PEACE CORPS BECKONS FOR YOUNG ALUMNI

Traveling overseas with the Peace Corps, volunteers Astrid Gilles ’07,  Robbie Prime '07,  Anthony Tarzia '97, and Virginia Gordon '97 are making real differences in the lives of people in need in Latin America and in Africa.  They follow fellow alumni Jason Ricciardi ’04, Brian Van De Bogert '04 and Adiana Castro '05, who recently completed their Peace Corps duties.

Serving in Ecuador
Jason Ricciardi '04 of South Dennis, Mass., returned this past fall from two years of volunteer service in Ecuador's Amazon Jungle. He plans to revisit Ecuador soon, in order to complete an ongoing project.

Assigned to the isolated town of Talag-Tena, Ricciardi was a health volunteer, not necessarily the path he might have expected after graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice from Stonehill.

As a Peace Corps volunteer, Ricciardi taught at a bilingual school in Talag-Tena, which uses both Spanish and a regional dialect, Kichwa. 

Since Kichwa is such a regionally specific language, Ricciardi took on a second project in addition to his health promotion and teaching: the production of a Kichwa training manual of sorts for future volunteers to the area.

“The most important thing is really the language, that’s the biggest because to build the relationship you have to go through the language to show you appreciate the culture,” said Ricciardi, when asked about the project.

Ricciardi credits his Stonehill study abroad experience in Florence, Italy as prompting him to pursue the Peace Corps following graduation in 2004. His semester in Italy “sealed the deal” for him to pursue international living through the Peace Corps.

“Working in an indigenous site has been a powerful life lesson, reflected Ricciardi.  “It’s a special experience as [the indigenous populations] are trying to preserve their culture, fighting to save their traditions.” 

Ricciardi is clearly passionate about Ecuador's historical legacy and the people he learned to love during his service there.

“The way they live is so mind-blowing -- a medicinal remedy for them was to boil tobacco and take a shot of the juice to induce vomiting to cure an illness,” he said

In a few months independent of the Peace Corps, Ricciardi will return to Ecuador to continue work on his Kichwa book. 

Just as Ricciardi was finishing up his first two years of service, the experience of a lifetime was just beginning for Stonehill alumna Astrid Gilles ’07. She recently completed her training and will also work as health volunteer.

Serving in Guinea
Astrid Gilles '07, of Norwood, Mass., will utilize her B.A. in Health Care Administration to teach preventative health education and promote health-care activities in the West African nation of Guinea. 

Gilles will focus on the areas of reproductive health, nutrition, vaccination, disease and infection control, hygiene, and much more.

Served in Kenya
A 2004 Stonehill graduate with a major in U.S. History, Brian Van De Bogert worked from 2005 until 2007 with the Peace Corps in Africa.  He is from Beverly, Mass.

Serving in the public health sector, Van De Bogert brought HIV testing and informational services to the rural Maasai villages in the Kajiado district of southern Kenya.

Serving in Lesotho
Robert Prime '07, known as Robbie, is currently with the Peace Corps in the South African state of Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland.  A Bridgewater, Mass. native with a degree in Sociology and Psychology, Prime is a community health and economic development advisor for the area, with a secondary focus on HIV and AIDS education..

"When there is power," he teachers computer skills to community members.  He also conducts business courses, tutors at at an orphanage, helps organize a trash pick-up day, and tree plantings.

Served in Peru
A major in Biology with a minor in Sociology, Adiana Castro '05 served in Lambayque, working with the Center of Health, a public clinic that is funded through the Ministry of Health of Peru.

As a health promoter, Castro educated the community on nutrition, dental hygiene, parasites, and the prevention of common diseases.  The Bridgewater, Mass. resident also led an effort to establish such income-generating projects as selling vegetables from local gardens, homemade soap and candles.

Serving in Belize
Anthony Tarzia '97 and Virginia Gordon '97 right, are working for the Peace Corps in Belize, a country in Central America formerly known as British Honduras.  Following graduation, the couple, who resided in Hingham, Mass., moved to California and earned their masters degrees.  They learned about the Peace Corps from fellow classmates, and became intrigued.

"We thought it would be an ideal way to make a difference," say Tarzia and Gordon.  Since last summer, they have been training teachers on literacy education.

Stonehill and the Peace Corps
Eleven members of Stonehill's Class of 2008 are interested in joining the Peace Corps, and two have already submitted their applications.

Peace Corps Recruiter January Zuk noted, “I’m very proud that four Stonehill alumni are currently serving overseas, and I’d like to see that number grow.

“Stonehill students make excellent volunteers because they are committed to service and making a difference in the lives of others.

“If I could say one thing to Stonehill seniors, it would be that it’s not too late to apply to Peace Corps, and that juniors should get their application in early before the end of this semester.”

In their commitments to the Peace Corps and the world, Ricciardi and Gilles are truly exemplifying the Stonehill mission to “think, act, and lead with courage toward the creation of a more just and compassionate world.” 

When asked what advice they have for others who are thinking about working for the Peace Corps., Tarzia and Gordon reply, "It is very worth it -- the Peace Corps says this is 'The toughest job you will every love!' and it's true, nothing in life worth doing is easy!"

About the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is celebrating a 47-year legacy of service at home and abroad. Currently there are 8,000 Volunteers abroad, a 35-year high for Volunteers in the field.

Since 1961, more than 190,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

To find out more about Peace Corps visit www.peacecorps.gov. For questions, e-mail January Zuk at jzuk@peacecorps.gov or call 617-565-5555.

Issued 03/06/08