The Peace Corps changed my life in ways that I only progressively understand.
How do I communicate a lifestyle I embraced for two+ years? How to share the romantic life with the mundane reality? Language and cultural barriers? Friendships and kindness? Sickness and health?
I walked away from the Peace Corps Ghana with the following Description of Service (DOS). It's a 1.5-page summary of a tremendous experience:
After a competitive application process stressing personal motivation, adaptability, cross-cultural sensitivity, and knowledge of the subject area, Mr. Scott Christian was invited in Peace Corps service. He was assigned as a Secondary School Physical Science teacher to the Republic of Ghana in West Africa.
On June 24, 2000, Scott entered into an intensive community-based pre-service training program. This program included 110 hours of training stressing teaching methodology and an introduction to the Ghanaian education system (organizational structure, external examinations, curriculum, etc.). Scott also taught in a community school where he was observed and critiqued by experienced Ghanaian and American teachers. In addition to teacher training, he received 70 hours of language training in Krobo (dominant indigenous language of his future community), 40 hours of cross-cultural education, and 25 hours of tropical health instruction. Scott stayed with a host-family throughout the eight weeks to enhance cross-cultural understanding.
After successfully completing training requirements, Scott was assigned to teach at Krobo Girls Secondary School located in the Eastern Region. KGSS is a Presbyterian school and Science Resource Centre with three levels of study, each with programs for General Arts, Science, and Vocational Arts students. Scott taught one level of Elective Chemistry (equivalent to U.S. grade 11) and team taught two levels of Integrated Science (equivalent to U.S. grades 10-11). Scott's responsibilities as an active member of staff included serving as teacher-on-duty, supervising field trips, facilitating student forums, and advising on various committees (security, entertainment, Diamond Jubilee pageant).
Scott was also involved in activities outside of his teaching. He participated in HIV/AIDS education by cycling into remote communities to hold workshops on prevention and condom use, and to answer common questions. Scott also supported gender and youth activities through mentoring and teaching life skills at regional conferences.
Scott updated his skill by attending and leading professional workshops. Scott participated in Peace Corps In-Service Training for science education (teaching techniques and practical lessons for external examinations), indigenous language and cultural training, diversity issues (working with Peace Corps staff, volunteers, and host country counterparts on sensitivity), as well as HIV/AIDS education and information technology, emphasizing the use of local resources. Scott later led workshops at trainings for diversity, bringing the Peace Corps experience home, and first aid.
In addition to his educational activities, Scott took time to appreciate many customs of the dominant group of his community. He photodocumented many significant cultural festivals for the Krobo people (puberty and agricultural rites) as well as the production steps for beadmaking in Ghana. While taking the time to study them in his area, Scott realized the importance of beads to the local economy and in history. Scott has since enjoyed expounding on this subject to students, art volunteers, and visitors to the local bead markets. Scott is currently working to open the local bead market to the U.S. trade market.
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Of course, I wrote this Description of Service (DOS) myself, but it is verified by Dr. C. Howard Williams - the Peace Corps Ghana Country Director at the time.
Krobo Girls Secondary School instructs over 500 students in General Arts, Home Economics, Science, and Visual Arts programs. This is a picture of an integrated science class that is taught in each academic program. From left to right: Mr. Christian and a few of his students modeling the structure of fatty acids. [article]
News of Ghana:
allAfrica.com - Ghana
New York Times - Africa
Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
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