Who knows what development means? Please raise your hand.

      Before volunteering in Peace Corps, I had no idea what international development work entailed. It is an abstract idea that I couldn't explain to my friends, family, or even myself although I regurgitated the description of the project to those who were curious. After seven months in country, I'm still no expert on development but I have a much better idea of what sustainable development means and how to go about achieving it. I may even be able to explain it to you now!
     In America, we don't often think of what development is or how to go about achieving it. It so inherent in our culture. America already has the foundation for industry, markets, education. We merely expand upon the structure that is already present, which in one way is a hindrance as it makes starting new businesses and developing new ideas more difficult. But, how do you build something that doesn't exist yet especially when you're coming from a country where the idea is already established, the infrastructure already built...meaning, you haven't the vaguest idea of how to begin. This is one reason I struggled with the idea and definition of development before completing Peace Corps training and living in my village. I've never developed anything. At least, not in the sense that development workers do.
     Recently, the LIFE 2013 Peace Corps volunteers attended technical training and a Project Design and Management Workshop. During this time, my definition and understanding of development and what it means, especially in a rural setting, was solidified. The training and workshop helped me define my goal for Peace Corps service. While most volunteers spearhead a large project during their time in-country, something that will be recognized and appreciated by Peace Corps and the community in which the volunteer lived and worked even after they're gone, I wonder how sustainable the project is. Most projects are ideas generated by the volunteer to meet a need they have observed in the village. This makes the motivation and drive for the project directly connected to the volunteer and their presence. While the community may be involved in the construction of whatever the PCV may have in mind, it isn't owned by them. What do I mean when I say that a project is "owned" by the community? To me, it means that the members of the community have identified  a need in their area and agreed to address it, they are passionate about improving their village in the way they see fit, they have the motivation and dedication to see the project begin and continue with it until its' completion. They have a sense of ownership over the idea, they see a benefit in remaining steadfast and moving forward, and they can take pride in the outcome. It will be something they want to protect and showcase.
     Oftentimes volunteers want to see observable, tangible changes in their villages within the 2 years they serve. They want to know that they created something and didn't dedicate years of their life in a foreign country with no end result. While the projects typically do benefit a community, I wonder how much the community learned about developing itself, about relying on the skills, talents, and ideas of its' people. It's wonderful to see motivated and enthusiastic volunteers bringing change to their communities and even if the projects don't survive, the village still remembers their volunteer thus achieving the second goal of Peace Corps (promoting a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served). But, what I've learned during the 7 months I've been here is what I truly want for my village. I want to empower them, to teach them how to build the things they want, how to bring about development to their rural community long after I've gone. I want to teach them what I know about capacity building, about community development, identifying projects, and defining goals and then how to achieve them. I want them to be able to do what I do and have the knowledge I have. Perhaps I'll never have a remembrance, a memento commemorating my time here, but if one person learns that they themselves are a powerful force for change and have the tools they need to make those changes occur, then I'll be happy to be merely Milimo, the first PCV in Nalube.

Voyage of the Mini S.S. Minnow

Lake Tanganyika - the second deepest lake in the world and the most biologically diverse. This is where I’m spending my post IST (In-service Training) vacation. Mpulungu, only port town in Zambia, is much like other Zambian towns. Small shops line the main road selling a variety of goods and necessities like biscuits (cookies) or shampoo. There’s a market near the water that is packed with people, the shore lined with boats, and smelling of fish and salt.

                Excited to get out on the lake and in the water, the group of PCVs that made the trek up north from Lusaka rented some boats with the intention of rowing out to a nearby island. I climbed into the boat that looked more reliable, meaning the bottom wasn’t filled with water. I should have known when they only wanted 3 muzungu’s in the boat and 5 in the other that I’d probably chosen the wrong one. As the Zambian crew, one man in the bow and one in the stern, pushed off from shore with their apprehensive flock of PCVs, I was certain we were going to capsize at any moment dumping me and all of my precious electronics into Lake Tang. As water began pouring into the boat from the seams in the boards, patchily plugged with bits and pieces of chitenge, I began to think we may also sink. I’ve been jumping off boats and docks in the Midwest all of my life and can hold my own in the water so aside from possibly  ruining my camera/ipod/phone by accidentally ending up in the lake, I wasn’t too concerned…until we spotted a crocodile. Yep, a crocodile. I’d heard rumors of crocs in the lake but thought they would be a rare sight and not encountered on this little adventure.  Now the stream of thoughts in my head have quickly been consumed by, “capsize, sink, Lake Placid, capsizing sinking crocodiles crocodilescrocodilescrocodilescrocodilescrococrocscroc…”

                All ends well though as the boat neither capsized nor sunk, the crocodile did not pursue and attempt to eat us, and we arrived at the island. We spent a blissful hour dangling our feet in the greenish-blue water and gazing out over one of the most beautiful and least visited areas of Zambia.