I'm leaving in two months! It doesn't quite feel real yet because I have sooooo much to do between now and then. My thesis is due on April 21st, the last of my finals are on May 5th, and I'm graduating on May 12th. I am super excited to finally be done with school so I can focus on seeing family and friends, packing, and preparing.
Until then, here's a bit more information about what I'll be up to in Zambia. This is one of the most frequent questions I get from friends and family, and the real answer is that I don't know exactly. The following was copied directly from the volunteer assignment description they sent to me with my invitation, but keep in mind that everyone's experience is different. I won't know what exactly I'll be doing until I'm actually doing it, but this is a nice little overview.
YOUR PRIMARY DUTIES
The purpose of your assignment is to work with rural Zambians to improve their health and to empower them to promote appropriate and sustainable strategies that mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS and Malaria and improve maternal, neonatal and child health. The health project will mandate you to work primarily at the community level.
You will work with your neighbors and friends to help them improve their own and their families’ wellbeing by adopting appropriate and sustainable health behaviors. For example, you may co-train a group of women on the importance of using mosquito nets, how to grow and prepare nutritious meals for their family, or how to adopt healthy child feeding practices and processes for children under five.
You will work with community based organizations to enhance their capacity to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. For example, you may co-facilitate a neighborhood health committee's planning process to organize voluntary counseling and testing in your community, or you may co-train staff at your rural health center on monitoring and reporting on children's health at the under-five clinics.
It is very important to note that curative health service is NOT an element of this project. PLEASE NOTE THAT PCVs DO NOT DO DIRECT PATIENT CARE BUT INSTEAD THE FOCUS IS ON CAPACITY BUILDING AND SKILLS TRANSFER.
To adequately equip you for your work, you will undergo eleven weeks of intensive training in a local language, technical knowledge and skills and cross-cultural awareness. A certain proficiency in all aspects of training is required before swearing in as a Volunteer. Failure to pass the training requirements may result in disqualification from service and your return to the U.S.
In addition to motivation (which you already have!) and knowledge gained from pre-service training you will also need tons of patience and flexibility. Health behaviors take a long time to change and will not be completely affected or internalized in 2 years. This means that during your service you may not see significant tangible/observable results from your work. Sites generally have three generations of PCVs, so you may be building on the work of your predecessors. Keeping a long term perspective and having the ability to be self-motivated without tangible results is imperative to your satisfaction and success. Many Volunteers find that a combination of humility and selflessness help them cope with the intangible characteristics of their work. It is with this in mind that we expect a great deal of flexibility, creativity, motivation and patience on the part of the Volunteer. The work you will be doing is tremendously important and significant, but like the planting of an acorn, you will probably not see a big leafy oak tree by the end of your service. This is why skills transfer to a local person is vital to ensure the continuation of health education for behavior change.
As you will be working at community level and on health issues a GREAT DEAL OF CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IS VITAL! Most health practices that the project aims to improve flow from deep-rooted cultural perceptions and beliefs. You are expected to have advanced communication and interpersonal skills, a deep respect for Zambians, and deferential curiosity for the cultural norms of your community.
During the course of your service you will submit quarterly reports to the Project Manager and a summary copy to your district Supervisor—the District Medical Officer (DMO). This will help Peace Corps assess that our project is on track, measure its long term impact, and provide you with follow up and support.
All PCVs in Zambia are expected to attain and practice the following core competencies: commitment to professionalism and personal well being, the facilitation of sustainable community development, integration of HIV/AIDS Prevention into service, promotion of sustainable practices for food security and integration into the community. The most successful PCVs are those who apply these core competencies daily, especially striving to integrate into their community. Continuous language learning, cultural exploration and a deep respect for Zambians are crucial to community integration and your successful service.
