Here is my DOS, which stands for Description of Service. It is a concise summary that all volunteers are required to write of our 2 year service as a Peace Corps volunteers. It is kept for 60 years in Washington, D.C., as an official government document so... RESPECT.
And... umm.. ENJOY. Or else! :)
Betsy Ann Conway
United States Peace Corps Volunteer
Description of Service
Ghana, 2011-2013
Ghana is a West African nation of 25 million people. In 1957, it became the first sub-Saharan colony to achieve independence. With a GDP per capita of less than $1,100 and an average life expectancy of 57 years, Ghana is listed as a developing country. Peace Corps Ghana traces its roots and mission to 1961, when President John F. Kennedy sent the first 50 Peace Corps volunteers to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in Ghana. Having just celebrated its 50th year in Ghana, Peace Corps is more vital than ever with volunteers working at the grassroots level in education, health, and agribusiness.
Training
Betsy Ann Conway arrived in Ghana and began a ten week pre-service training program on June 8, 2011. During pre-service training, she received 146 hours of intensive language training, 125 hours of technical teachers' training, 64 hours of safety and security training, 60 hours of cross-cultural training, 56 hours of Core Peace Corps training, 50 hours of medical training, and 48 hours of HIV/AIDS and PEPFAR (President's Plan for AIDS Relief) training. On August 16th of 2011, Miss Conway officially swore in as a volunteer in the Education Sector of the U.S. Peace Corps. She was assigned to teach at Menji Agricultural Senior High School (MASS) located in the village of Menji in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.
Primary Activities
Miss Conway's primary assignment was teaching the sciences at MASS. Housed in a modest, six room building, MASS is home to approximately 170 students. As in America, public high schools in Ghana consist of four academic levels or “forms.” Miss Conway taught chemistry theory and laboratory, forms 1 through 4. She also taught forms 1 and 2 integrated science, a core course including topics in biology, physics, chemistry, and geology. Between chemistry and science, Miss Conway taught an average of 16 hours per week with class sizes ranging from 15 to 42 students. Miss Conway also conducted evening tutoring sessions three nights per week in mathematics, English, science, and chemistry.
Along with routine teaching responsibilities, Miss Conway played several other roles at MASS. She served as an active member of the school’s Guidance and Counseling Team and also as the girls' dormitory Housemistress. Additionally, she worked as the staff supervisor for the Student Government Committee. Together they planned school events such as quiz games, field trips, sports days, spelling bees, and school dances. Finally, Miss Conway helped fill several administrative roles at the school by preparing the class timetables, assisting in the accounting office, and working as the school's ICT specialist.
Primary Activity Projects
MASS Animal Husbandry Project
Although MASS is by name and curriculum an agriculture school, the school previously lacked any sort of practical agriculture demonstrations. As a solution, Miss Conway collaborated with the MASS agriculture department to establish an animal husbandry project in October of 2012. Using funds awarded by a Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) grant, she established several agriculture projects, including goat husbandry, rabbit rearing, poultry production, and bee-keeping.
The school now has several effective, hands-on animal husbandry activities to enhance and supplement the students' education in agriculture.
MASS Science and Computer Lab Project
Previously, MASS was severely lacking in infrastructure, having only a few cinderblock classrooms. In March of 2012, Miss Conway was awarded a USAID Small Projects Assistance Grant to construct science and computer laboratories at MASS. Miss Conway managed the grant funds in the construction of a two room classroom block along with financial support and manpower provided by the community chief and elders. The laboratories were stocked with science equipment and computers donated by the Ghanaian government.
Secondary Activities
Ghana Aids Prevention (GhAP) Committee
From November 2011 until May 2013, Miss Conway served as the Brong Ahafo regional representative on the Peace Corps GhAP Committee. The purpose of the GhAP committee is to provide support, resources, and information to Peace Corps volunteers undertaking HIV/AIDS projects. As her own personal HIV/AIDS project, Miss Conway developed a manual for integrating HIV/AIDS education into science teaching at the senior school level.
Wednesday Morning Health Discussions at MASS
Every Wednesday of her service, during morning assembly, Miss Conway would involve the MASS student body in health discussions. The discussions varied in topic, ranging from oral health to HIV/AIDS awareness and malaria prevention. These 30-minute discussions usually involved around 100 students, and consisted of an interactive presentation with subsequent Q&A time.
MASS After-School Volleyball League
Miss Conway met with her co-ed volleyball league after school three days a week for practice. In addition to volleyball skills, she taught the students lessons in teamwork, leadership, and communication. Regularly on weekends, Miss Conway organized and hosted inter-mural and inter-school volleyball tournaments.
School Gardens Training Workshop
In collaboration with Peace Corps administration, Miss Conway organized a training for other education sector volunteers and their community partners in November of 2012. During the two-day workshop, a series of lectures provided participants with the theoretical basics of gardening and nutrition. Later, participants traveled to Miss Conway’s school, MASS, where they worked hand-in-hand with students to establish a school garden. Together they cleared the land, installed a fence, tilled the soil, planted seeds, and started a compost pile. The MASS garden is highly productive and is still used in gardening tutorials.
Close of Service
During her two years in Ghana, Miss Conway became an integral part of her school and community. In honor of her dedication and service to the community of Menji, on July 7th 2013, Miss Conway was enstooled by the Ohene and Nananom (village chief and elders) as the Nkosuohemaa (Queen Mother of Development) of Menji. Miss Conway successfully completed her service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana on July 17th, 2013.
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