It Chose Me.

People have asked me why I decided to join the Peace Corps, my response… “it chose me”.

I was introduced to the Peace Corps about 7 years ago when I was in highschool. We were talking about international service options in one of my classes and someone brought up the Peace Corps, I was hooked. I knew that once I graduated from college that I was going to join the Peace Corps, move to Africa and work with HIV, mind you, it had been a dream of mine since I was a young child to work with HIV. Once I started college I became very involved in local community service and community development. After 5 years of working on a community level I had been drawn away from the international service idea, and decided to stay and work locally.

Upon graduation in 2011 job prospects were pretty bleak. I worked at a grocery store, then at ITT Technical Institute, which just didn’t work out. I felt trapped. I continued to work on local issues in my spare time, and I even worked on a campaign for my State House Representative, but I still wasn’t happy with the life options that post college existence offered me. I took the first opportunity to leave ITT that I could, I went to work at a law firm for an independent attorney that I knew through the work I had done with the democratic party here in Salt Lake. A short three months later this plan began to fall through.

One day he had asked me to go to lunch with him, he wanted to give me a performance review, he had also asked the other legal assistant to lunch as well. Over lunch after reviewing my performance, he began speaking to me about what I was hoping to do with my life, and how he felt that being a legal assistant wasn’t really my passion…. stating the obvious. But, at this point in time I was just happy to have a job that didn’t make me miserable. I wanted passion and direction back in my life, at this time I thought a career in law was that path.

After lunch I had a feeling that I might be let go… something wasn't settling quite right. When we got back to the office I pulled the other legal assistant to the back room and asked her if she felt the same way, she agreed… one of us wasn’t going to make the cut.

I got home that night, unclear on what my future held. I am the kind of person who always has a plan, and for that plan exists a back up plan, this is the first time in my life that I felt lost, empty if you will. I was flipping through the mail as I spoke with my mother about my day and current frustrations. I saw a postcard from the Peace Corps, inviting my to a get together with returned volunteers who live in my neighborhood. This is the first piece of literature that I received in quite some time; in fact, the notion that I had ever wanted to join had almost slipped my mind.

She told me that I should just apply, after all “what’s the worst that could happen? They say no… then you just figure out another plan”. So that is exactly what I did. That weekend I went to the Peace Corps website, when I logged on I was informed that if I applied then, I could leave Summer 2013.

I applied, interviewed, and on December 20^th, I got the call that I had been nominated to work in Community and Economic Development. I filed out some paperwork, and waited. On March 26^th I got the email that the 16-year-old girl had been waiting years to get. I was officially invited to work in the Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) Program with the Peace Corps in Namibia.

As I said, the Peace Corps chose me; life had a bigger plan for me than Salt Lake City, I just wasn’t ready to see it. It is safe to say that my eyes are wide open to this new chapter in my life.  While I know that it will not be an easy adventure, I am confident that it will be worth it, and in 2.5 years when I return home, 16-year-old June will be really proud.

My Program: Small Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Development (SEED)

My Job Title: Small Business Advisor and/or Entrepreneurship Teacher Trainer

Small Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Development (SEED).  Namibia’s SEED program focuses on improving business practices and developing economic capacity in rural and urban communities, and its target groups include entrepreneurs, cooperatives, secondary schools, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), women, and youth. 

As a Small Business Advisor, you will be working with a specific host country partner who supports one or more of these target groups.  Throughout your service, you will also have the opportunity to work with Volunteers in Namibia’s two other programs: Community Health & HIV/AIDS and Education. Your unique skills as a SEED Volunteer will be a great asset to both your community and fellow Volunteers in-country. The SEED program has been very well-received in Namibia and stakeholders express strong interest in its continued success.

When you first arrive, you will work with a training team committed to helping you acquire the language, technical, and cross cultural skills necessary to become a successful Volunteer. As part of your training, to facilitate your language and cultural integration, you will live with a Namibian home-stay family in a community at or near the training site. Following this eight-week Pre-Service Training (PST) period, you will move to your site, where your two- year service begins. A great deal of effort is put into identifying communities throughout Namibia where you will be able to work effectively and live safely.

Why the SEED Program was developed:

On its 22nd anniversary of independence, Namibia is a young country with developed infrastructure, a stable political situation, a strong regulatory and legal environment and great potential for economic growth. In its policy framework document ―Vision 2030, the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GORN) outlines a plan rooted in such principles as good governance, partnership, capacity enhancement, people-centered development and sustainable development.

106 years of colonial rule -- coupled with the apartheid system -- deprived the Namibian people of their traditional way of life, left a tremendous skills deficit and created a highly dualistic society. Therefore, despite Namibia’s classification as a lower middle income economy, huge disparities exist. Namibia has the most unequal income/asset distribution in the world according to both the United Nations (Gini index of 74.3) and the Central Intelligence Agency (Gini index of 70.7).

The GORN cites ―high and persistent unemployment, estimated to be as high as 51.2 percent of the population, as a ―key weakness‖ in the Namibian economy. Limited job opportunities in the formal and/or government sectors coupled with inadequate skills training necessary for self employment have contributed to a perpetual—and even increasing—unemployment rate since 1970. Furthermore, an expanding urban population, primarily youth seeking improved economic opportunities, is expected to rise significantly from 43 percent in 2006 to 75 percent by 2030. This places an incredible strain on urban resources and reinforces the importance of creating diversified economic activities and skills development, especially in rural areas.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a prevalence of 13.2 percent (2011), is exacerbated by and further contributes to poverty in Namibia. In the face of limited opportunity (both perceived and existing), individuals are often obliged to make decisions jeopardizing their health. Additionally, the epidemic is assumed to simultaneously increase expenses (related to medical care) and decrease household income (related to reduced labor capacity).

Peace Corps Namibia’s Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) project promotes small scale economic development through the reinforcement of entrepreneurial and business management skills in Namibian communities.

The project: 

Builds on the positive efforts of the GORN in promoting entrepreneurship skills of youth as a mechanism to create future opportunities for self employment in a country where unemployment is increasingly an issue. Targets the most marginalized, vulnerable portion of the population lacking access to other financial and non financial support (potential/emerging entrepreneurs and youth throughout Namibia). 

Technical support to this segment of the population is needed to help overcome the devastating income disparity that currently leaves the majority of Namibians living in poverty. Reinforces the efforts of business development support providers who bring technical support and lack the capacity for ongoing mentorship and decentralized assistance throughout the country. 

Potential for collaboration is great and interest is high. Addresses teachers’ concerns surrounding the implementation of the new entrepreneurship program (that involves a new practical teaching methodology and assessment approach) without sufficient initial and ongoing training and support.

What is the Peace Corps

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

Since that time, 210,000+ Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation.

Today's Peace Corps is more vital than ever, working in emerging and essential areas such as information technology and business development, and contributing to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Peace Corps Volunteers continue to help countless individuals who want to build a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities.

The Peace Corps Mission:

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship.

The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

What do Volunteers Do? 

Where do Volunteers go? 

to find out more go to www.peacecorps.gov

About Namibia

The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, and Namaqua, and since about the 14th century AD by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. It became a German Imperial protectorate in 1884 and remained a German colony until the end of World War I. In 1920, the League of Nations mandated the country to South Africa, which imposed its laws and, from 1948, its apartheid policy.

Uprisings and demands by African leaders led the UN to assume direct responsibility over the territory. It recognized the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) as the official representative of the Namibian people in 1973. Namibia, however, remained under South African administration during this time as South-West Africa. Following internal violence, South Africa installed an interim administration in Namibia in 1985. Namibia obtained full independence from South Africa in 1990, with the exception of Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands, which remained under South African control until 1994.

Namibia is a member state of the United Nation, The Southern African Development Community, the African Union and The Commonwealth of Nations.  Namibia has a population of 2.1 million people and a stable multi-party parliamentary democracy. Agriculture, herding, tourism and the mining industry – including mining for gem diamonds, uranium, gold, silver and base metals – form the backbone of Namibia’s economy. Given the presence of the arid Namib Desert, it is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Approximately half the population live below the international poverty line, and the nation has suffered heavily from the effects of HIV/AIDS, with 15% of the adult population infected with HIV in 2007.

Some basic facts about the country:

• Area: 824,269 km2.

• Population: 2 184 091 people (2011)

• Capital of Namibia: Windhoek

• Official Language: English

• Other Languages: Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, Nama, Damara, Otjiherero, German, Rukwangali, Setswana, and others.

• Major Ethnic Groups: Owanbo, Kwangali, Damara, Herero, Nama, San, Afrikaner, German, and others.

Religion

The Christian community makes up 80%-90% of the population with at least 50% of these being Lutheran. 10%-20% of the population hold indigenous beliefs. Missionary work during the 1800s drew many Namibian to Christianity. While most Namibia Christian are Lutheran there are many other denominations throughout the country. 

Language

Although its official language is English, Namibia is a multilingual country as it is illustrated on these examples in English, German, Afrikaans and Oshiwambo. Until 1990, German and Afrikaans were also official languages. Long before Namibia’s independence from South Africa, SWAPO had decided that the country should become officially monolingual, consciously choosing this approach in contrast to that of its neighbour, which was regarded as “a deliberate policy of ethnolinguistic fragmentation.” Consequently, English became the sole official language of Namibia. Some other languages have received semi-official recognition by being allowed as medium of instruction in primary schools.The northern majority of Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language, whereas the most widely understood and spoken language is Afrikaans. Among the younger generation, the most widely understood languages are English and Afrikaans. Both Afrikaans and English are used primarily as a second language reserved for public communication, but small first-language groups exist throughout the country.

Health

Life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 52.2 years in 2012 – among the lowest in the world. The AIDS epidemic is a large problem in Namibia. Though its rate of infection is substantially lower than that of its eastern neighbor, Botswana, approximately 13.1% of the adult population is infected with HIV. In 2001, there were an estimated 210,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, and the estimated death toll in 2003 was 16,000. According to the 2011 UNAIDS Report, the epidemic in Namibia “appears to be leveling off.” As the HIV/AIDS epidemic has reduced the working-aged population, the number of orphans has increased. It falls to the government to provide education, food, shelter and clothing for these orphans.The malaria problem seems to be compounded by the AIDS epidemic. Research has shown that in Namibia the risk of contracting malaria is 14.5% greater if a person is also infected with HIV. The risk of death from malaria is also raised by approximately 50% with a concurrent HIV infection. Given infection rates this large, as well as a looming malaria problem, it may be very difficult for the government to deal with both the medical and economic impacts of this epidemic. The country had only 598 physicians in 2002.