Hello everyone! My name is Savannah Carroll, and I am currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia, a small country located in West Africa. I will be here for 15 months, working as a health volunteer, where I collaborate with community members to promote proper nutrition and maternal health practices.
My life in Africa is very different from life in America—even down to my own name! In The Gambia, I am known as Hawa Bah. In an effort to better integrate into our communities, each Peace Corps Volunteer participates in a naming ceremony (ngente in Wolof), during which they are given a new name by their host families. That is how I became Hawa. The climate, clothing, and food are also quite different, and I am eager to share more about my experience with you all!
I am 23 years old, and I grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin. I enjoy being active and spending time outdoors, whether I am hiking, running, or playing tennis. I have also been very curious about the world from a young age. I loved reading stories or watching movies about faraway places. When I decided to attend college, I chose somewhere I had never been before: the U.S. Virgin Islands! There, I studied Biology and Biomedical Laboratory Science. In the future, I plan to attend medical school to become a physician.
I have been loving my time here in the Smiling Coast of Africa—The Gambia’s nickname! I can’t wait to share more about my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer with you all!
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.
