Alaska Reflections on the Peace Corps

“(My proudest accomplishment was) observing the Kabare Girls Secondary School first form four classes take the national exams in 1968; it was the students' desire to learn in spite of the school’s lack of adequate facilities that I admired. I believe most of them passed and I know today many of them are leaders in their community.”  

Jeraldine Van Den Top  Kenya 1965 – 1968  Anchorage, AK 99515  

“The times I spent with kids with disabilities in Ethiopia and Turkey set in motion my 40+ year professional independence with and for people with disabilities in Alaska.”  Audrey Pauline Aanes  Ethiopia 1965 – 1967, Turkey 1967  Anchorage, AK 99516     

“…the community (where I served in the Peace Corps) went on to use self-help in conjunction with the Catholic Church in Germany and the Panamanian government to build a water purification plant. Additionally, a community center and a cemetery were built and they were planning to build an assisted living home when we went to the 45th reunion there. They now have electricity and paved roads. It would be great if Congress would realize how long development takes.”  Malie Carolyn Gray  Panama 1965 – 1967 

Fairbanks, AK 99712     

“[My proudest accomplishment in the Peace Corps was] learning gardening techniques in Belize and raising chickens to sell at a profit. The money that the children earned from the garden and chickens was used to buy a power lawnmower. They were then able to mow lawns in the village for money for other school projects. Also, they helped the elderly to mow their lawns and kept the village and school neat and trimmed. The children became very proud of what they were able to do for their village.”  James “Jim” H. Wothke Belize 1986 - 1988; Solomon Islands 1991 - 1994 Tok, AK 99780  

Alaska Reflections on the Peace Corps

“[My proudest accomplishment in the Peace Corps was] creating a full school library with over 9,000 new books, a catalogue system, and a library club to maintain it.”  Samantha N. Wilson Philippines 2008 - 2010 Juneau, AK 99801   

“I am a healthcare provider and knew, after the two-year Peace Corps experience, that I wanted to work in a rural, medically underserved area. I have been working in Alaska for more than 35 years.”  Elizabeth Mosher  Lesotho 1974 – 1976   Sitka, AK 99835