2010.11.21: November 21, 2010: Ellen Nesbitt was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya teaching students high school level math and science in Kenya
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2010.11.21: November 21, 2010: Ellen Nesbitt was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya teaching students high school level math and science in Kenya
Ellen Nesbitt was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya teaching students high school level math and science in Kenya
"Students had to share textbooks and didn't have calculators, and they were really excited when I brought them colored pencils," Nesbitt recalled, adding teaching students in Kenya proved to be no easy task. "Sometimes it was a struggle to get them to pay attention, but if it wasn't for me, they would not have a biology teacher." Nesbitt had to teach at a second school due to poor building conditions and was eventually forced to end her service 11 months early due to the rising danger in the political climate. Even though Nesbitt was unable to complete her full term, she still made a lasting impact on her students. While still in Kenya, she worked with other public health volunteers to organize a three-day camp called, Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). During this time, she spoke to students about gender issues, violence and allotted them the opportunity to be tested for HIV.
Ellen Nesbitt was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya teaching students high school level math and science in Kenya
Volunteer for peace
Published: Sunday, November 21, 2010
Updated: Sunday, November 21, 2010 18:11
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In the first Peace Corps presentation to come to PUC, Ellen Nesbitt, a PUC teaching assistant, shared her experience in Kenya as a volunteer to a small selection of students last week during PUC's International Week. She said she was initially inspired to volunteer after learning about the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.
Shortly thereafter, a recruiter for the Peace Corps came to her campus to talk about their experiences. Unable to leave school during the semester to help clean the aftermath, Nesbitt submitted her application shortly after she graduated in May 2006.
In September, just four months later, Nesbitt was overseas teaching students high school level math and science in Kenya. While briefly reflecting on her experiences there, she described the new and foreign teaching environment.
"Students had to share textbooks and didn't have calculators, and they were really excited when I brought them colored pencils," Nesbitt recalled, adding teaching students in Kenya proved to be no easy task. "Sometimes it was a struggle to get them to pay attention, but if it wasn't for me, they would not have a biology teacher."
Nesbitt had to teach at a second school due to poor building conditions and was eventually forced to end her service 11 months early due to the rising danger in the political climate.
Even though Nesbitt was unable to complete her full term, she still made a lasting impact on her students. While still in Kenya, she worked with other public health volunteers to organize a three-day camp called, Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). During this time, she spoke to students about gender issues, violence and allotted them the opportunity to be tested for HIV.
Freshman Megan Larson said she was very interested in joining the Peace Corps and had looked into it before coming to the presentation. "I'm more afraid to make the two year time commitment required by the Peace Corps," Larson said. "I'm more than willing to travel abroad."
Katherine Walker, secretary of the International Student and Scholar Office, commented on the growth of our International community, "Every year our events grow and this has been our biggest event yet."
Any student interested in more information about volunteering for the Peace Corps can visit www.peacecorps.gov. For additional opportunities to volunteer overseas, students can visit www.calumet.purdue.edu/intl, or stop by the International Office in CLO 176.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: November, 2010; Peace Corps Kenya; Directory of Kenya RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Kenya RPCVs; The Third Goal; Education; Indiana
When this story was posted in February 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
| Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all. |
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: Purdue University Chronicle
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COs - Kenya; Third Goal; Education
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