"Dumela"— or hello! My name is John, or Kagiso Thipe in Setswana, the local language spoken in Botswana. Botswana has been my home for the past 15 months and will be for another 12, as I am a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer working in the health sector.
Botswana is a semi-arid desert environment for much of the country, which to me means very "really hot" most of the time. It is known for its biodiversity, especially its wildlife and the opportunity to see the “Big 5". I wonder if you might know which animals are included in the "Big 5"? (Hint: there may be a carnivore or two among them!)
I work with youth in the village to help them improve their knowledge of various health conditions, especially HIV. This educational effort takes many forms and often includes playing games, doing skits, participating in clubs, and nurturing relationships.
I interact daily with primary and secondary students and find that they have endless energy to make me laugh, feel special, and included as part of the village family. I live in a small house on the same plot as my host family. My host mother and I often make meals for each other, and I admit that “mme” is a much better cook than I am.
In the United States, I lived in Portland, Oregon, where I carried the titles of dad, physical therapist, Oregonian, and adventurist. I am happy to add to this list Motswana, meaning a person from Botswana.
Peace Corps Volunteers like me live and work side by side with community members around the world, collaborating on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. Learn more by clicking here.
