Lisanna Stamos Gonzalez |
| Country of Service |
| Dominican Republic |
| Dates Served |
| 2002 - 2004 |
| Volunteer Position |
| Health education; community development |
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| Description of main volunteer activities: |
| By assignment, I was a health education volunteer, so my primary projects centered around reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and nutrition. However when I arrived in the community, about half of the population lacked access to potable water. Therefore, I teamed up with a neighboring water sanitation volunteer, and together we organized the community to build an aqueduct. We also installed about 100 bio-sand filters in the community. One of my most sustainable projects was actually a secondary project I began my second year of service, the formation of a women’s savings and loans cooperative. The cooperative, "Ban-Mujer", is still functioning today, has tripled in size, and has brought great respect for the women in the community. I also focused a lot of my attention on youth development, and one of my most exciting projects was forming and coaching a girl’s soccer team for local teens. |
| How Peace Corps service influenced decision to go into nursing and future plans: |
| I knew I wanted to go into nursing before Peace Corps, but I also knew that my time in Peace Corps would undoubtedly prepare me even more for the profession through additional language skills, increased compassion for others, etc. I was able to do a lot of education in Peace Corps related to health, but after spending 2 years focusing on health educator, I was very eager to acquire the clinical skills needed to provide direct health care. I also worked as an interpreter for several medical missions where I translated for nurses and doctors in small villages of the DR. That experience definitely solidified my desire to pursue a career in nursing, as I truly felt “in my element” when directly interacting with patients. |
| Impact of RPCV Fellows experience: |
| The fellows program provided me with the opportunity to interact with local organizations focused on providing care to the underserved community in Baltimore. In working with BMS, Inc. and Bienestar Baltimore, I have had the opportunity to translate many of the skills I acquired during Peace Corps in providing health education to the Hispanic population here in Baltimore. I have also really appreciated having an opportunity to do community health work during the program, as it balances out the time spent in my hospital based clinical rotations, and also serves as a reminder of the many roles available to nurses outside inpatient settings. |
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