Hellstrom will work as a health extension volunteer. He leaves May 31 and will serve 27 months. His activities will include creating and developing health education and awareness programs and activities for schools, community members and professionals. “I’ve always been fascinated by Asian culture,” he said. “Mongolia was great for me. It was really where I wanted to go.” Hellstrom’s other activities will include training local health volunteers to work in schools and communities; designing sessions and training programs in public health awareness and education; organizing local and regional seminars to improve the skills of local health educators; and promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and education activities. “I have always wanted to learn more about international development and become more involved in our United States’ foreign diplomacy,” Hellstrom said. He hopes the experience will guide his future career plans, whether it is medical or law school. Hellstrom hopes to persuade friends still enrolled at Campbell to join the organization. “I’m encouraging a lot of my younger friends into joining,” he said. “I hope to start a trend from Campbell.”
Travis Hellstrom to serve as Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia
From Hickory to Mongolia
Fred T. Foard graduate to serve in Peace Corps
BY ANDREW MACKIE
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Sunday, February 3, 2008
HICKORY - Travis Hellstrom always wanted to find an avenue to help people. He’ll get his opportunity on the other side of the world beginning this summer.
Hellstrom, 22, was accepted into the Peace Corps organization last year. He recently received an invitation to serve two years in Mongolia.
Hellstrom will work as a health extension volunteer. He leaves May 31 and will serve 27 months. His activities will include creating and developing health education and awareness programs and activities for schools, community members and professionals.
“I’ve always been fascinated by Asian culture,” he said. “Mongolia was great for me. It was really where I wanted to go.”
Hellstrom’s other activities will include training local health volunteers to work in schools and communities; designing sessions and training programs in public health awareness and education; organizing local and regional seminars to improve the skills of local health educators; and promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and education activities.
Hellstrom graduated from Fred T. Foard High School in 2003 and from Campbell University in May, with a degree in biology and a concentration in pre-medicine.
He is already preparing for what is expected to be a dramatic cultural adjustment.
Mongolia is between Russia and China and is about the size of Alaska. People there endure bitterly cold winters and steamy summers.
Hellstrom checks the weather in Mongolia every day. Usually it hovers around minus-5 degrees this time of year.
He is learning the language by listening to MP3 recordings. Mongolian is similar to Korean and Japanese.
And, Hellstrom is reading of Genghis Khan and other Mongolian history, an important aspect of the culture.
Hellstrom’s first three months will be spent training with Peace Corps leaders. The first year of service is used as an adjustment to the culture. The second year offers the chance to make significant progress and changes, he said. Hellstrom will likely be working with five or six other volunteers within a city.
“I have always wanted to learn more about international development and become more involved in our United States’ foreign diplomacy,” Hellstrom said.
He hopes the experience will guide his future career plans, whether it is medical or law school. Hellstrom hopes to persuade friends still enrolled at Campbell to join the organization.
“I’m encouraging a lot of my younger friends into joining,” he said. “I hope to start a trend from Campbell.”
Hellstrom also plans to keep friends and family abreast of his experiences. He is the son of Nat and Judy Hellstrom and the brother of Elias and Leighanna Hellstrom, all of Hickory.
“The Peace Corps is something that many can’t do, but they want to hear about.”
amackie@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x5407 or 304-6914
