PCV Profile: Tracy

Meet Superwoman...I mean Tracy. She made
this cape out of an umbrella she found
abandoned on the side of the road.

Tracy was the very first person I met when I landed in Philadelphia for Peace Corps staging last June. As I hopped on the shuttle to the hotel, I saw two women. One was clearly a business woman and not part of our group. The other turned out to be Tracy.

We formed an instant connection not only because we were bound for Lesotho together and part of the Greater Than Average demographic but because she has once sailed aboard the Mary Day as a guest when my great friend Sara was chief mate. This was clearly a woman after adventures and ready to do whatever it takes to make such adventures happen!

Tracy is from the Midwest. She is a mother to three boys, all of whom are currently serving in the US military. She is a gifted and energetic educator, having spent most of her career as a school librarian. She is a baker extraordinaire. It is impossible to have a Peace Corps workshop with her without enjoying some sort of delicious treat. I can only imagine the things she would be whipping up with more than a two burner gas stove!

Tracy, me, and two other PCVs atop Thaba Bosiu during PST.

Sadly, Tracy and I live fairly far apart. She is south of the capital city, in the district of Mafateng. Although she predominantly works with the Healthy Boithatelo Youth Organization, she has found and created a million connections within her district and between outside entities and her district. She is a resource and role model for other PCVs in this area. Whether it is getting bikes to teach women and girls, getting books to start a small children's library out of her house, or trying to get two inflatable kayaks donated to teach people the joys of boating safely; she is always looking for ways to bring new and valuable experiences to her community.

While most of the volunteers in our group are only just beginning to work on major projects, Tracy's project is in full swing. She is working with the women in her organization to create a sewing business. Ultimately, they hope to turn a building into their sewing headquarters/children's library. They were able to get donations to buy a handful of hand-crank sewing machines as they do not have electricity.

Tracy guided the women towards making unique items. There are many skilled tailors in Lesotho who create beautiful clothing out of Seshoeshoe, leftover food bags, and other materials. Rather then competing with these experienced dressmakers, she encouraged the women to consider making smaller, easier items. Now they are pumping out sewn bags, bracelets, and aprons in a variety of colorful fabrics. Not only are we PCVs gobbling them up, but the Basotho that see their handiwork are always impressed.

With more than 16 months left of service, I can only imagine the level of sustainability this project with achieve and the additional things Tracy will accomplish!

Although the women are less excited
to make the aprons out of Maizemeal
bags, they have quickly become a
favorite of PCVs!

Greater Than Average

Thirty-three did not feel old until I cam to Peace Corps. I was a week into training when I mentioned  my age in a conversation with our Director of Programming and Training [DPT]. He immediately became empathetic, noting that people in their thirties and forties are incredibly rare in Peace Corps and that I should be sure to reach out if I end up struggling with generational isolation.

I was touched by Eric's concern, but not worried. I had worked summer camp as an adult amidst a sea of college and high school aged counselors. I returned to sailing and was frequently older than more than half of the crew. At Oliverian School, I was one of few unmarried staff firmly in my thirties. At AMC's Three Mile Island, I was the only employee in my generation. I was well equipped to handle this...

...but...

...as the ten weeks of training continued and again as all of the Lesotho PCVs stayed at a hotel in South Africa for three weeks, I understood his concerns. Happily entrenched in my thirties, the ways I relax, blow of steam, and even bond with people are different than they were in my twenties.

32 - Taylor Swift Parody from Kirk Larsen on Vimeo.

Additionally, many of the cultural and political experiences of my formative years were not part of those of the younger PCVs. 

The average age of PCVs worldwide is 28. Volunteers range from around 21 to well into the 60s and even sometimes older. Consider then, the sheer number of volunteers between 21 and 28 to keep the average age so low with four additional decades in the mix. In 2010, 84% of volunteers were under 30. Today, 8% are over fifty. That leaves another 8% in their thirties and forties.

In September, I noted that of the 80-90 PCVs serving in Lesotho, 5 were in the 50+ category, 0 in their forties, and another 5 were in their thirties. Everyone else was 22-29. Additionally, of the four training groups represented, only two had volunteers over thirty as the older volunteers in the other two groups had ET'd or terminated their service early.

The three 50+ PCVs in my training group had been aware of this too and had approached our Country Director [CD] with the idea of intentionally unifying and supporting older volunteers. With our CD's support, the Greater Than Average Workshop was born. Last weekend we met at a lodge, joined by the five new trainees that qualify. Our purpose was to build camaraderie and discuss how age impacts service. These goals were well met in fun and positive ways. We also had the opportunity to conclude with feedback to our new DPT.

In addition to our sessions, we fit in a neat excursion to the nearby Ha Boroana Caves for a hike and chance to see cave paintings. The entire weekend was a wonderful experience that couldn't be marred even by my worst Lesotho taxi experience to date on my way home.

I feel incredibly blessed to be serving in this country, where we may start the new year with only three volunteers in our thirties, but we have an incredibly supportive Country Director and this new group. I hope that as more training groups arrive in the next few years, we can have additional workshops.

Disclaimer: In no way is this post meant to offend people in their twenties, particularly not those who are PCVs in their twenties. My closest PC friends are in their twenties and I hold them very dear. Instead, this post is meant to celebrate that there are those of us in Peace Corps with a few more years or even decades under our belts.