The Basics

So as you probably know by now, I have left the country, my job, friends and family and will be going to West Africa. Over the past month I have received a barrage of questions about what I will be doing and why I decided to pursue this opportunity. I thought I’d take a few minutes to address the FAQs:

Where are you going and what are you doing?

I have accepted an opportunity as a Peace Corps Volunteer…. yes, I said volunteer and will be serving in Togo for 27 months. I will be a Small Business Advisor in the Small Enterprise Development Program. My job will be focused primarily on microfinance infrastructure work as well as providing skill based education for entrepreneurs to help them build their businesses. The details of my job are still vague and will depend on the needs of the community I will be living in but I will share more details once I complete training.

Togo??? Where is that?

Togo is a francophone country located in West Africa and the capital city is Lomé. The country is bordered by Ghana to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Benin to the East. The country has a very diverse array of languages, religions, and influences. Google it.

What made you want to do this?

For the past two years I have been searching for an opportunity to leverage my business and finance background as well as my degree in international finance. I have always been interested in the dynamics of international business and have cultivated an interest in microfinance and social entrepreneurship work. Honestly, my first impression of the Peace Corps was that young college graduates go to the Peace Corps to teach english all around the world. I was surprised to learn that they have programs that cater to people that have extensive experience in business or finance to support countries address economic development needs. I ultimately applied and was accepted into the program. The volunteer aspect and length of the program were extremely important as I wanted to devout all of my time and energy to this venture as well as see sustainable, long term results from our collaborative efforts.

Are you nervous, scared, etc?

No, not really.

Are you crazy?!?!

No.

I'll be using this blog to communicate my experiences and life in Togo. I hope you enjoy and please stay in touch as well!