There are only four months left before I will have completed my two years of PCV service and will be returning to Portland Oregon. I had considered extending my service for a third year, but decided that there are so many places I still want to visit in the world, before I get too old to travel. Being a PCV as been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I am grateful to all the wonderful people I have met and worked with here in The Gambia.

A couple of weeks ago, I was appointed to be the interim coordinator for the Media Team, while Peace Corps The Gambia (PCTG) hires a new staff person as Communications & Gender Coordinator. I was selected because they needed someone with internet access to work with the Media Team members to post stories on the PCTG Facebook and Instagram accounts. RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) Akshay Deverakonda was our Media Team coordinator for eighteen months after he completed his first two years as an Agriculture PCV. Akshay served for a total of three and a half years, and he is returning to the USA to begin the next chapter of his life. I will miss him greatly as I try to fill his very big media shoes.

When the Peace Corps was established in 1961 three goals were developed: (1) To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women (2) To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served (3) To promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. Our PCTG Facebook and Instagram pages address the third goal, and I encourage everyone to support that effort, because the more “likes” we get the better PCTG looks to the folks at PC Washington DC. It has been a challenge learning how to manage our accounts, especially Instagram because I am not personally fond of that format. I keep telling myself as I expand my knowledge and competence in the online world, that all of this mental stimulus should help keep the dementia wolf away from my door.

My final agriculture project is developing nicely, and the help of my counterpart, Jatta, has been my ticket to success. He has taught me so much about growing plants in this harsh climate, and was willing to change direction when my original plans did not prove to be possible. I found growing vegetable crops in the school garden to be very disappointing, mainly due to the lack of support the school administration has provided me. Instead of lamenting that situation, I focused on the relationships I was building with the students.

One area of success has been expanding our tree nursery, and we now have over twenty tree varieties available. Originally, the plan was to plant lots of trees on the school grounds, but I became concerned that the trees would not be properly cared for. Therefore, my tree planting project evolved into having the students plant trees in their home compounds. Before rainy season, Jatta and I visited twenty-five student homes, spoke with their families to determine what tree varieties they wanted, and discussed the requirements needed for healthy tree growth. The students then prepared the planting holes, and built fences where necessary to protect the seedlings from livestock. It is now the rainy season here, and more than forty trees have been transplanted. It is rewarding to work with students who have learned how to grow trees, and understand how trees can provide for food security, income potential, create shade for their homes, and help combat climate change.

I have been involved with the I Am American (IAA) committee for the past year. This committee recognizes the diversity of PCVs, and gives everyone the opportunity to discuss issues confronting volunteers as they navigate their time in service. As the most senior member of PCTG I have been able to bring a unique perspective to this committee. One activity I especially enjoyed is being part of an event at the Pre-Service Training for new volunteers before they are sworn in as a PCV on August 14. Recently I got to meet all of the 2019-2021 Education Volunteers at the Massembeh Training Center, during a round robin session with five IAA members. PC welcomes volunteer diversity – people from all races, religions, backgrounds, sexual orientation, mid-career and retirees.

As my time here is coming to a close, I am savoring my time with my host family. I have been blessed to have a great host family and be able to live comfortably. Interacting with these wonderful and welcoming people has been one of the best parts of my service. The motto “The Smiling Coast of Africa” describes my host family perfectly.