Peace Corps volunteer learns value of life

Living away from one’s usual environment can open a person’s eyes to a new, different way of thinking and can also teach many things about oneself. This is exactly the experience Peace Corps volunteer Stephanie Kistner has had. The two years spent in St. Vincent, Kistner said, have taught her about the value of life.{{more}}

Kistner, of Phoenix, Arizona, entered the Peace Corps out of a desire for adventure. As her time on the island comes to an end, she is satisfied that she found the adventure she sought. One of the things she has learnt, a lesson that will remain with her at all times, is the value of life in general.

Kistner, who worked in community development and creative arts prior to coming to St. Vincent, was assigned to Chateaubelair, a community she has grown to love. She has been involved in several programmes at the Chateaubelair Methodist School, including the establishment of a creative arts programme, a remedial reading programme and the re-establishment of the school’s Brownie troop.

“The experience has been good… not without its challenges, but it has been a great experience,” Kistner said about working with the children who have been her biggest motivation. “The children have really made it all worth it,” she said.

One of the biggest challenges, she, however, explained, was procuring resources, especially for the creative arts programme. Oftentimes the children in the class had to resort to using natural local material to create art. The children, however, responded well to the programme which also included drawing and papier maché.

“It was a lot of fun because a lot of them had never done that before and had not been exposed to that kind of thinking. It was good to see that some (of them) got the exposure.”

Kistner also had a rewarding experience with the remedial reading programme at the school.

“It was great. It’s hard because sometimes it feels like it’s so slow and tedious and it feels as if the children aren’t learning anything and you’re repeating yourself everyday, but it’s also rewarding because on one day, it does click with the students and they’re progressing. I went from children who didn’t know the alphabet to children who were reading short stories by the end of the year,” she said, about the success of the programme.

She also spoke about the proud students who are part of the re-established Brownie troop. She said being Brownies improved their self esteem, as they were part of something important within the community. “They are so proud of themselves and you could just see their spirits lifted,” Kistner said.

Kistner, however, believes that there is a need for more parent involvement in the community, though the school has been working assiduously towards a solution to the problem.

Kistner plans to return to the USA and complete a Master’s degree in Arts Administration. She hopes to run a non profit organisation promoting arts and culture and also teach after school programmes.

She will, however, remember her experience, and what she learnt as a volunteer in St. Vincent. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve really learnt how short life is, and how you really can’t take life for granted. You really have to set high goals for yourself, but I don’t think that you should ever wait for things to happen for you. You’ve got to go out there and get them and make things happen, and that’s something that I’ll take away from this experience – a sense of adventure, a sense of succeeding in the face of adversity,” Kistner said.