Matt Mercer worked at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture as an extentionalist for a local cattleman's association
Matt Mercer worked at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture as an extentionalist for a local cattleman's association
Peace Corps wants students
Desiree Lamberson Kansas State Collegian
K-State students have the opportunity to continue the legacy of John F. Kennedy by volunteering their time abroad.
Kennedy started the Peace Corps in 1961 with the purpose of sending young Americans to other countries to assist in education and general development.
Today, about 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in more than 93 countries.
"It's a grassroots effort of development to learn local cultures and to let the U.S. public know what their lives are like," Julie Sinclair, Peace Corps representative, said.
Sinclair, who spent two years in Togo, West Africa, as a volunteer, said a variety of people make up the Peace Corps.
"There's a broad spectrum of people with different backgrounds," she said. "Everybody has a talent. Everybody can find something to do."
Matt Mercer, senior in animal sciences and industry, is one of those people. Mercer returned to K-State last June after serving two years in Ecuador.
"It was something new, something exciting. It was an adventure," Mercer said.
As part of the Peace Corps, Mercer worked at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture as an extentionalist for a local cattleman's association, helping them to increase productivity. Mercer also helped various women's groups with the marketing of homemade jellies or jams.
Mercer said he enjoyed working with the community.
"I liked learning the new culture and learning a new language," he said. "It was very different. Every day was something new."
Sinclair said she loved the color of West Africa.
"West Africa is very colorful. The people are active and are out in the streets. They are also very open. I liked that," she said.
Sinclair said there were drawbacks, however.
"It was hard seeing people sick and realizing that I couldn't help everybody. Here we don't see people with Leprosy or who have parasites," she said. "We see the sick in hospitals, not out on the streets. It's a real eye-opener."
As a Peace Corps representative, Sinclair said those who are interested in joining the Peace Corps must first go through an application process.
If chosen for the program, volunteers work with a recruiter to decide which country would be the best for them. Volunteers do not get to pick which country they travel to, but they do get to rank their top three choices for regions.
Peace Corps volunteers live in the country chosen for them for two years. While there, they receive a housing and living stipend, medical and dental care as needed and a $5,400 re-adjustment allowance upon their return to the United States.
Once volunteers arrive at their assignment, they then undergo a three-month training period in which they learn about the local culture, language and various other subjects.
"People should consider it. It's a good experience," Sinclair said. "People learn a lot about themselves if anything."
Mercer said he encourages anyone interested to get involved.
"It's one of the most incredible things you could do with your life," he said.
