I have been dreading and delaying writing this post since most of you all know by now, I am no longer in Niger. Sadly for me and the Nigerien people life has taken a turn and Peace Corps Niger was shut down; all 98 volunteers have evacuated the country and will not be returning. Due to safety and security risks Peace Corps decided to temporarily close all programs in Niger until further notice.
For me personally I never felt unsafe or uneasy while I was in Niger in general, or in my village . The people were always nice, hospitable, generous, caring and protective and I will miss them and the unique beauty of the country. From the smiles and laughs of the little children playing to sounds of pounded millet and farm animals that greeted me each sunrise. Since I will not be returning to Niger I want to take time to dedicate a post to the memories I will always have of Niger, the people, and the PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) I shared it with. I will post this blog before my departure, in 2 weeks, to my new assignment in Costa Rica!
Although Costa Rica is no Niger, Peace Corps volunteers have been serving there since 1963, responding to the need of Ticos through projects in areas of health, education, agriculture, rural & economic community development, and youth development. I will be working in the children, families and youth sector as a youth development volunteer. Due to increased migration from rural to urban areas there has been a subsequent social dislocation of youth throughout Costa Rica. In this project, I will be working with the Patronato Naciónal de la Infancia (PANI), a Costa Rican government agency that is similar to Child Protective Services in the US. The project's main focus is to address the needs of a broader range of at-risk communities, not just urban. The project also works with issues such as violence and abuse prevention, school retention, service learning, health, and recreation and increased participation with children, youth, and families, allowing for a more integrated approach to addressing issues that affect young people.
I leave for Costa Rica on March 1st and hope that you all will continue you to follow me on this new adventure. I am excited about starting a new program and continuing my work in Peace Corps. Although this blog was originally dedicated to my service in Niger, I have decided to keep my blog address instead of creating a new one. Therefore you can still find me at www.rosiesniger.blogspot.com. Till next time thanks for all your support ;-)
For me personally I never felt unsafe or uneasy while I was in Niger in general, or in my village . The people were always nice, hospitable, generous, caring and protective and I will miss them and the unique beauty of the country. From the smiles and laughs of the little children playing to sounds of pounded millet and farm animals that greeted me each sunrise. Since I will not be returning to Niger I want to take time to dedicate a post to the memories I will always have of Niger, the people, and the PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) I shared it with. I will post this blog before my departure, in 2 weeks, to my new assignment in Costa Rica!
Although Costa Rica is no Niger, Peace Corps volunteers have been serving there since 1963, responding to the need of Ticos through projects in areas of health, education, agriculture, rural & economic community development, and youth development. I will be working in the children, families and youth sector as a youth development volunteer. Due to increased migration from rural to urban areas there has been a subsequent social dislocation of youth throughout Costa Rica. In this project, I will be working with the Patronato Naciónal de la Infancia (PANI), a Costa Rican government agency that is similar to Child Protective Services in the US. The project's main focus is to address the needs of a broader range of at-risk communities, not just urban. The project also works with issues such as violence and abuse prevention, school retention, service learning, health, and recreation and increased participation with children, youth, and families, allowing for a more integrated approach to addressing issues that affect young people.
I leave for Costa Rica on March 1st and hope that you all will continue you to follow me on this new adventure. I am excited about starting a new program and continuing my work in Peace Corps. Although this blog was originally dedicated to my service in Niger, I have decided to keep my blog address instead of creating a new one. Therefore you can still find me at www.rosiesniger.blogspot.com. Till next time thanks for all your support ;-)
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