'My work was more in environmental education,'' he said. ''I worked to help teachers, as we worked with conservation themes in their school curriculums. We added some materials to the teachers' lesson plans, which would deal with deforestation, techniques of gardening, working with tree plantings, health, sanitation and proper waste disposal.'' A side project which Greg enjoyed was an environmental club that he started at one school, attracting 25 students ranging in age from 5 to 17 years old. ''We worked on proper gardening techniques, using organic pesticides to protect growing local plants,'' he said. ''We had school gardens, which we used as a teaching tool. We worked to teach techniques through action, not just in classroom settings.'' Hilpipre said he was happy to work with the second Peace Corps volunteer to whom he handed off some of the programs he had started. ''He was able to continue the environmental club and is able to bring a wider scope to the reforestation project which was begun while I was there,'' Hilpipre said. ''The new recruit is continuing to teach the villagers how to use the branches, to begin new trees The village people are learning that it is important to put nutrients back into the soil for future crops and generations.''
Greg Hilpipre served as a Peace Corps Volunteer working in environmental education in Senegal
Clarion twins return from Peace Corps work
Hilpipres had done work in Africa
By KAREN WELD Messenger correspondent
POSTED: October 20, 2008
Greg Hilpipre in Senegal
Greg Hilpipre's adventure in the Peace Corps took him to Senegal, which is the northwestern-most country on the main continent of Africa.
''Senegal is slightly smaller than South Dakota and has a population of about 10 million,'' said Greg Hilpipre. ''There are seven different languages. Mine was Pulaar, which is the second-largest. The area is very dry, arid and hot climate.''
He was the first American volunteer to live in the area.
''Just because there had been no one there before me, they were still very friendly, community-oriented and welcomed me with open arms,'' he said. ''They were excited to have me there. It was a great cultural exchange.''
Hilpipre said he started purely with community assessment, trying to learn areas of need and where he could help.
''My work was more in environmental education,'' he said. ''I worked to help teachers, as we worked with conservation themes in their school curriculums. We added some materials to the teachers' lesson plans, which would deal with deforestation, techniques of gardening, working with tree plantings, health, sanitation and proper waste disposal.''
A side project which Greg enjoyed was an environmental club that he started at one school, attracting 25 students ranging in age from 5 to 17 years old.
''We worked on proper gardening techniques, using organic pesticides to protect growing local plants,'' he said. ''We had school gardens, which we used as a teaching tool. We worked to teach techniques through action, not just in classroom settings.''
Hilpipre said he was happy to work with the second Peace Corps volunteer to whom he handed off some of the programs he had started.
''He was able to continue the environmental club and is able to bring a wider scope to the reforestation project which was begun while I was there,'' Hilpipre said. ''The new recruit is continuing to teach the villagers how to use the branches, to begin new trees The village people are learning that it is important to put nutrients back into the soil for future crops and generations.''
Small successes
The twins learned very quickly to claim victory for small successes.
''We are such a success-oriented society here,'' said Greg Hilpipre. ''Our experiences in Africa taught us patience.''
There are several things the twosome have particularly enjoyed since returning: air-conditioning and porcelain toilets.
''And to be clean,'' said Garrett Hilpipre. ''We were probably never truly clean. A bath would be in the nearby river.''
They also learned how to get along without so much stuff.
''We have so much available to us in the states,'' said Greg Hilpipre. ''We go into the stores and there are so many brands of every kind of product. We received $200 from the Peace Corps each month and we were able to live like kings. Now that we are home, our deferred student loans need to be paid and we have cell phone bills and lots of other expenses. Life is harder in Africa, but it is less complicated.''
Garrett Hilpipre agreed.
''The pace of life is so much slower,'' he said. ''We have sort of a rat-race mentality here.''
Both said they are trying hard not to get caught back up in the latest new technology gadget which is offered to American consumers.
''I am happy that I did it,'' Garrett Hilpipre said. ''What I was able to help them do was really rewarding.''
Greg Hilpipre added, ''The rewards which we got for helping teach them some things which they didn't know before were great. Now we know that we can do about anything, any place in the world. We would recommend anyone to look into it. It is a different experience plus an adventure. We had a really great time and learned more about ourselves at the same time.''
