2008.10.18: October 18, 2008: Headlines: COS - Uganda: Oneida Dispatch: Nicole Sheehan joined the Peace Corps and by August, she was in Uganda, staying with a host family while she trained to be a health volunteer

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Uganda: Peace Corps Uganda : Peace Corps Uganda: Newest Stories: 2008.10.18: October 18, 2008: Headlines: COS - Uganda: Oneida Dispatch: Nicole Sheehan joined the Peace Corps and by August, she was in Uganda, staying with a host family while she trained to be a health volunteer

By Admin1 (admin) (70.243.121.254) on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:46 am: Edit Post

Nicole Sheehan joined the Peace Corps and by August, she was in Uganda, staying with a host family while she trained to be a health volunteer

Nicole Sheehan joined the Peace Corps and by August, she was in Uganda, staying with a host family while she trained to be a health volunteer

"The best part of my experiences has been making a life here in Uganda," she in an e-mail interview Thursday. "Making friends, working with FDNC, having fun and everything else that happens in day-to-day life...Life goes on just like it does anywhere." And though she said that it is hard to tell whether or not she is making a difference, she likes to think that she is. So far, she has seen the most positive response from her young flute students. "They are learning to read music and playing the flute, which is something totally new for a Ugandan student," she said. "It gives them something extra to do after school."

Nicole Sheehan joined the Peace Corps and by August, she was in Uganda, staying with a host family while she trained to be a health volunteer

OHS grad serving in Peace Corps in Uganda

By LYNN COLLIER, Dispatch Staff Writer

10/18/2008

Caption: Nicole Sheehan stands by Sisiyi Falls in Uganda.

ONEIDA - An Oneida High School graduate who has spent the last 18 months in Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer is anticipating a visit from her family and friends later this month and they'd like to take something along with them to aid her in her endeavors.

After graduating from Daemen College in May 2007 with a degree in natural science, Nicole Sheehan, 22, joined the U.S. Peace Corps and by August, she was in Uganda, staying with a host family while she trained to be a health volunteer.

After her training was complete in October, Nicole moved into her own one-room hut on a protected area. She began working for a non-governmental organization called the Foundation for Development of Needy Communities. Through this organization she teaches local community members about basic primary health care and how to play the flute. She is also helping to develop a special education school.

It hasn't always been the best of times, Nicole admitted. At one point, her hut was infested by rats and mice, which she had tried to avoid. One day, Nicole said that she came back from work and saw that rodents had gotten into some of her food. She had to get used to the lack of electricity and having a regular supply of running water.

But it hasn't been all bad. In fact, overall, Nicole said that she is enjoying everyday life in Africa.

"The best part of my experiences has been making a life here in Uganda," she in an e-mail interview Thursday. "Making friends, working with FDNC, having fun and everything else that happens in day-to-day life...Life goes on just like it does anywhere."

And though she said that it is hard to tell whether or not she is making a difference, she likes to think that she is. So far, she has seen the most positive response from her young flute students.

"They are learning to read music and playing the flute, which is something totally new for a Ugandan student," she said. "It gives them something extra to do after school."

Nicole has only visited home once since she arrived in Africa to serve her two-year commitment and the only way that her mother, Paula, can communicate with her is through e-mail, when Nicole has access to power and a phone line.

It's been a tough time for both of them, as the two are extremely close, Paula said.

"When I heard she was leaving, I asked her 'How am I going to live without you for two years?'" Paula said. "And she said 'You could come and see me, mom!'"

Though she never thought that she would actually make the trip, now Paula, Nicole's sister and a couple of other friends are heading to Uganda at the beginning of November. The trip alone takes two days, but Paula said that she is excited after being a little apprehensive about the idea at first.

"I thought about it more, and it's an opportunity of a lifetime," she said.

Nicole said that she is also very excited to see her family and friends.

"I think it is going to be a very eye-opening experience for everyone," said Nicole. "Most of them haven't traveled much outside of the U.S."

Paula said that she is looking forward to seeing her daughter and is hoping that she can bring along something special to help in Nicole's endeavors.

As part of her work with the FDNC, Nicole used to travel to communities around the country regularly, sharing knowledge on disease prevention, nutrition and other important health information. Because of a lack of funding, Nicole is unable to continue making these trips. Paula would like to collect donations at home so that she can present a check to the FDNC in Nicole's honor, "from her family and friends in America." The hope is that the money can be used for Nicole and others to be able to continue with these trips.

Anyone who wants to can help with the donation can bring bottles and cans to T-N-J Return Center on West Elm Street in Oneida where a "Nicole-FDNC" account has been set up to collect funds. Paula is also selling 50/50 and various items to raise money. For more information, call 363-8643.


©The Oneida Daily Dispatch 2008




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: October, 2008; Peace Corps Uganda; Directory of Uganda RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Uganda RPCVs





When this story was posted in October 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed
Peace Corps Suspends Program in Bolivia Date: September 16 2008 No: 1264 Peace Corps Suspends Program in Bolivia
Turmoil began in Bolivia three weeks ago sparked by President Evo Morales' pledge to redistribute wealth from the east to the country's poorer highlands. Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from the country because of "growing instability." Morales has thrown out US Ambassador Philip Goldberg accusing the American government of inciting the violence. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia.


 Contact PCOL Search PCOL with Google Site Index Recent Posts Bulletin Board Open Discussion RPCV Directory Register
October 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories  Date: October 2 2008 No: 1270 October 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
Candidates pledge to boost volunteerism 12 Sep
NPCA Promotes PC Expansion with MorePeaceCorps 5 Sep
President Bush praises Peace Corps 8 Sep
PC Mourns Loss of Belize PCV Bertie Lee Murphy 11 Sep
Home of Sargent Shriver is on the Market 12 Sep
Shays discusses Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan, Pakistan 12 Sep
Terry Wozniak adopts boy from Fiji 14 Sep
Paul Theroux writes: Moose Hunting for Votes 14 Sep
Kelan Evans works in Parwan province of Afghanistan 16 Sep
Joseph Opala creates an exhibit on Bunce Island 20 Sep
Anita Rogers called to serve in Afghanistan in 1966 21 Sep
RPCVs discuss changes in Sierra Leone 22 Sep
Chris Dodd is major player in $700 billion rescue plan 22 Sep
Kathleen Wright says PCVs changed South Korea 24 Sep
Thomas Tighe Reports from Clinton Global Initiative 25 Sep
Expectations High for Ambassador Kathleen Stephens 26 Sep
Scott Hajek sees US through whole new set of eyes 28 Sep
James Rupert writes: US Raids Strengthen Taliban 29 Sep
Three Common Misconceptions about the Peace Corps 30 Sep
Margaret Krome writes: Campaign endangers Voter Franchise 30 Sep
Christopher Hill returns to North Korea 1 Oct

New: More Stories from August and September 2008

September 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Date: September 1 2008 No: 1259 September 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
Eric Green writes: 2008 Election helps US Image Worldwide 28 Aug
Tschetter meets with President Arroyo in Philippines 29 Aug
Hill's new approach is an unsung success story 29 Aug
Jackie Theriot served as PCV in Togo 25 Aug
Therese Abalo became beekeeper to join Peace Corps 24 Aug
Obituary for Pauline Birky-Kreutzer 23 Aug
Peace Corps to Pare Ranks of Volunteers 22 Aug
George Packer writes play about Iraqi occupation 22 Aug
Martin Puryear retrospective at the National Gallery of Art 22 Aug
Elaine Chao heads final 2008 Olympic delegation 21 Aug
J R Bullington writes: Reinvigorate the Peace Corps 19 Aug
Faith Van Gilder returns to Botswana 18 Aug
Bill Owens still turning suburbs into art 18 Aug
Amy Smith hosts International Development Design Summit 17 Aug
McCain calls for greater volunteerism 17 Aug
Sarah Chayes writes: Afghans don't support insurgency 16 Aug
Maurice Albertson remembers origins of Peace Corps 15 Aug
John Perkins "hit man" is now documentary movie 15 Aug
Brian Connors helps local farmers in Malawi 13 Aug
Dr. Peter Davenport no stranger to rural health issues 13 Aug
Jeremiah Johnson tells story of HIV termination 8 Aug

New: More Stories from July and August 2008

PCVs Evacuated from Georgia Date: August 19 2008 No: 1254 PCVs Evacuated from Georgia
The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

August 6, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Date: August 6 2008 No: 1250 August 6, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
PC in Budget Crunch may cut PCVs by 5% 5 Aug
Garamendi first to announce run for governor in 2010 2 Aug
Bob and Pat Parish receive president’s award 31 Jul
Sam Brownback removes block on Kathleen Stephens 31 Jul
Peace Corps Removes Ban on HIV-Positive Volunteers 31 Jul
RPCVs organize online for Obama 31 Jul
Peace group awards perfect rating to Sam Farr 29 Jul
How Hill used back channels to negotiate Korean agreement 27 Jul
Voter surge may hurt Shays 26 Jul
Matthew A. Hamilton writes: A Shadow on Ararat 25 Jul
Gates says Tools of inspiration are indispensable 15 Jul
An interview with Composer Gabriela Lena Frank 13 Jul
Ginny Farmer to swim in Olympics for American Samoa 11 Jul
Dodd is possible vice presidential candidate 11 Jul
Carl Pope supports the Pickens Plan 8 Jul
George Packer writes: Obama’s Iraq Problem 7 Jul
An Interview with PCOL 4 Jul
Ifugao hopes for tourism boost after Campbell Trial 3 Jul
Peace Corps To Quit Kiribati 3 Jul
Tony Hall asks: Where is moral outrage over food crisis? 3 Jul
Wofford raises awareness about global poverty 2 Jul

New: More Stories from June and July 2008



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Oneida Dispatch

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Uganda

PCOL42328
63


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: