THE PEACE CORPS IN MADAGASCAR

The Peace Corps in Madagascar By Ann Iosbidze

For 17 of my 20 years, I lived in Georgia, one of the Peace Corps service countries. Most of the PC Georgia volunteers are placed in the education sector, and I know from first-hand experience that there is a reason for this concentration. Subjected to the faulty public education system myself, I have always felt passionate about guaranteeing equal access to quality education that everyone deserves. I was able to leave the deficient Georgian education system behind and continue my studies in the US, but the vast majority of my friends were not as fortunate - not because they are not as diligent or as gifted as I am, but simply because they could not afford to invest as much time and effort in self-education. Knowing this, I made it my goal to help provide quality education to youngsters who would otherwise not be granted such a privilege. Joining the Peace Corps would serve as one huge stepping stone in my dedication and lifetime goal of tackling unequal accessibility of education.

I have taught English as a foreign language in two very contrasting environments: at a drug rehabilitation facility in Colombia and at summer camps in Italy. All of my Colombian students came from poor and challenged households, while the families of my Italian students were much better-off. As much as I enjoyed teaching bright and cheerful Italian kids, nothing compares to the knowledge that some of the vocabulary I taught a Colombian young woman might help make her more marketable for a decent job and keep her from resorting to drugs or prostitution. Having compared these two experiences, I realized that in the long term, I want to focus on educating underprivileged populations. Serving with the Peace Corps perfectly aligns with this interest.

I chose to volunteer in Madagascar because as a French and Francophone studies major, I have always been drawn to the former French colonies in Africa. Besides, Madagascar prides itself on an extremely rich culture, as well as an unrivaled natural diversity. My departure date is set for this upcoming September, and I am eager to find out more details about my placement. Since each Peace Corps volunteer is placed alone in a city/town, I am looking forward to meeting the members of my community as they are going to, in a way, become my family for those 2 years. I hope to relate to my students on a personal level and establish strong connections with them. I also hope that I’ll be able to use my personal background to help my students see not only a teacher in me, but also a symbol of how far they could go if they kept up with their schoolwork.