Even though Robert and Dana had been assigned to live and work in the same community, each of them received different assignments to carry out within that community. Robert was responsible for promoting basic sanitation principles and Dana was working on integrated education. Robert's project wasn't just about promoting the use of common sanitation practices such as using a bathroom and proper garbage disposal. It was also about creating a public water system which would find its way into every home in the community. Dana worked with the schools and the teachers, helping them develop curriculums to bring different aspects of education to their current system. "One area we tried to promote was to get the teachers to teach more health related courses," stated Dana. While there was some success with adding health programs, Dana found another avenue to try and in this, with Rob's help, she did indeed make a difference. "We helped develop a library at the high school," shared Dana. The former library, if it could be called that, was a small, closet-type room that had a few books stored in boxes stacked on the floor. "I wrote a grant and we got the money so a classroom could be fixed up and made into a library," added Dana. It turned into be a real library, complete with more books, shelves to house them, study tables and other furniture. She even introduced the Dewey Decimal system to them, helping categorize the books properly. The Mores have been part of an experience many of us wouldn't dream of undertaking. They gave so much of themselves so that others could have more. Those two years in the Peace Corps may be just a memory now, but it will be one that will last a lifetime.
Robert More and his wife, Dana, spent two years in Bolivia as Peace Corps Volunteers
Mores make a difference in Bolivia during two years with Peace Corps
By Linda Bruch
Wednesday, December 20, 2006 12:14 PM MST
Did you know that Bolivia's population is almost nine million? Did you know their major exports to the United States are tin, gold, jewelry and wood products? Did you know that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid died in Bolivia? And did you know that Robert More and his wife, Dana, spent two years in Bolivia, voluntarily?
All of the above are true including the fact the Mores did indeed live in Bolivia for two years volunteering their time there as representatives of the Peace Corps.
"We talked about joining the Peace Corps or living abroad for a year after we both finished college," said Dana. "Rob wanted to build, so we looked into the Peace Corps." And Bolivia was the country to which they were assigned.
After a community-based training program where they lived with a host family for three months, their two year commitment began. San Pablo de Huacareta, which was a community of about 1,000, was the place they were going to call home. San Pablo is part of a municipality, which is like a city, and it has over 10,000 people living there.
"We lived in a really beautiful area," said Dana. "There was a nice river with a great swimming hole really close to us."
The home the Mores rented was nice by the standards set within this community. It consisted of two large rooms and a bathroom they shared with the family that owned the property. They were fortunate to have a bathroom at all, considering many residences in the area were without this modern day convenience.
Even though Robert and Dana had been assigned to live and work in the same community, each of them received different assignments to carry out within that community. Robert was responsible for promoting basic sanitation principles and Dana was working on integrated education.
Robert's project wasn't just about promoting the use of common sanitation practices such as using a bathroom and proper garbage disposal. It was also about creating a public water system which would find its way into every home in the community.
Dana worked with the schools and the teachers, helping them develop curriculums to bring different aspects of education to their current system. "One area we tried to promote was to get the teachers to teach more health related courses," stated Dana.
While there was some success with adding health programs, Dana found another avenue to try and in this, with Rob's help, she did indeed make a difference. "We helped develop a library at the high school," shared Dana.
The former library, if it could be called that, was a small, closet-type room that had a few books stored in boxes stacked on the floor. "I wrote a grant and we got the money so a classroom could be fixed up and made into a library," added Dana. It turned into be a real library, complete with more books, shelves to house them, study tables and other furniture. She even introduced the Dewey Decimal system to them, helping categorize the books properly.
Robert's work provided lots of benefits and rewards for the community and for him. It wasn't necessarily what he might have planned at the beginning, but nevertheless, it had a positive end result.
"Sometimes the project you're assigned has some defined goals, but when you get to the community and go in and see what you're dealing with, the goals need to change," said Robert.
The Peace Corps organization was established in 1961 and to date has had over 182,000 volunteers serving 138 countries. The average age of Peace Corps volunteers is 25, which was close to Robert and Dana's age when they joined.
"There were 20 to 25 volunteers in our group alone," declared Robert, "and over 150 volunteers in Bolivia right now."
The Peace Corps does provide its volunteers with a stipend, which varies depending on the area where the individuals are assigned. "We got paid what a teacher's salary would be in Bolivia. It amounted to about $200 a month," claimed Dana. "In that country, that kind of money goes pretty far," added Robert.
The Peace Corps experience gave the Mores a chance to see a bit of the world and also learn to speak Spanish.
So would they do it again or recommend it to anyone else?
"I don't regret doing it," Dana revealed, "but I was ready to come home."
"If you are willing to try stuff, then do it," said Robert to anyone that might be interested in joining the Peace Corps.
Where are these two headed now that their two year commitment is up? Robert has a master's degree in architecture and the couple headed to Tacoma, Wash. where he would be interviewing with an architectural firm there. Dana graduated from college with an art degree and will look for employment once the couple determines where they will be living.
The Mores have been part of an experience many of us wouldn't dream of undertaking. They gave so much of themselves so that others could have more. Those two years in the Peace Corps may be just a memory now, but it will be one that will last a lifetime.
