When the pandemic hit, the Peace Corps snap-recalled its nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries worldwide, some of whom ended up in government jobs, even a few in Juneau.
Now, a Juneau local, Joseph Monsef, will be among the first volunteers to return to the field to aid requesting countries in their development.
Monsef said he’d been thinking about doing a term in the Peace Corps for years, before he attended college, first at University of Alaska Southeast before transferring to and graduating from Vanderbilt University.
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“I’ve been thinking about joining the Peace Corps since high school,” Monsef said in a phone interview. “I’ve had a few family friends who did it so I’d pick their brains about it.”
Monsef said he began the application about a year ago as he began his senior year at Vanderbilt.
“The initial application was pretty straightforward. But the follow-up process took a long time,” Monsef said. “That part was definitely a pain but it’s necessary. Overall it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.”
In less than two weeks, Monsef will fly to Washington, D.C., before shipping out to Uganda for a two-year stint as he assists with health programs. His first option was Liberia, Monsef said, but going there would have involved adding a year of waiting for departure, so he went with an offered slot to Uganda instead.
“They knew they were going to be placing people, but the timelines were up in the air,” Monsef said. “The second option they gave me was Uganda. I was very, very excited for that.”
Volunteers will begin with training in the cities before being sent on, Monsef said.
“I’ll be starting in Kampala, which is the capital in the south,” Monsef said. “After that we’ll be staying with host families for a bit. Then we’ll be placed in different places around the country based on our strengths.”
This won’t be Monsef’s first time in Africa, he said — study abroad programs at UAS allowed him to spend time in Morocco before, though this will be his first experience in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Because the Peace Corps is a two-year program, you have the opportunity to build strong relationships, to be a citizen diplomat,” Monsef said. “(We’re) working with the community to achieve what they need, not what westerners need.”
Volunteers typically specialize in one of six areas, according to a Peace Corps news release- agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health or youth in development. Monsef, who graduated with a degree in biological science, will focus on HIV education and prevention, malaria prevention, and water sanitation, he said.
“I’m really excited to get going,” Monsef said. “I did mention to them that I wanted to go in the country where they need the most people.”
Monsef said he’s not without anxiety, but he’s ready to get out there.
“As I’ve gotten closer and closer to the departure date, I’m getting more doubtful and nervous, but I think that’s normal,” Monsef said. “I’m just ready to change my lifestyle as need be.”
The timing is critical, said Peace Corps CEO Carol Spahn in a news release, as health-related, social, political and environmental issues erode the foundation of global society.
“Actions taken in the next few years have the potential to fundamentally impact development trajectories for decades to come,” Spahn said. “Peace Corps volunteers returning to Uganda will work alongside community members to support urgent development efforts and build critical connections.”
For those interested, Monsef said, just take a swing at joining.
“Just apply. It just takes two hours to do, max,” Monsef said. “Apply and be honest about where you want to go.”
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
