2008.01.22: January 22, 2008: Headlines: COS - Niger: Third Goal: La Crosse Tribune: Kelly Devine talks about role as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger
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2008.01.22: January 22, 2008: Headlines: COS - Niger: Third Goal: La Crosse Tribune: Kelly Devine talks about role as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger
Kelly Devine talks about role as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger
Upon arrival to Niger, Devine learned she would need to make some adjustments to adapt to life in one of the world’s poorest countries. Devine built herself a mud hut and learned to function without electricity or running water. She adjusted to sleeping outside as temperatures linger between 95 and 100 degrees during the “good season” and hold steady at 120 degrees for a three-month stint. And to get her weekly produce, Devine travels nearly 30 miles on a broken-down truck known as a bush taxi on Saturdays to a neighboring community’s market. “I like to say where I’m at is in the bush,” Devine said. Devine recently visited La Crosse after 18 months in Niger. She said the things she’s missed about the Coulee Region are trivial — movies, flush toilets, rows of sinks in public restrooms — and she is looking forward to returning to West Africa to complete her commitment. “It’s hard everyday to see the poverty that these people live in, but it’s been rewarding at the same time,” she said. “I have the option to extend for a third year, but it is a hard decision to make when I am visiting La Crosse and do have running water.”
Kelly Devine talks about role as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger
Visiting volunteer talks about Corps experience
By AUTUMN GROOMS | La Crosse Tribune
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One day she might talk with pregnant women about the benefits of nursing.
The next she might meet with school kids to encourage hand washing.
Kelly Devine’s role as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa, is varied, to say the least.
To see photos from her time in Africa, click here.
But the 23-year-old La Crosse native said her primary focus is educating people who live in her community about malnourishment.
Devine, a 2002 Central High School graduate, joined the Peace Corps after graduating from college with a psychology major and education minor.
“I wasn’t exactly ready to go to grad school, and I always wanted an abroad experience,” she said.
After looking at several volunteer programs, Devine opted for the Peace Corps because the salary was fair and health benefits were available.
She signed up for the two-year, three-month commitment and began two months of training with 40 other volunteers where she learned about the African culture and language.
“I thought I’d be placed in Africa because of my French language background,” Devine said, explaining that she took courses in high school and college.
Upon arrival to Niger, Devine learned she would need to make some adjustments to adapt to life in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Devine built herself a mud hut and learned to function without electricity or running water.
She adjusted to sleeping outside as temperatures linger between 95 and 100 degrees during the “good season” and hold steady at 120 degrees for a three-month stint.
And to get her weekly produce, Devine travels nearly 30 miles on a broken-down truck known as a bush taxi on Saturdays to a neighboring community’s market.
“I like to say where I’m at is in the bush,” Devine said.
Devine recently visited La Crosse after 18 months in Niger.
She said the things she’s missed about the Coulee Region are trivial — movies, flush toilets, rows of sinks in public restrooms — and she is looking forward to returning to West Africa to complete her commitment.
“It’s hard everyday to see the poverty that these people live in, but it’s been rewarding at the same time,” she said. “I have the option to extend for a third year, but it is a hard decision to make when I am visiting La Crosse and do have running water.”
To learn more about the program, go to www.peacecorps.gov.
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: January, 2008; Peace Corps Niger; Directory of Niger RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Niger RPCVs; The Third Goal
When this story was posted in February 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: La Crosse Tribune
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