into forgetting this is class. The kids are snapping their fingers into the air, telling me how hard it is here, how the families are so big, how if you don’t give money to someone they’ll say you’re evil - a significant element in such a community-based place. I ask them how the game - or a real business - would have played out if someone came asking for money throughout. Or if they had bought more soda. They knew these answers as well. But in a slightly frustrated defense, we came to, "But it’s not the same as it is in your white countries."

"I know it’s not. We all hoard our money till the end of time, thinking we’ll need it in our grave, right?"

Laughs to get us back on solid ground, but I’ve taken away their ace.

"Why should it be the same here? You have your own culture. But should we just throw our hands in the air?"

Acknowledging smiles at the desks, waiting faces.

"You’ve seen successful businesses here. What do you think they do?"

"Well, we don’t know." A coy smile. "That’s why we’re here."

I smile as well. "OK, then. Shall we figure it out?"

Lots of nods.

"I’ll see you next week."

When this story was posted in March 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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March 1, 1961: Keeping Kennedy's Promise On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency: "Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language. But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace. "

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

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Top Stories: February 2, 2006 Al Kamen writes: Rice to redeploy diplomats 20 Jan Peace Corps mourns the Loss of Volunteer Tessa Horan 1 Feb RPCV pursues dreams in America's Heartland 1 Feb Sargent Shriver documentary to be shown in LA 30 Jan W. Frank Fountain is new board chairman of Africare 27 Jan Abbey Brown writes about acid attacks in Bangladesh 26 Jan Christopher Hill Sees Ray of Hope in N.Korea Standoff 26 Jan Jeffrey Smit writes on one man diplomatic outposts 25 Jan Joe Blatchford's ACCION and microfinance 24 Jan James Rupert writes: A calculated risk in Pakistan 23 Jan Sam Farr rips conservative immigration bill 21 Jan Americans campaign for PC to return to Sierra Leone 20 Jan Kinky Friedman supports Gay Marriage 20 Jan Margaret Krome writes on Women leaders 18 Jan James Walsh leads bipartisan US delegation to Ireland 17 Jan Mark Schneider writes on Elections and Beyond in Haiti 16 Jan Robert Blackwill on a "serious setback" in US-India relations 13 Jan Kevin Quigley writes on PC and U.S. Image Abroad 13 Jan Emily Metzloff rides bicycle 3,100 miles from Honduras 9 Jan Charles Brennick starts operation InterConnection 9 Jan Lee Fisher tells story of Pablo Morillo 7 Jan Nancy Wallace writes: Was PC a CIA front after all? 4 Jan

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Paid Vacations in the Third World? Retired diplomat Peter Rice has written a letter to the Wall Street Journal stating that Peace Corps "is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World." Director Vasquez has responded that "the small stipend volunteers receive during their two years of service is more than returned in the understanding fostered in communities throughout the world and here at home." What do RPCVs think?

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

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Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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