Peace Corps Kenya/Rwanda: Two Countries One Service

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Peace Corps life has been little busy….

I know I have not blog in a while. So let me catch you all up….

Finally, I have a placement!!! After a month of Pre-Service Training and another month of waiting around for placement, I have the perfect placement.

My site is in a town called Gisenyi. Gisenyi is right near the Democratic Republic of Congo in northern Rwanda. I am literally 20 minutes walk from the DRC boarder. GISENYI IS ACTUALLY RIGHT ON LAKE KIVU. My first year in Peace Corps I was on an island and now in a lake town, life can't get any better.

Apart from loving my site and furnished home, my placement is with an organization called DelAgua. DelAgua has a very well put together website check it out, delagua.org!!! We have a campaign going on right now in which we distribute water filters and cookstoves to the poorest villages in Western Rwanda. Distributions are followed by households education. I am the campaign coordinator for two districts. The goal is to reach about 3 million households. I will post videos from our distribution days, which I think are so cool.

I really like this placement, because its very different than my first placement in Kenya. My first year was the very traditional Peace Corps placement and I loved every minute of it. My second year in Rwanda, is different because I am working with an organization that works in villages but from a supervisor position. I got the best of both worlds.

I have so many pictures but I can't figure out how to load photos from my iPhone to my mac. As soon as I figure that out, I will post photos!

Peace!

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Mid-Service Conference (MSC)

So, Rwanda is treating me well so far. Finished my language training with the training group and swore in last week. I can say my KinyaRwanda is at a reasonable level now lol

I was evacuated from Kenya before we had our Mid-Service Conference (MSC). So, I joined a health group in their MSC this week and it was amazing. I will also be closing my service with this group next summer. MSC is when we get together with our original group and reflect on our one year mark. Also have discussions about how we will continue to serve for the reminder of our service.

This week, for MSC, we stayed in a nice hotel and ate 5 times a day lol Food is a big deal when you are serving in remote villages. One thing I miss the most about home is the variety and availability of food. The hotel had a summing pool, so that was fun.

In addition, I was elected as Volunteer Advisory Committe (VAC) for the health group that I will be doing my Close Of Service (COS) with. I am honored to be representing this group in admin meetings about volunteer concerns.

I am still waiting for my placement, I don't have a site yet. I will be doing grass root soccer this week, stay tuned for details about that.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Swearing In Once Again

August 22, 2014 Our swearing in ceremony took place in the home of the US ambassador. After two months of craziness with evacuation finally became a volunteer once again.

Happy to be a PCV again!

My partner in crime!

My site mate from Kenya also got transferred to Rwanda. I am so excited to continue my service with her. I have learned so much from this woman.

24 health volunteers and 10 of us are African Americans

My beloved host mom

Our black is beautiful!

The most number of African Americans in one group in the history of Peace Corps.

Monday, August 4, 2014

EVACUATION

Due to in securities in Kenya, we were evacuated from Kenya on July 24th. I took a direct transfer to Rwanda to continue my service.

I was very sad to leave my community and all of my unfinished projects. And most of all my beloved dog Simba. There was not enough time for anything. No choice but to move forward.

I was in Rwanda summer 2012 doing a study of broad and absolutely loved it. So, I have been wanting to come back to Rwanda for a long time. So when the opportunity came up, I didn't hesitate. So I am very excited to be here again.

I have now joined a PST (pre-service training) and will swear in again as a volunteer on August 22nd.

All in all the last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride. But I am looking forward to a peaceful year of service in Rwanda.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day Event

So sorry everyone, haven't blogged for a while.

Friday the 25th of April we shun a light on Malaria Day! 130 people were informed and tested for malaria and those who tested positive were treated for free.

People waiting to be tested