She ran a support group, conducted outreach efforts, and organized events in which people could be tested for the deadly disease and hear health care experts speak about it. "Any way I could help the villagers meet their needs," she said of her duties. About 40 percent of the 1,200 people in Mokubilo have contracted the deadly disease, Zaveloff said. In Botswana, HIV/AIDS is prevalent in about 25 percent of the population. "It's ranked second in the world, behind Swaziland," she said. In addition to her mission, Zaveloff immersed herself in the culture. She lived with a host family, adopted its surname, and spent a great deal of time getting to know Botswana people. In the village, she was known as Neo Mashongwa and learned to communicate in the native language of Setswana. On a recent morning, Zaveloff said her time spent in Botswana was indescribable. "It was a great experience," she said.
Erica Zaveloff lived n the village of Mokubilo in Botswana and was responsible for educating people about HIV/AIDS and creating community programs, such as after-school and peer-mentoring initiatives
Peace Corps volunteer brought AIDS education to Africa
Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 5:50 am | Updated: 11:05 am, Wed Jul 20, 2011.
By Kristen Coppock Staff writer | 1 comment
BORDENTOWN CITY - Erica Zaveloff pulled out a pair of goat hair sandals.
A gift from African villagers in a remote area of Botswana, Zaveloff isn't quite sure if she'll ever wear them, but she is appreciative of the gesture.
At home on Prince Street, she spoke fondly of the people who threw her a party, bestowing the shoes and other items upon the Peace Corps volunteer.
"I made really good friends in my village," Zaveloff said.
A 2001 graduate of Bordentown Regional High School, Zaveloff, 28, returned to the city last month after living for more than two years in the village of Mokubilo.
She was responsible for educating people about HIV/AIDS and creating community programs, such as after-school and peer-mentoring initiatives. She ran a support group, conducted outreach efforts, and organized events in which people could be tested for the deadly disease and hear health care experts speak about it.
"Any way I could help the villagers meet their needs," she said of her duties.
About 40 percent of the 1,200 people in Mokubilo have contracted the deadly disease, Zaveloff said. In Botswana, HIV/AIDS is prevalent in about 25 percent of the population.
"It's ranked second in the world, behind Swaziland," she said.
In addition to her mission, Zaveloff immersed herself in the culture. She lived with a host family, adopted its surname, and spent a great deal of time getting to know Botswana people. In the village, she was known as Neo Mashongwa and learned to communicate in the native language of Setswana.
On a recent morning, Zaveloff said her time spent in Botswana was indescribable.
"It was a great experience," she said.
During her 27-month assignment, the American adapted to her rustic environment. She had a cellphone and access to email about once every two weeks. Her village lacked electricity, and a 90-minute bus ride was required to reach the closest city with Internet capabilities.
However, she said, the village is making progress. After she left, electricity became available.
"They're supposed be getting the Internet," she said.
The closest Peace Corps volunteer to Zaveloff was more than an hour away, but she met monthly with others in the organization. The Americans also took advantage of opportunities to travel to other African countries.
Zaveloff came back to Burlington County only once during her service. She was granted a monthlong emergency family leave last summer to be by her twin sister's side.
Jillian Zaveloff underwent serious surgery and had contacted the Peace Corps office in Washington, D.C., to persuade officials to approve a rare temporary leave. Diagnosed with colon cancer at age 22, Jillian Zaveloff is continuing to undergo treatment.
Since her permanent return June 21, Erica Zaveloff has been readjusting to Western civilization.
"You work hard to build a life there, and then you just leave," she said.
While living with her parents, Susan and Marvin, the former AmeriCorps volunteer is spending the summer getting back in touch with old friends, American foods, and modern conveniences such as refrigeration.
"It's still fresh," she said. "I feel like nothing has really changed here."
Eating her favorite foods, such as turkey hoagies and pizza, is exciting to Zaveloff. She has also been consuming fresh fruits unavailable in Botswana, such as strawberries, while avoiding apples and bananas, which were pervasive.
Grilled steak was inexpensive and plentiful in the village, but Zaveloff also sampled more exotic local cuisine. She especially remembered the spiky, colorful pane worms that natives ate like potato chips.
"I tried them. It's not something I enjoy," she said.
Although she did not bring home a taste for pane worms, she did carry with her African fabrics, a patterned dress, a DVD of native dances and a cache of jewelry, including Botswanan earrings and a necklace with large beads made from newspaper. She said the villagers presented her with gifts knowing her preferences.
"I'm a jewelry hoarder," Zaveloff said.
She plans to keep in touch with some of the people she met in Botswana. She said she'd like to visit in the future, but also hopes to travel to new places.
In the meantime, her new focus is her own education.
Zaveloff is preparing to start work on her second master's degree. In September, she will move to Philadelphia and study social work at the University of Pennsylvania. Her goal is to work with prisoners re-entering mainstream society.
Her volunteer experiences likely will be useful in her career. Adjusting to extreme lifestyle changes is something Zaveloff knows well.
