CORPS DE LA P IX DES ETA S-UNIS D'AMERIQUE

DESCRIPTION OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SERVICE

Mark Huelsenbeck Years of Service: 2011-20 14

Republic of Benin, West Africa

After a competitive application process stressing applicant skill, adaptability, and cross­cultural sensitivity, PCV Mark Huelsenbeck began a la-week Peace Corps Pre-Service Learning on July 1,20 II in Republic of Benin. Training included an extensive module in French and local languages (190 hours) and Cross Culture (35 hours) focusing on Volunteer's integration into his community and host institution.

Trainees received Technical Training (87 hours) in environmental techniques including natural resources management methods, environmental education. Training on Personal Health (30 hours) (tropical diseases, disease prevention and treatment measures) and, Safety and Security issues (26 hours) were also included.

Mark Huelsenbeck also participated in additional In-Service Training workshops to further develop his language, techni~1 and cross-cultural skills (grant writing, project design and management and, Life Skills: HIV/AIDS and youth development). He successfully completed training and was swornin the Peace Corps on September 16, 20 11.

PCV Mark Huelsenbeck was sworn-in as an Environmental Action (EA) volunteer on September 16, 20 11. He was assigned to the central Beninese town of Dassa, where he was partnered with the local NGO, DCAMIBETHESDA.

SUMMARY OF PEACE CORPS SERVICE

During his three years of service, Mr. Mark Huelsenbeck accomplished the following:

Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Program Coordinator (May 2013- October 2014)

Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment is a cross-sector program priority of Peace Corp Benin. As the coordinator of the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment program, Mr. Mark Huelsenbeck accomplished the following:

• Organized and facilitated trainings with 60 volunteers on how and why gender can be incorporate into projects and ideas for activities that increase access to -opportunities, skills development and lead to empowerment of girls and women in their communities.

• Planned, implemented and monitored core Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment programs, including a Girls' Scholarship Program, a Girls' Internship Program and two Take Our Daughters to Work Day events.

• Reviewed and provided feedback for over 50 project grants.

01 B.P. 971 Recette Principale, Cotonou, BENIN Tel. ; (229) 21.31.38.93/55.75/47.93 - Fax; (229) 21.31.01.92

• Organized three fundraisers that generated over $10,000 to finance GenEq activities. • Built and maintained strong relationships with host-country partner organizations • Produced a 13-minute film about a Beninese girl who, despite extreme poverty

and many obstacles, had the courage and determination to stay in school and get a good education. The film serves as a tool for volunteers and counterparts to facilitate discussions in their communities on gender inequality and the importance of girls' education.

Environmental Consultant and Educator for DCAM/BETHESDA, an NGO focused on community development, sanitation and natural resource management, in a town of over 20,000 people

1n order to meet community needs related to the environment and food security, Mr. Mark Huelsenbeck helped DCAMIBETHESDA implement an improved environment program that included the following:

• Facilitating a weekly environmental club with 20 junior secondary school students • Constructing compost tumblers"and training local gardeners how to use them to

produce compost .

• Producing and commercializing Moringa powder with 10 women • Organizing and assisting in the planting of over 500 Moringa trees at local social

center and 200 trees a local secondary school • Organizing and managing a week-long environmental camp with 37 secondary school

student • Constructing soak away pits at 23 households • Designing and implementing seed distribution network • Building improved cook stoves

"Amour et Vie" (Love and Life) Community Activities (September 2012- August 2013)

Under the auspices of Population Services 1nternational (PSI), created, supervised, and counseled a team of two young adult peer educators who presented information sessions, in the village ofTre on sexual health (especially the prevention and treatment of HIVIAIDS), the prevention and treatment of malaria, and the prevention and treatment of diarrhea-causing diseases. Target groups saw a fifty percent increase in correct responses on a general knowledge questionnaire. The team participated in the sale of PSI products and the distribution of 100 mosquito nets and 200 packets of Aquatabs (water purification tablets) to mothers with young children. -Care Groups Plus (December 2013 - September 2014)

Helped spearhead a pilot project launched by Population Services International (PSI) and Peace Corps to improve the knowledge and behaviors related to health and hygiene in communities throughout Benin. Formed and supervised a group of 10 women who educated the population on various health topics, including diarrhea prevention and how

CORPS ELA P IX DES ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE

to purify water and sold PSI products such as Aquatabs and Orazel, thereby increasing the accessibility and availability of these products.

Teaching English at the University in Dassa (October 2012 - May 2014)

Designed curriculum for and taught English course to 169 university students 5 days a week for I hour a day.

Computer Lab for Secondary School

Installed a computer lab in largest secondary school in community. Lab is equipped with 10 computers, Internet, 2 photocopiers and 2 printers. In collaboration with community partners, organized and facilitated free classes on Microsoft Word and the Internet for over 2000 students.

Free Summer Classes (August - September 2013)

In collaboration with 11 students fr~ the university of Dassa, designed and implemented one month of free summer classes for secondary school students. Classes were held 4 days a week. Classes included Physics, Math French and English. 67 students attended classes regularly.

Camp GLOW

Participated in a camp for girls and invited two girls to participate. Facilitated session on hygiene and sanitation.

Camp GRACE

Participated in a camp for boys and invited two boy to participate. Facilitated session on Moringa.

Girls' Soccer Club

Co-facilitated girls' soccer club and organized three matches between other girls' soccer clubs.

Scholarship Girls Program (September 2012 -September 2013)

Provided scholarship package to secondary school girl. Acted as mentor to girl -throughout the academic year, meeting with her regularly to tutor and engage her in activities aimed at building life skills. Designed and implemented a community tree planting project with girl.

01 B.P. 971 Recette Principale, Cotonou, BENIN Tel. : (229) 21.31.38.93 /55.75/47.93 - Fax: (229) 21.31.01.92

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Student Internship Program (July - August 2013)

Selected and supervised secondary school girl to pal1icipate in Stu,dent Internship Program. This program aims to expose exceptional young women in Beninese high schools to professional work environments that focus on girls' empowerment and gender issues. Through collaboration with NGOs across Benin, SIP gives young women the opportunity to work in an NGO environment led by positive female role models. Girls Jearn practical job skills including typing, photocopying, taking phone calls, and filing paperwork. Importantly, by learning about the activities of the NGO, each intern will better learn her rights as a child and her future rights as a woman and a wife. After learning about the NGO activities, each intern has the opportunity to work with NGO employees to plan and execute one of the N GO's workshops or information sessions. Through this participation, the interns gain skills in project planning, public speaking, public translation, or handout creation.

Science Scholarship Competition

In collaboration with students at the university in Dassa, organized a competition for secondary school girls who I) studJ1;cience and 2) were passing into the final year of secondary school. At the end, 6 girls will be selected and each girl received a scholarship of$80. Funds were mobilized from a third-paI1y.

Peace Corps Volunteer Training, Month, 2013 Assisted in the Trainees' In-Country Orientation, and instructed Peace Corps trainees in the following subjects: Design and implementation of animal husbandry projects

Presentation at American Cultural Center (July 2013)

Participated in a panel discussion at the American Cultural Center on campus life in US students. The discussion was for Beninese students going or interested in going to the United States to study. Spoke for 30 minutes about personal experience at university, cultural differences between Beninese and American students and the importance of cultural exchange on campuses. 34 students attended the event.

RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Peace Corps Act, 22 USC §2504(f) as amended, any former Volunteer employed by the United States Government following his Peace Corps Volunteer service is entitled to have any period of satisfactory Peace Corps Volunteer service credited for purposes of retirement, seniority, reduction in force leave and other -privileges based on length of Government service. Peace Corps service shall not be credited towards completion of the probationary or trail period of completion of any service requirement for career appointment.

This is to certify in accordance with Executive Order No. 1 I 103 of April 10, 1963, that

CORPS DE LA P IX DES ETATS·UNIS D'AMERIQUE

His service ended on October 16, 2014. He is therefore eligible to be appointed as career-conditional employee in the competitive civil service on a non-competitive basis. This benefit under the Executive Order entitlement extends for a p~riod of one year, except that the employing agency may extend the period for up to three years for a former Volunteer who enters military service, pursues studies at a recognized institution of higher learning, or engages in other activities which in the view of the appointing authority warrants extension of the period.

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01 B.P. 971 Recette Princlpale, Colonou, BENIN Tel. : (229) 21.31.38.93/ 55.75 / 47.93 - Fax: (229) 21.31.01.92