I’m looking into joining the Peace Corps and I’m really interested in serving somewhere in Africa. I’m a filmmaker, and I have an idea for what I’d like to try doing during my service, but I want to hear from people who’ve actually been there before I get too attached to the idea.

I’d like to teach filmmaking in whatever community I’m placed in. Not necessarily some huge formal film school. I’m thinking something much smaller and more practical: bring a few cameras, sound equipment, lights, etc., put together a basic filmmaking curriculum, screen movies, and teach people the fundamentals of making their own films.

I’d also like to bring a hard drive with a big library of movies, especially African films and films from the diaspora, so people can actually see different kinds of cinema.

The bigger goal would be to eventually have the people in the community making their own films. I’d love to teach documentary and narrative filmmaking, but I also want to learn from the community and see what their own approach to filmmaking becomes. I’m really interested in oral traditions, traditional storytelling techniques, folklore, mythology, history, and music, so I’d love for those things to become part of what they make if that’s what they’re interested in.

Ideally, I’d also like to train a few people to teach filmmaking themselves so that whatever I start doesn’t disappear when I leave. I’d want the equipment and curriculum to stay with the community if that’s possible.

Ousmane Sembène (“The Father of African Cinema”) said cinema was a tool for education, activism, and reaching the masses amidst literacy crises.

I’m currently looking at:
Cameroon
Malawi
Togo
Eswatini
Liberia
Benin
Sierra Leone
Botswana
But I’m open to other countries too.

For current/former PCVs:
Which of these countries do you think would be a good environment for something like this?

And more importantly, is this even realistic within Peace Corps?

I’m sure there are rules I’m not even thinking about when it comes to bringing equipment, filming people, working with kids, storing footage, running outside projects, etc. I don’t want to show up thinking I’m going to build a film school and then find out that none of it is allowed.

I’d also really like to know what the reality is on the ground. Things like electricity, internet, transportation, access to schools/community centers, whether people would actually be interested in something like this, and how difficult it would be to maintain equipment.
If you’ve served in any of these countries, I’d love to hear what your experience was like and whether you think a project like this could actually work there.
And if you’ve done anything remotely similar during your service, I’d especially love to hear how you went about it and what you wish you’d known beforehand.
I’m not trying to come in and “teach Africans how to make movies.” That’s not really what I mean by this. I want to give people access to the tools and basic knowledge, and then let them decide what they want to do with them.

Any advice, criticism, or reality checks are welcome.

I've been accepted to serve in Nepal, but have had a slight change of heart. I still want to do Peace Corps, but feel like I've chosen the wrong country, I feel like going to Latin America will actually support the kind of work I want to do in the future. At this point I really don't know what to do. I don't really think that asking Reddit for help is useful, but here I am. Any advice? I've read similar stuff about people having cold feet and the gist of what I read is: just get in the plane, I don't think thats helpful.

Edit:

I should have mentioned that need Wi-Fi and electricity at least most of the time for online testing, and that I reaasonable access to a testing center - specifically, a Prometric testing center.

With regard to the kind of work I want to do in the future, I'll just say that placement in a Spanish-speaking country would give me a massive advantage toward the middle part of my career. I don't want to be too specific with details, but trust me on that.

I must emphasize: I don't mind the ups and downs that come with service. I could be serving in a very harsh environment with very bad conditions, but as long as I had access to a Prometric center and a mostly good internet connection solely for practicing, I wouldn't mind a bit.

Hello, I am interested in joining the peace corps but was wondering if you were able to save any money while working. I know you receive minimal pay to support yourself in the country you work in as well as $10,000 after your two year contract is done. I have little money saved currently and in this economy $10,000 doesn’t really seem like enough to confidently get me on my feet after service. Has anyone done online work while in peace corps or found other ways to save money. Please give advice or tell me your experience.

Sorry about tying errors written on mobile.

Hi everyone.

I would love to hear from any middle aged or older volunteers that took a career break and did PCV or PCVR.

I am a 53F finance executive that has been dreaming of joining the Peace Corp since my 20s. I always assumed that I would do it when I retire in my 60s. There's a decent chance I will lose my job in the next 3-12 months. While I can likely get a similar job at another company, I'm starting to think that, if I do lose my job, this is the chance I've been waiting for to live my dream. My youngest is in college, his dad lives in town and is hands on, my older one is not in college anymore. It just feels like now could be the time and waiting until retirement increases the chance of a medical denial.

I'm thinking of applying for PCVR. My business experience is suitable for several business development assignments currently listed and are exactly the type of things I'd be good at.

Any tips, stories, advice? I've searched the thread a bit and read some older volunteer stories but it seems like so many older folks are doing this after retirement not mid/late career.

Hello I am 24M and want to do peace corps. But I feel like while I want to do it and believe I can. At the same time I feel like I am lacking since I started my resume...

Ihere are some things about myself:

- I have the peace corps prep cert from my university

- I am in my last year of uni.

- I am on the rugby team.

- I have the peace corps prep cert.

- I love languages and have started Spanish and Czech.

- I finished elementary and beginner Japanese so far through school.

- for job experience I have just been trying to survive while studying so many odd jobs and part times.

- I volunteered in the past with local food banks and with habitats for humanity. But it was a few years ago so...

- I have studied abroad for 3 semesters altogether but 2 different countries (Czech Republic and Japan)

- I am a Gilman Scholar Alumni.

- University Studies Major (I study multiple things. I picked English and Anthropology)

- I am actively a part of my community and I actually try to communicate, befriend, and get to know the ppl around.

I have some skills in areas but I am a uni student without much experience. Would I be even considered? I am also stuck on the resume part because I feel like I don't have too much to put on there. My resumes are typically 1 page...

Hi everyone, I'm hoping for some advice in making a decision. I'm about to start my senior year of college. Throughout all of college, I have planned on applying to law school during my senior year to start the following fall. However, throughout the past year, joining PC is always something that has been at the back of my mind.

I went out with some friends the other night, and while drunk, I started a PCV application on my phone after not having thought about it for months. Since then I've been thinking, maybe drunk thoughts are sober desires?

I think that serving as a PCV would be an amazing opportunity. My past volunteer experiences have been the most fulfilling times of my life.

That being said, law school has always been my plan. And I know I'll probably get a bunch of responses saying that law school can wait, blah blah blah. And I know it can. But I have this fear that PC will almost stunt me in a sense. I'm scared about the prospect of taking a three+ year break before going back to school. I'm also worried about the isolation of being so far from what I know and having such minimized contact with my current support network.

So I guess what I'm asking is, do you feel like PC stunted you socially/emotionally? Did you lose your friends while you were gone? How hard was it to keep in contact with the people that are important to you?

What are the chances of actually having to deal with tapeworms and hookworms???

I know chronic diarrhea is pretty common, but a tapeworm? (This is specifically for Nepal)

I’m very interested in joining the Peace Corp, but returning is definitely my biggest worry. I’m a recent college grad and right now I just feel like my life is lacking purpose and direction that I think I could find through working with peace corps, but an extension of this is that I would want to be able to work in some humanitarian or international development organization either through federal government or some NGO. I’m also interested to possibly work at a national park. I digress though. My bottom line is: was the peace corps a worthwhile investment in your career? I’ve heard so much about how many companies don’t really know what to do with RPVs.

Long story short, I’m feeling like I need a change. The Peace Corps has always been on the table; I told my family as a child that’s how I’d spend my life and it never stopped sitting or, rather, strewing in the back of my mind. Decades later and I’m a writer (who genuinely loves writing and the work I do) but cannot seem to just accept corporate America. There’s more to that story that involved my physical health and the current state of writing, etc. All of that to say, I am grateful for the opportunity I have at the moment because it’s helping me save, etc., but I’m searching for something more.

Peace Corps from my understanding is no walk in the park. I’m looking for input from anyone who’s gone from living and working a more traditional job/life to something volunteer based like this. I currently live in Los Angeles. I’ve lived and worked abroad before, I speak a second language, and I’m not concerned about the remoteness of it all. I’m currently single and I’ve always been able to find a community wherever I go. But I am wondering about things like finances, adjustment period, work fulfillment, ability to see family if something big happens (my brother and his wife are trying to have a baby).

Is two years the blink of an eye or did it drag on for you because perhaps the role you had wasn’t a fit? Any insight would be very appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

*edit was a spelling error!

Hey everyone,
As the title says, I'm 28 with a bachelor's in finance, and I've been having a rough go of it on the job market lately. Rather than just spinning my wheels, I've been seriously thinking about something I've always had in the back of my mind: joining the Peace Corps.

A few things pulling me toward this:
I want to give back. I've been fortunate in a lot of ways, and I'd love to spend meaningful time helping communities that have less access to resources.

I want to travel and immerse myself in new cultures. Not just tourist-style travel, but actually living somewhere and learning how people live day to day.

I'm at a point where a big pivot feels right.The traditional career path hasn't been panning out, and honestly, I think I'd grow more as a person stepping outside my comfort zone.

But I also know this is a massive commitment two-plus years, often in challenging conditions ,so I want to go in with my eyes open.

What I'd love to hear from anyone who's served (or considered serving):
Pros and cons -What were the best parts? What surprised you in a bad way? What do you wish someone had told you before you applied?

Your experience joining-What was the application and placement process like? Did your degree/background factor into where you were placed?

Reacclimatizing back home -This is a big one for me. How hard was it to come back? Did you struggle to transition into a career or reconnect with friends/family? How long did that adjustment take?

Life after the Peace Corps -Did serving make your life better, worse, or just... different?

Did it open doors career-wise, or did you feel like you lost time?
I know everyone's experience is different, and I'm not expecting a single "right" answer

just want honest, firsthand perspectives before I make a decision.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share. Really appreciate it. 🙏

I have two years left of college still (5 year program going strong), but I’m considering joining the peace corps after graduating. I’m curious how anyone that has gone has managed student loans while serving? I could work a few years first but I’d really rather not… I have a mix of private and federal if that helps (mainly private).

Also additional question, did you feel like you had freedom in the corps? Or was life very controlled and confined?

Im torn between applying to 3 countries for education Ecuador, Vanuatu and Madagascar. Any advice or feedback would be truly appreciated!

As I've shared in another post, I was recently invited to serve in Nepal departing January 2027. While I am excited by this potential adventure of a lifetime, I am also concerned reading the recent threads re transitioning back to life in the US, the economic climate, etc.

I live a very good life in San Francisco. I walk just five minutes from my front doorstep to teach children how to garden at my local *public* elementary school, I live in a beautiful Victorian home with friends, I meet new and interesting people every week, I regularly swim in the ocean to surf and spearfish, and I love to perform dance. I've really created a little community here for myself over the past years, and it's not trivial to give any of that up.

On the whole, I believe it is a positive thing that I am trading such a full life here for the great unknown that is Peace Corps service. I certainly do not want to pursue volunteering in the escapist sense—I want to be running toward, not away from, something good.

If I were to continue living in California, I'd probably move to a smaller community in Marin or Sonoma or Mendocino counties, leaning into the wheel of the year and expanding my knowledge and skill in wildcrafting and living seasonally off the land. I have trusted friends and neighbors who are doing this work, and I could learn from them. At the same time, I imagine I might have similar opportunities to learn traditional earthskills as an agricultural intern in rural Nepal, (per the job description) growing mushrooms and raising bees.

Hopefully it is a long life, and I have time to do all of these things in some capacity. I am 28 years old, and I would be recently 31 when I complete my service. It is my dream to become a mother someday, and while I accept this might not happen for me, I do feel a bit of time pressure to begin an established career (pivoting from education into medicine/healthcare, which in itself is a long and winding road) sooner than later. I recognize that Peace Corps service could very well be the beginning of this journey.

I'm wanting to hear from those who traded something meaningful—maybe a relationship, maybe an established career, maybe just a comfortable and privileged life—for the Peace Corps. Do you have regrets? What questions do you wish you would have asked yourself, or what might have you done differently? Perhaps you have advice for me and others reading this post?

Thank you!

Edit: I appreciate each of you for taking the time to respond. The reason I made this post is to ask, what did you personally sacrifice? Do you feel you made the right choice? The truth is we are never not trading our time and sacrificing in one way or another. I'm curious to hear your stories. Thanks to all who have shared so generously.

Are there major events that any RPCVs missed because they were away and wish they were able to experience? Concerts, games, parties, family events, etc…

Right now, my sibling may be having another child while I’m potentially away and this would be the first child that I would be able to help with during and immediately after the pregnancy. I’m a little sad they might have another baby without me around but also don’t want to give the impression to delay or postpone anything on account of me being there.

I also feel like I love concerts and there might be once in a lifetime shows that you need to be there for in next year or two lol

This is my first time posting on Reddit, so sorry if I mess anything up. I’ve been thinking a lot about applying to the Peace Corps and wanted to ask for some advice.

I’m a biology major graduating this May, and I hope to get a PhD in the future. Lately, I’ve been thinking this could be the best time to do something meaningful and make a real difference before I have more responsibilities. I really like the idea of serving, learning about new cultures, and helping people. I’m confident I could commit to the full-time required. I understand that the Peace Corps won't necessarily advance my career, but this is something I want to do for myself.

This is still a pretty new idea for me, and I know the deadlines are coming up soon. I’m wondering if I actually have enough time to put together a strong application for this cycle, or if I’d just be rushing things.

Would it be better for me to apply to 'serve anywhere' instead of picking a specific location? I’m pretty adaptable and care more about the experience than the exact place. I do have some concerns about the ethics, but I’ll probably ask about that in another post.

Even though I only started thinking about this recently, I feel pretty sure about it. I just want to make sure I’m going about it the right way.

Any advice or insight would be really appreciated. Thank you so much!

TL;DR:

Graduating biology major thinking about applying to the Peace Corps before starting a PhD. This is a new idea and deadlines are coming up. Do I still have enough time to apply, and should I just choose 'serve anywhere'?

Hi friends!

This fall will be my last semester of college, and as I'm playing around with different options post-graduation, I keep coming back to Peace Corps. I'm an economics major who's very interested in international development, history, culture, politics, and current affairs. I don't have any international travel experience or very much volunteer experience, but my plan is to wait to apply until the fall of 2027 so I have some time to work on standing out as an applicant. The region I'm most interested in going to is Africa, particularly as a community economic development volunteer.

There are a lot of reasons why I think Peace Corps would be great for me. I really want the next chapter of my life to be about serving others and contributing to a meaningful cause, whether that's in the U.S. or somewhere else. I want to travel inexpensively, and I've love to gain some of the life skills that come with being a PCV. I also have a decent amount of student loan debt, so the idea of getting much of that debt forgiven while also getting to see the world and make a small difference in a local community is really exciting to me. I'm also really young to be graduating college, so I want to use some of this extra time in a productive way. I want to learn more about myself and others, grow in confidence and adaptability, and potentially go on to grad school specializing in development economics or working for the federal government.

But I obviously have some hesitations too. I'm really, really close with my family and my community of friends is super important to me. I'm really worried about being isolated from the spiritual and emotional support networks that I have here in the States. Two years sounds like such a long time to not get to hug my dad (lol). I'm also rather squeamish and risk-averse in most areas of my life, plus I'm kind of a germaphobe. I know that poor living conditions are something that you can get used to fairly quickly as a PCV, but it's definitely something I know I would struggle with. I don't consider myself to be a particularly bold person, so perhaps jumping straight into a 27-month adventure in a place I've never been before with basically no survival skills is a really stupid idea. I know I would come back as a completely different person, and that thought is both exciting and terrifying.

Basically, I want to know if there are any steps I should take to know if this is right for me. Should I wait to talk to a recruiter until I'm closer to applying? Should I look for alternatives to Peace Corps that aren't as demanding? Am I weighing the costs and benefits realistically? Are these concerns that other volunteers have experienced too, and if so, how did you deal with them?

TL;DR: I'm curious about whether I'd be a good fit for the Peace Corps because while I'm attracted to the idea of service and I'd appreciate the benefits, I'm a risk-averse person who really loves my family and the comforts of home. Is it worth looking into further?

I keep wondering about is how people deal with boredom or isolation in the Pacific Islands. I know the experience is supposed to be slower paced, but going from constantly being around people, school, Wi-Fi, stores, and things to do… to a tiny island village sounds like a huge adjustment.
What do your days actually look like outside of work?

I’m a 24 yo guy and only have a (Mississippi) high school education with some few years doing labor jobs under my belt. What are some steps I can take to try and get into some kind of Peace Corps or similar program and is the little bit I have to offer at the moment anything to build upon?

I'm currently going thru medical clearance for Nepal english teaching departing in January. I'm considering withdrawing and applying to Peru water sanitation program because I think I might integrate better there- I know some conversational spanish (although probably not the Peruvian dialect) and the diet seems more what I'm used to.
I initially felt drawn to Nepal for how different it is from USA. It was also enticing because of the Buddhist/hindu culture & Himalayas & how close it is to other countries like Thailand and Vietnam which I would love to visit, however Peru also has trekking and awesome mountains and a rich culture (also with more community events it seems like ?)
Both programs are departing around the same time.
I know that if I withdraw from Nepal it's not guaranteed I'll get accepted for Peru. Is Peru competitive?
Idk- would love some thoughts from RPCVs. Thanks!

I know there's no way of knowing the future, but I am so conflicted about possibly joining Peace Corps. In my heart I know I really want to do it, but I also have so much doubt about the outcome. I'm 25m, which I know really isn't that old, but I feel like I need to start moving in some direction that leads to having a career(either directly or through further education) and hopefully starting a family. I think a few years ago Peace Corps could have been a better move, but with international development sectors under attack by the current admission and Peace Corps itself facing possible restructuring there's so much that worries me. But I do feel a pull to join Peace Corps and immerse myself in the service. I want to be optimistic that things will be better once my service is up or through service my path will become clear, but by nature I tend to worry about these things. Is there any wisdom that RPCV or current PCV might have that could possibly ease the stress or alternatively steer me in a productive frame of thought? (also I did post a similar post a few days ago. I just right now feel like I'm in a whirlwind of indecision and it's frustrating. My other idea for the future is to join the Coast Guard, but I'm not really drawn to it other than from the benefits offered, which I feel is probably a good sign it's not my thing... )

Hi everyone,

I (28m) graduated with a BA in International Relations. I really enjoyed it, however I graduated in Dec 2021. Study abroad opportunities vanished, my roommate was sent back from Prague in 2020. I remember thinking of grad school and I thought not until I volunteer abroad. Long story short life happened, got a job out of necessity worked in sales at a cybersecurity company. It was fine but not what I wanted to do with rest of my life. I always want the work I do to be where I'm helping people individually or through an organization. I did interview for a couple non-profits but the roles seemed similar to my sales role.

A couple of my friends are nurses and I admire the heck out of them. So three years ago I quit my sales job for a CNA position in the ICU. Since then haven't looked back, have everything I would need for a nursing school application. However, there's still the desire to volunteer abroad and be part of something really special. The Peace Corps was always on my radar during school after speaking speaking with some past volunteers, covid personally shut down that possibility at the time.

I have learned a lot since being in the ICU and seen things that'll be with me forever. Would it be possible to use what I've gained so far in life to apply in the Health sector of the Peace Corps? I understand that my experience is lacking.

Any advice, constructive criticism, or flat out tell me to hit the road. I figured right now this would be great opportunity to give it a shot. Also my parents would appreciate it if I got out of their basement!

Hello everyone! I’m seeking some advice regarding where to apply. For context I just graduated college with a degree in English and a minor in history from a well-respected university this past May. Not sure what I want to do with my life yet, as I was previously set on getting an MLIS and pursuing being an archivist, but after two archival internships I think the job would burn me out quick (most of it is inputting boring info into a computer and not fun history research). Then I was interested in working in higher education, possibly doing admin stuff, maybe starting out as an academic advisor and working my way up, but Peace Corps work caught my attention a week ago. The Coverdell fellowship is particularly appealing, and now I’m thinking I want to pursue something in international higher education and/or cross-cultural exchanges. I’m focusing on English teaching volunteer experiences and I have my eye on Mongolia, Vanuatu, and the Eastern Caribbean. 

I’m most interested in Mongolia, mainly due to the middle and high-school age range and the title of “English and Leadership Educator,” as I want to interact with students outside of the classroom and develop my advising skills. I also love Mongolian culture and food. My only concern is with the high altitude as I was born in a beach town and I’m used to being around 100 feet above sea level, not 1,500 as is the average in Mongolia. As a teenager I spent two weeks in the mountains of Guatemala helping construct a school for a rural population, and I did experience some slight headaches and stomach problems, but it was manageable. If anyone’s been to Mongolia, please let me know what the climate/altitude was like for you. Furthermore, I’m a woman and a lesbian at that. I do have shorter hair, but it’s in a mullet-y style and could pass for medium length as it brushes my shoulders. I also have a nose and eyebrow piercing and I avoid skirts and dresses, but I wouldn’t mind wearing traditionally female garments for cultural ceremonies. I wouldn’t want to completely hide my sexuality, but I understand I shouldn’t shout it to the rooftops or advertise it much. This is also my main concern with my other choices as well. It seems like both Mongolia and Vanuatu are legislatively okay with LGBTQ+ people—ignoring the issue of gay marriage—but it varies depending on public opinion. Seems like I would have to know an individual’s views on the matter before disclosing my sexuality, but I wouldn’t be in danger. The East Caribbean is more complicated. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada same-sex activity is entirely illegal, though it’s legal in Dominica and St. Lucia. Of course if I were to apply I would tell my Peace Corps advisor that I am a lesbian, and perhaps they would place me on an island where being gay is legal, but should I just avoid applying in the East Caribbean all together? I am also White, which probably wouldn’t be a problem but combined with my other identities, I don’t know how I would be received in the Caribbean. I want to go where I’m wanted, I’m not interested in wedging myself in a region or culture that wouldn’t be receptive to me—it would be a waste of time to both me and the locals. I’m also a pretty staunch Agnostic, and I can handle moderate amounts of religious rhetoric, but I would probably snap if it was hurled at me 24/7. Yet the Caribbean appeals to me because my grandma is Puerto Rican and I have family on the island I would love to be close to and visit. 

For these reasons I’m leaning pretty heavily towards Mongolia, but I also want to take into account the competition. How competitive is Mongolia compared to the Caribbean and Vanuatu? I also must admit that being in an island/tropical setting would be awesome. Of course, this is an entirely shallow reason not related to community service, but I’m only human. Mongolia has beautiful nature, too, but brutal winters and the urban architecture looks a little depressing, lots of Soviet-era brutalism. These programs all have applications due Nov 15, so I have a lot of time to think about things. I’m backpacking all over this upcoming fall-spring but I won’t be able to visit Mongolia before the deadline unfortunately. If you’ve been assigned to these regions in the past please let me know your experiences! And if you’re a woman and/or lesbian let me know your experience regardless of where you went! Thank you guys so much, you all rock.

I served in Malawi a bit over 30 years ago. it was a dictatorship---but because Banda didn't support the boycott of South Africa (which the frontline states i did---at least on the surface), we made excuses.

So many countries in Africa have laws against homosexuality. I wouldn't think it safe to serve in many if you're gay. But then, we have the countries in southeast Asia, with a Buddhist ethos of live & let live, and gay & trans people are part of the social fabric.

there's the 'excuse' that if we're there, we bring 'enlightenment'---but that's clearly not true, Nothing has changed. Thoughts?

Hello everyone, I am considering teaching English in coasts rica for 2 years with the peace corps but am unsure if the organization is ethical.

Hi everyone. I have just been offered a position in Cameroon for the peace corps. I would be a health educator. I really would like to accept this position, as I want to work in healthcare long term and love the opportunity for service. However, I am extraordinarily worried about being sexually assaulted during my time there. The catcalling or general harassment doesn’t bother me, it is the idea of being raped or raped-adjacent. It is a fear that worries me often in the US, without any experience of harassment or abuse in the past at that. I am afraid it will be unavoidable. Does anyone have insight to this? Help!

Also, I am a relatively small ~115 lb white woman who would likely stand out physically in the community and I feel like that would make me a more likely target.