Celebrating National Peace Corps Week February 24 – March 2, 2019

Highlighting our Region One Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

It is Peace Corps Week, and the Region One would like to celebrate the ways that volunteers made a difference abroad and continue to do so as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service family. Please see below to learn more about some of our returned Peace Corps Volunteers that work with us. The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation. It has been active for more than 50 years and has had volunteers in 141 countries. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov. (Listed in alphabetical order by last name) MARY ABRAMS, NIGER (1979-1981, 2006-2012):

I was an Agricultural Extension Volunteer during my first assignment in Niger. I enjoyed the mission of Peace Corps so much; I spent 6½ additional years as a Peace Corps Country Director (CD) years later. More than 25 years after my original service, I returned and was the CD in Niger from 2006-2010. Then I was the CD in Rwanda from 2010-2012, and the acting CD in Zambia in 2012. I guess I always wanted to answer the Peace Corps question “How Far Will You Go?” I currently work as the Deputy Regional Director in the Regional Office based in Portland, OR.

ARIEL ANAYA, KYRGYZSTAN (2014-2016):

I lived with a host family (pictured with me in the middle) in our village of Togolok Moldo located in the Naryn Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. During my service, I was a Health Education Volunteer for the people of the village. I currently work as a Grants Technician in the Division of Contracting and General Services out of the Regional Office in Portland, OR.

SAMANTHA BARTLING, PANAMÁ (2005 - 2007)

I served as a Sustainable Agriculture Volunteer in Bonga Centro, Distrito de Capira in Panamá. During my time with the Peace Corps, I worked on many projects, including building a community center with funds raised from elementary school kids in the United States (project titled Pennies for Panama); chicken project in the schools (source of sustainable protein for the school kids); community farm work; and mud stoves (Estufa Lorena). I also started and led a Girl Scout troop (Muchachas Guias) in two local communities and spent a lot of time working on community development in the small villages of the Panama Canal Watershed (working with SONDEAR, a Panamanian non-profit).

I currently work as the Visitor Services Manager for the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex (headquarters in Corvallis, OR). MICHELLE BOWDEN, UZBEKISTAN (1996-1998):

I taught English as a Foreign Language at three schools to a variety of grade levels in Beshariq village and helped organize the first regional English teacher conference in Fergana Viloyati. I also assisted with resource center events in the Great Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. (Pictured) Over naan (bread) and choi (tea), teachers, students and I discuss fundraising for a new language resource center. I am the Region’s Workforce Development and Management Analyst. Sometimes I deliver training classes.

CAT BROWN, THAILAND (1982-1985):

I was a Lab Tech in a small rural hospital then as a Wildlife Biologist at a National Park for the last year. I am pictured here with my Thai host family (on our way to a festival on the right, and getting basic Thai cooking lessons on the left).

I currently work as a Wildlife Biologist with the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office in Portland, OR.

JULIE CONLEY, MALI (1991-1994): I worked with agricultural extension counterparts to transfer forestry and soil conservation techniques to community groups and individuals. I also assisted the village mid-wife in maternal child health education. I currently work in Natural Resources Management as a Range

Management Specialist with the Central Washington NWR Complex based out of Burbank, WA. SOPHIE DANNER, SENEGAL (2012-2014):

I I I was a Preventative Health Education Agent. My primary duties were working with the local health post and schools on health education activities including malaria prevention, nutrition, and sexual health in the small town of Dabo. These pictures are from summer camps I worked during my service.

I now work for the Service as a Budget Analyst with the Budget team from the Regional Office in Portland, OR. MICHELLE EAMES, THE GAMBIA (1987-1989):

I worked with my husband Doug Frederick in The Gambia, West Africa. We both worked as foresters, which involved running a tree nursery. We also focused on helping locals in the community plant trees and protect the seedlings from ravenous goats. We are pictured here with Haja, a wife in our family's compound. I currently work as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the Eastern Washington Field Office in Spokane Valley, WA. My husband Doug is retired now, but worked as a Forester/Fire Fighter at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

AARON EUBANK, RWANDA (2013-2015): I served as an Education Volunteer. My primary assignment was teaching English to students from 7th-12th grade, as well as being an English resource for the teachers. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work on some secondary projects with my community including the creation of a library and technology resource center at my school. This photo is from the opening celebration for that space! I currently work as Contract Specialist for Contracting and

General Services based out of the Regional Office. SANDRA HAHN, VANUATU (2007-2009 and 2011-2014)

I was an Enterprise Development Volunteer on the island of Tanna in the village of Port Resolution during my first assignment in Vanuatu. The women in the village established a market house and women's center to sell fruits, vegetables and crafts to visiting tourists and other members of the community. I assisted in getting them funding for a well-built permanent house and establishing bylaws for its operation. I learned that being a Peace Corps Volunteer is truly "The Hardest Job you’ll ever Love" and that in spite of my best efforts to the contrary, I got more out of the experience than I could ever have put in. I believe strongly in the

Peace Corps mission and the power of personal relationships to effect change, which is why I worked for Peace Corps upon my return to the United States. In 2011, I returned as the Director of Management and Operations and continued to assist staff and volunteers. I currently work as a Budget Analyst for Refuges in the Regional Office based in Portland, OR. SCOTT LE, SENEGAL (2013-2015):

I was an Agroforestry Extension Agent in my service, meaning I got to help my community grow fruit trees and nutritious vegetables to help make life sustainable. This is a picture of my host family and me during training. I am with my host uncle Boubacar and my siblings are Sera, Toulaye, and Mariama (from left to right). These people are very important to me because they were the individuals that helped me initially with my language acquisition of Fula Kunda (Pulaar [EN] / Fulaani [FR]) during my community based training. Even though I moved around throughout my service, I stayed in contact with them all the way through my journey of language learning.

I am currently a Budget Technician for the National Wildlife Refuge System working out of the Regional Office in Portland, OR.

DANIEL LINK, NICARAGUA (2014-2016):

I was an Environmental Education Volunteer. My primary assignment was to teach science and environmental education in three rural communities, which were so small and remote that classes were often multi-grade with all the students in once class at the same time. The first picture shows me with the

entire student population (preschool - 6th grade) of the school I worked at in El Tempisque, Matagalpa Nicaragua. The second picture is of me instructing a class on gardening techniques. I now work for the Service as a Biologist and Logistics Specialist for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument out of Honolulu, HI. BRIAN LOWER, BELIZE (2002-2004) and JAMAICA (2005-2007):

I served in the Peace Corps twice. I was in Belize from 2002-2004 in the IT Sector. I lived in Burrell Boom, Belize, and taught computers in several area primary schools, ages 5 to 14. I was in Jamaica from 2005-2007 in the Environment Sector. I lived in Christiana, Manchester, Jamaica, and worked on a large greenhouse and tissue culture lab project with the Christiana Potato Growers Association Co-Operative. I am currently the Budget Analyst for the Office of Law Enforcement based out of the Regional Office in Portland, OR. ALINA NESTJORKINA, TANZANIA (2014-2016)

I was a secondary school science teacher in the southern region of Tanzania. In the picture you see Carolina, an active participant of the primary school weekend education program, learning how to walk on a slackline. I started the program as an extracurricular activity with help from my family back home as they supplied things like puzzles, coloring books/pencils, building block and the slack line. I currently work as the Administrative Assistant at Abernathy Fish Technology Center in Longview, WA.

AMY OLLIFFE, MADAGASCAR (2006-2009): I was an Environment Volunteer with a Protected Areas Management focus. I worked on alternative income strategies based off tourism focused on the Alaotran gentle lemur. I also had the opportunity to do some projects in environmental education, including working with women's groups to start tree nurseries and reforest mangroves in southern Madagascar during my third year extension. I am now an Education and Outreach Specialist with the Service based out of the Pacific Islands External Affairs Office in Honolulu, HI.

BRIAN PECK, GABON (1992-1996):

I was an Aquaculture Extension Agent from 1992-1994 and then extended my service as a Coastal Ecologist from 1995-1996. Gabon is in the heart of the African rainforest and I lived without electricity, running water or a phone and loved the life-forming experience, culture, and people. The old mama in the photo I like to think of as embodying "wisdom shining through ancient eyes". I currently work as the Manager of the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and National Wildlife Refuge based in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

TIM ROMANSKI, MOROCCO (1988-1990):

I worked for the Ministry of Forest and Water in Morocco. I spent two years inventorying wildlife in the Middle Atlas Mountains, including attempting to document the presence of the critically endangered Barbary leopard. I also helped construct playground equipment at a school for the blind during my first summer, and was a camp counselor for at a sports camp for Moroccan youth in Essaouira the next summer. I currently work as the Branch Manager for Conservation and Hydropower Planning out of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Office in Lacey, WA.

STEFANIE STAVRAKAS, GAMBIA (1995-1997): dfdsafdsffdsaf Heehe ehrer

I was an Agro-Forestry Volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa. I spent most of my time working in the local community planting and grafting trees and establishing vegetable gardens. I worked with children and families helping grow trees for harvest. I had a great time in my

community, including celebrations with plenty of dancing with the women’s garden group that fellow PC Volunteer Syd and I established. When I left the village, most of the more than 100 trees we planted were two to three feet tall. I am currently Regional Coordinator for Alternative Energy, Sikes Act, Transportation, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and Section 404 Clean Water Act in Ecological Services in the Regional Office in Portland, OR. KATE TERRELL, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (1988-1991):

Wali ti Susu don mbe ti Africa (Fisheries Volunteer). During my time in the Central African Republic, I daily worked with farmers to develop rosary systems that included livestock, gardens and fishponds. We harvested talapia quarterly (pictured here). In addition, I tutored English and taught women how to make mud wood stoves. I am currently the Habitat Restoration and Conservation Program Manager at the Mid-Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Leavenworth, WA.