Peace Corps

Master’s International Program: On the Ground

13Mar

Having served two tours in Iraq with combat arms units, I was certain the challenges of Peace Corps would be inconsequential. However, living and working in a foreign environment with a very different culture many months at a time tests anyone’s mettle. That said, the challenges are just part of a fantastic adventure and an incredibly rewarding endeavor. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of my on-site experiences and some of the challenges a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) may face. First, let me set the context from which I write.

Learning hillside farming techniques with fellow PCVs (I am in tan shirt, center photo) (photo by Linnae Fath)

Jamaica is a low-middle income country with a stagnant economy and significant income inequality. Smallholder farmers have been marginalized by insufficient investment in agriculture and competition with cheap imports. Food insecurity is not as acute as many places in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, but vulnerability to climate change and global economic trends are real and present hazards. Coastal communities, like the one I live in here in Bluefields, are especially vulnerable to sea level rises, severe weather events, and increased rainfall variability.

Working as a team to get fishing boats out of the water ahead of Hurricane Sandy (photo by Linnae Fath)

On paper, I am an Environment sector volunteer. On the ground, the majority of my work is related to organizational capacity building, promoting adaptive agriculture, and farm/business management. I finished training and was sworn in as a PCV in May 2012. My wife (also a volunteer) and I were dispatched to Bluefields immediately after the ceremony. We live in a 390 ft² wood-frame house on a property with the four homes of an extended family. We carry our drinking water to the house in jugs and buckets from a nearby stand pipe and sometimes rely on our rainwater catchment to operate our shower and toilet. We are fortunate to have electricity and ready access to internet. The internet definitely comes in handy for thesis research!

Our humble, 390 ft2 abode

Most Peace Corps countries require language training and Jamaica is no different. Here the official language is English, however Jamaican Patois is widely spoken. It has taken some time, but I think I am getting the hang of it. Patois is not a written language, making it difficult to study.

Once placed in their community, PCVs are discouraged from initiating any projects in their first four months of service. This period of time is to be dedicated to community integration, relationship building, and learning local needs and assets. After the initial four months at site, PCVs must submit a Community and Sector Inventory (CASI) to their program manager at the country office. This is a document that outlines demographics, infrastructure, historical events, key leaders and organizations, sector specific information (environment, agriculture, health, etc.), and results from Participatory Analysis for Community Action (PACA). The methods used in PACA are similar to Participatory Rural Appraisal, a commonly used community-level assessment tool in international development.

Farmers participating in a needs assessment and priority ranking exercise I facilitated

The result of focusing on integration in the first four months is a better understanding of the people and factors that contribute to conditions in the community. I had to constantly revise my assumptions and beliefs about the source of problems, because a new interaction, conversation, or event would provide a new perspective or reveal information. I sometimes wonder how many of the failings in international development could be avoided if donors and practitioners could take the time to reach the level of understanding PCVs achieve in their communities.

Peace Corps provides volunteers with training in program design and management and even offers the opportunity to apply for grants up to $3,000 for projects. Still, PCVs are putting their knowledge and skills to work with fairly limited resources. PCVs need to be creative, innovative, and build the capacity of passionate people with whom they work. A PCV may find him or herself the most educated and competent person in the room, but he or she must be mindful that they are there to empower and build others. Leading from the back or from the side is better than from the front in most situations.

Serving as a PCMI volunteer adds an additional layer of complexity. The approach I took for the thesis research was to integrate with my community and then identify a meaningful topic before writing a research proposal. Fortunately, I have access to internet, because I needed to gain some new knowledge to be able to write my proposal. Specifically, I needed to better understand climate change vulnerability and adaptive capacity as it relates to agriculture. Other PCMI volunteers use their service as a time to research and write just one chapter or an appendix to their thesis. Writing a portion of a thesis might be a better option than an entire study, as it will allow a volunteer to use more of their free time to enjoy the experience. Regardless, I look forward to carrying out my study and know I will be better for taking on this challenge. Whichever option one chooses, prepare to be flexible. Site placement does not necessarily take research interests into consideration; the ability to adapt may be helpful.

The Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) program was a leading criterion in my search for a graduate program. Ultimately, I was drawn to Texas A&M because the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers PCMI and has a good reputation for international research and development through the Borlaug Institute. I understand that the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications is drawing graduate school applicants from the Midwest (where I am from) and from Mid-Atlantic States because of PCMI. The PCMI program is one I highly recommend. Even if you do not feel graduate school is right for you now, if you are interested in gaining meaningful work and cross-cultural experience I highly recommend applying to Peace Corps.

Kevin Fath is a Master of Science student studying International Agricultural Development. Fath has been serving in Jamaica since March, 2012. In 2011, Kevin was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve after serving eight years, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, and serving two combat tours in Iraq. He graduated in 2010 from Ohio State with a B.S. in Animal Science and minors in Agricultural Education and International Development. Fath’s professional and academic interests are in peacebuilding and food security through agricultural and extension education. You can follow Kevin’s experiences at http://kevinfath.blogspot.com

Master’s International Program: Invitation to Paraguay

3Mar

This is the second post in a 3-part series on the Masters International program, an opportunity to combine Peace Corp service with a masters degree. Last week, Tegan shared what it’s like to apply to the program. This week, we hear from Orry Pratt, who recently received his Peace Corp invitation.

Wow, I can’t believe how fast the past six months have gone by. In the time span of 173 days, I submitted my application, interviewed, gained pre-medical and legal clearance, and received an invitation. This is one of the fastest application processes I have ever heard of with the Peace Corps. Other Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV’s) have told me it took them over a year just to find out where they were going! I will admit PC has totally revamped the application process and moved to an online system, so maybe the length of my application process is the new norm.

It was Friday afternoon at 4:15 when I checked my email for the 200th time that day, and noticed one titled “Invitation to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer.” Deep breath. As I opened the email my eyes instantly scanned the opening lines until the bolded Paraguay appeared. Paraguay? Paraguay… Paraguay! PARAGUAY! I’m going to Paraguay! Within two minutes of skimming through the initial email I texted my best friend to share the news. My mind was racing at 90 mph thinking about all the different things associated with my service. Deep breath. Time to get focused and read the actual details of my service without racing through it. Deep breath. Side note: Leading up to my invitation I really did think I was likely going to receive an invitation in Africa, as most of the PC Agriculture programs are located on that continent, and I have experience from my volunteer work in Kenya last summer. I wasn’t “disappointed” about my invitation, I was more or less surprised that it was somewhere other than Africa.

One of the pdf’s attached to the invitation email was the Description of Service, a thirty pager with the main objectives of my service. During my 27 months of service, I will hold the title “Agriculture Extensionist,” and I will depart for Asuncíon, Paraguay on September 25. My service detail is particularly broad compared to other PC programs. The main objectives are capacity building among smallholder farmers to increase standards of living and food security within the region that I will be working (my “site” is yet to be determined. I won’t know that information until at least December 2013).

I will also assist farmers in understanding and implementing comprehensive sustainable food production systems for increased production and income generation. In order to meet these main “objectives” of my service, I will be tasked with training these farmers in cover cropping (green manure), crop rotation, no-till farming, contour plowing, soil diversification, improved nutrition, sustainable permaculture, beekeeping, and animal husbandry. Wow. Broad spectrum of agriculture? I would say so!

Learn more about Orry’s Peace Corp Service on his personal blog.

Originally from Northwest PA, Orry grew up with an agricultural background, and now has a true passion of promoting the best profession in the world – feeding every single living person!

Master’s International Program: A View from the Inside

27Feb

Over the next three weeks, ALEC students Tegan Walker, Orry Pratt and Kevin Fath will share their insights and experiences with Masters International, a program that allows masters students to combine their education with service in the Peace Corps.

The Master’s International program combines Peace Corps service with a master’s degree. A select number of schools in the United States offer the Master’s International program and of those, very few offer degrees in agricultural fields.

At Texas A&M, the Master’s International program has three parts. First, you complete 24 credits on campus. Next, you complete 27 months of Peace Corps service. Upon your return, you attend a final semester at Texas A&M to complete your degree and graduate. Your Peace Corps service has all the same requirements of a regular PC volunteer, with an additional component that you conduct research while you are there for your thesis.

I decided to do the Master’s International program because I wanted a program that could offer me more than a master’s degree. I knew I wanted to go directly from my undergraduate to a graduate program. After researching schools with sustainable international agricultural programs, I came across the Master’s International program. I had thought about Peace Corps before, but had never acted on the step of applying. Once I found out I could combine Peace Corps service with a master’s degree and receive research credits during my service, I knew this is what I wanted to do.

As part of the application process, be prepared for fingerprinting!

I am currently in my second semester at Texas A&M and waiting to hear from the Peace Corps about my country invite. Might I say, it is very nerve racking. I cannot wait to hear where I will be going!

With that being said, I don’t want to make it seem like everything is rainbows and butterflies when applying to the Peace Corps. The process is long and a lot of information is needed. Here are some tips if you are considering applying for the Master’s International program and the Peace Corps:

Apply as early as possible! I know this seems obvious but really, get that application submitted early in your first semester!
You will need your Master’s International acceptance letter before you can submit your application. This can take awhile to get, so apply to the Master’s International program as soon as you’ve been accepted by Texas A&M.
Be prepared to contact every doctor you’ve seen for any special condition. Even if it was ten years ago and the condition no longer exists, the Peace Corps will want to hear more about it.
Ask lots of questions! Talking to several returned Peace Corps volunteers helped me tremendously. Let’s face it; there are a lot of questions that cannot be answered unless it’s by a returned volunteer. With that, keep in mind that every Peace Corps experience is different and the specific questions for your service probably won’t be answered until you arrive on site.

My final piece of advice: it’s perfectly normal to have fears and reservations about joining the Peace Corps. You’re spending 27 months overseas for crying out loud. This won’t be the first time I admit this; I’m pretty frightened of what’s to come of my service. There are so many unknowns, how can I not be? But that’s ok! I was raised to dream big and reach for the stars. “If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.” -Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Tegan Walker is currently a graduate student at Texas A&M University. She is focusing on international agricultural development related to environmental sustainability. She is also participating in the Master’s International program and will complete 27 months of Peace Corps service as part of her master’s degree. Originally from West Virginia, Tegan was home schooled for most of her schooling and started at a community college at only 16. She soon transferred to Virginia Tech and completed a Master’s of Science in Applied Economic Management in the spring of 2012. After she completes the Master’s International program she hopes to continue working internationally to help developing countries develop their agriculture in a sustainable manner. Follow Tegan’s Adventures to a Sustainable Future.