Background Info

After two years of applying to the Peace Corps- with applications, interviews, doctors, dentists, and a crazy amount of paperwork- we finally got invited to go to Tanzania, Africa!

Moss will be working as an Environmental Extension worker doing Environmental Education and Sustainable Agriculture in Rural Communities. Our welcome packet describes his job as follows:

"As an Environmental volunteer, you will be helping to raise awareness of environmental conservation, assist village communities in effectively managing their natural resources, and promote sustainable agriculture practices. You will teach soil improvement techniques, agroforestry, bee-keeping, and fish farming. You will work to improve vegetable gardening... You will teach farmers how to construct and use appropriate technologies such as energy-efficient stoves. And you will promote improved livestock practices, including raising goats, cows, and pigs."

I will be working on the Health Education Project as a Health Education Extension Worker. Our welcome packet describes my job as follows:

"The purpose of the Health Education Project is to assist the Tanzanian government to improve the health of Tanzanians, especially in rural communities, by promoting Primary Health Care and healthy behavior among community members, particularly to out of school youth, students, teachers, service providers and community groups....
As a Health Education Volunteer you will help to support their communities to combat tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, malaria and malnutrition as well as encouraging income- generating projects for people affected by HIV and AIDS, including Orphans and Vulnerable Children."

Sounds like we have exciting tasks ahead of us! It is also common for Peace Corps volunteers to have secondary projects outside of their primary jobs, so Moss and I are thinking about starting some sort of sports team... maybe basketball/soccer/kickball...who knows. I will keep you updated.

XOXO,

Merritt