Johns Hopkins School of Nursing | Global

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Helen Baker
Country of Service
Togo
Dates Served
2007 - 2009
Volunteer Position

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Description of main volunteer activities:

I was placed in the regional capital of the northern most region of Togo. I worked with the Togolese Red Cross as an NGO advisor, mostly focusing on mothers’ clubs health promotion activities and disaster relief. I also worked with a number of local associations (HIV/AIDS association, a cooperative of female weavers, a village savings and loans association and a youth promotion association) in my town and as well as in surrounding villages on organization development, goal setting and health promotion. I conducted health classes, mostly focusing on family planning and STI prevention in middle schools, high schools and technical schools around the region. As a secondary project, I constructed solar ovens using local materials and gave many sessions on solar cooking and pasteurization around my region. I also participated in a 10- day long bike ride the length of Togo to promote girls education.

How Peace Corps service influenced decision to go into nursing and future plans:

My time in northern Togo in the Peace Corps made me realize that I wanted to be able to more than talk about health, but actually be able to work in health care. I met many compassionate nurses in Togo and was continually amazed by their ability to work under adverse conditions. I witnessed the great need for well trained medical staff and would like to be able to contribute to it. Following nursing school, I hope to go abroad and help in the education and training of nurses in countries like Togo as well as to do public health research and health promotion.

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Helen Baker