Peace Corps

Tips

Here are some advice from Peace Corps Volunteers on community service and service-learning project planning and implementation.

Find out what the true needs of the community are through observing and doing research.
Speak to residents of the community—ask questions, observe and understand the existing problems.
Do your research, interview community members, and analyze the feasibility of prospective solutions before proceeding.
Think about the long- and short-term effects of your work in the community.
See what already exists and what can be improved.
Complete change is not necessarily the best solution, especially if resources are limited.
Think creatively and you'll have a lot of fun.

When you're asking people in the community what kind of project they want, also ask them what they're willing to contribute to it.
Depending upon what you need and what's available in the community, a local business might donate supplies, a radio station might advertise your efforts, or another youth club might volunteer to join you in the project.
In my village in Nepal, the biggest or most expensive projects weren't necessarily the most successful ones; instead, the successful projects were the ones that got the most people involved.

One of the most important lessons Volunteers must learn and need to emphasize in their work is that the community must take the lead in conceptualizing, prioritizing, and implementing projects to meet local needs, mobilizing first their own community resources and then outside complementing resources, as necessary.

Don't go into the service experience with preconceived notions. Rather, try to be an objective observer by talking to lots of people in the community and taking copious notes. Read and re-read your notes to see what major themes are surfacing. What is important to the community? What common problems seem to be discussed again and again? Once you get a sense of these issues then you will be ready to begin to shape your service project.