Peace Corps shares experiences abroad

From staff reports

In celebration of Peace Corps Week, there will be a story slam from returning Peace Corps members, some of which are also WSU alumni.

This event coincides with the establishment of the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, a spokesperson for the Peace Corps said.

Corp volunteers and the current WSU campus ambassador hope to share their personal experiences abroad with attendees.

The volunteers speaking include Nicholas Potter, who went to Guinea and Niger; Jennifer Kruz, who went to Panama; Kim Castelin, who went to Madagascar; Shawnette Brandt, who went to Eastern Caribbean; and Kyla Allen-Grant, who went to Togo, a Peace Corps spokesperson said.

Castelin works for WSU’s International Research and Development area for International Programs. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2013, traveling to Madagascar as an agricultural volunteer and English teacher, a Peace Corps spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said there will be comradery and one-on-one action with corps members, as well as time to ask questions and learn what it is like to be in the Peace Corps.

In addition to their personal stories, the members will explain what led them to join the Peace Corps and why it is important to them.

“… attend the event to hear different perspectives of Peace Corps,” a Peace Corps spokesperson said.

There will also be a future corps member at the event who is still in the process of applying. This night is not only to hear about things corps members can do, but also for asking questions about the process to join.

According to a Peace Corps spokesperson there are 24 WSU alumni serving the corps.

The Story Slam will begin at 7 p.m. on March 2 in the Todd Auditorium.

Reporting by Mariah Inman