Catherine Denver |
| Country of Service |
| Jordan |
| Dates Served |
| 2004 - 2005 |
| Volunteer Position |
| TEFL (Teaching English) in the girls’ primary school in my village |
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| Description of main volunteer activities: |
| As an English teacher in my small, rural village in southern Jordan I taught all girls in grades K-8 . I also collected books and donations from partners in the US to begin the school’s first English library. In the evenings I tutored students and taught English and fitness classes at the village community center for adults. During the summer I created an English camp for the village’s girls and boys that focused on learning English through games, activities and drama as well as healthful cooking. I also provided enrichment English classes for the boys in the village who were taking the high school exit English exam. |
| How Peace Corps service influenced decision to go into nursing and future plans: |
| As much as I loved teaching I realized that if the health needs of the people in my village, particularly those of women and children, were not met, their English and education would be of little value to them. Malnutrition, serious dental problems, obesity and childbirth/pregnancy-related illnesses and death were mostly unaddressed in my village and I realized how much just basic health education and services would help people. From there I decided to get my MPH and then, wanting a more clinical focus, I came to Hopkins to become an FNP and do community health nursing, here and abroad. |
| Impact of RPCV Fellows experience: |
| It has been so fun and incredible to meet so many other people who were volunteers and who see the world, and their role in its improvement, similarly. The opportunity and responsibility to actually know about, and work in the community that I live in and where I go to school is incredible. The Fellows program gives us so much support to do this type of work, it is very exciting and although we haven’t yet started I am very much looking forward to it! |
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