In this interview, you’ll hear from Maggie Leahy, a Peace Corps Environment volunteer in Senegal. Maggie shares what daily life looked like, the work done, and how service had shaped their personal and professional growth. You’ll learn about housing, cultural differences, project work, language learning, and what it’s like to live and work in a new country. This interview offers a real look into Peace Corps service and what future volunteers can expect.
Table of Contents
- Volunteer Experience and Motivation
- Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
- Surprises and Challenges
- Advice and Support
- Practical Tips and Language Learning
- Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. What did you do as a Peace Corps Environment volunteer in Senegal?
Each morning, I would wake up early as the sun was beginning to rise, along with the women in my village. Sleepily, we would make our way to a boutique selling traditional clay-fired bread (mburu bakke in Pulaar du Nord or tapalapa in southern Fulani dialects) for breakfast. After greeting the women in my host family, I’d head back to my room to make my breakfast, sweep the dust out of my room, and get ready for the day.
Most work days
In the Environment program in Senegal, volunteers typically create their own work schedule, so to give myself structure and build strong work relationships in my community, I tried to go to the local primary school every day. After doing some morning lesson planning, grant-writing, or tree planting, I’d head over to the school. Most of the time, the school director, my partner teacher, and I would discuss the environment club and school garden we co-created. This ended up becoming my primary project during my service. When school wasn’t in session, I would use my mornings to plant seedling trees at a community member’s home, visit my assigned Peace Corps work counterpart’s farm, or attend a community-initiated meeting or workshop.
Afternoons to relax and evenings to connect
Afternoons, the hottest parts of the day, meant having time to relax. Following lunch with my host family, it was time to drink ataaya (Senegalese sweet tea), watch Pulaar dramas with my family, read, study language, nap, or play games with my younger host siblings.
Once the heat started to recede in the evening, I would walk to the other side of the village to water my tree nursery at the village chief’s house. On weekends, I might have a Women’s Garden meeting to co-facilitate, and during the week, I’d make my way to the school for a club meeting or two. After coming home and catching up with my host family, I’d usually take some time to have a snack and decompress in my room before dinner.
Overall, my days were busy, but I tried to strike a balance between time for myself and being present in my community, which is a really important part of Senegalese culture. In my work, I was rarely alone, as a central goal of the Peace Corps is collaboration and working together with a community to achieve its specific goals.
2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in Senegal?
Joining the Peace Corps had been on my radar for a long time. As a kid, I had heard stories from my dad, who was a volunteer in Honduras and later on a Peace Corps administrator in Albania. One of my math teachers in elementary school had also been a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in El Salvador. Hearing from the Returned PCVs (RPCVs) in my life about the sense of community they experienced throughout their Peace Corps service, and the types of projects they were able to work on, was inspiring.
In college, I started to develop a professional interest in development work in tandem with international climate politics and the environmental challenges facing different parts of the world. Serendipitously, one of my professors, Lauren Honig, happened to be an RPCV who served in Burkina Faso. After taking her class on natural resource management, I became her research assistant, helping in particular with a project collecting data on women’s ability to own land in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Zambia.
When I saw that there was an opening for Environment Volunteers in Senegal, it seemed to fit all of my professional interests. I was also interested in gaining experience with development work, and curious about living in a country that I had studied so much about, yet had never seen in person. Embarking on a journey like Peace Corps service can be somewhat intimidating initially, and I certainly felt that in the lead-up to departure, but I received encouragement from the RPCVs in my life, and I am grateful every day for their push to go for it.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. What was your housing like in Senegal?
I lived in a small rural village in a part of northern Senegal known as Fouta, where Pulaar du Nord is the predominant language spoken. Peace Corps Senegal pairs each volunteer with a host family, but within each host family’s housing compound, each volunteer is given their own room, bathroom, and kitchen space. My host family was about 30 people, made up of my host parents, host siblings, and their wives and kids. I felt lucky to have a somewhat medium-sized host family, because some of my siblings became like built-in friends.
My room was across the “yard” from the two larger family houses, and next to my family’s kitchen. Within my room, I had a bathroom with a water spigot, a front porch where I rehabilitated trees that were not doing well in my nursery, and grew basil, mint, and a few other herbs. I would often bring a handful of herbs to my host family for our daily afternoon tea. Inside my room, I kept a fan and a water cooler, which helped me sleep better on hot nights, and the water spigot in my bathroom was perfect for bucket showers and periodically filling up my water filter.
One of my favorite parts of my room was, surprisingly, my mosquito net! The Peace Corps provides all volunteers with a mosquito net once they swear in and are ready to move to their permanent site. I tried to set mine up so that it looked like a canopy over my bed, and then hung a garland of small flags on top to make it more festive. Bringing small decorations like that to your room can help you feel a little more at home in your new space.
Beyond that, there was a primary school in my village and five small boutiques that had snacks, Senegalese cooking essentials, and soap. The nearest high school was in a town a 30-minute walk away, and if I needed to go shopping for something I couldn’t find in my village, I could usually find it in the nearby town.
4. What moments or interactions stood out during your service?
Senegal is famous for its hospitality (teranga in Wolof and teddungal in Fulani) and strong community values. There are too many moments in my service for me to list just one, but if I were to generalize what stood out to me, it was how tight-knit my host community was. Like everywhere in the world, social cohesion wasn’t always perfect. There were people who didn’t get along, and local politics could sometimes lead to disagreements, but when it really came down to it, everyone was willing to set these things aside to be there for one another. If a baby were born, all of the women in the village would go to the baptism to celebrate.
When our village competed in a nevetan match (seasonal soccer tournament), everyone would show up and support the team, win or lose. Even in tougher situations, like a death in the community, there was an unwavering sense of togetherness, with everyone pausing their work, coming together to offer condolences, and supporting the grieving family in person for a week, if not longer. Through all of the highs and the lows, through thick and thin, teddungal always brings people together no matter what.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about living or working in Senegal?
I wasn’t sure what the work culture was going to be like when moving to Senegal initially, especially in a role where much of my work was to be outdoors and hands-on. As an Environmental volunteer, I would work outside with others to dig plots for gardens, sift compost, or host trainings on soil amendments, getting my hands dirty with manure, charcoal powder, and wood ash. At the same time, coming from a busy life in the U.S., I was more accustomed to the expectation of a 9-5 workday schedule. One thing I learned quickly, however, is that people don’t mess around with the heat in Senegal. When it became too hot for physical labor, even during the period between 9-5, it was important to rest to avoid extreme fatigue or dehydration.
If there was a lot to get done, sometimes this meant getting up a few hours earlier to beat the heat, but once it was time to rest, I soon learned that napping in a semi-public place was socially acceptable and common. It took me a few months to finally feel comfortable enough to snooze in a shady space outdoors on my host family’s shared mat after we had finished lunch. On particularly hot days, however, it soon became my new normal. Usually, I was not the only member of my host family taking an outdoor midday nap, and after waking up, I felt rejuvenated for whatever I had left to do, as the temperature decreased. Even though in American culture, taking a nap in the middle of the day might be considered lazy, I learned that in Senegal, when it was too hot to do anything else, resting was not only practical but necessary.
6. What challenges did you face in your Environment work, and how did you respond?
Beware the goats
Nearly every Environment and Agriculture Volunteer in Senegal would tell you that they have had a bad run-in with a hungry goat that somehow outsmarted their fencing and completely devoured their community’s tree or vegetable nursery. While goats and other pests can certainly be a thorn in an Environment Volunteer’s side, beyond that, the work is often multifaceted, seasonal, and community-goal dependent. This means that each volunteer’s projects will be unique and specialized to their community’s goals and needs.
Struggling
The rainy season in Fouta, the region in which I lived, typically started a month and a half later than in other parts of the country. In the lead-up to the first rain, water could be scarcer, making it difficult to have enough allocated for taking care of tree nurseries and gardens. When I would hear about other volunteers already having planted gardens with their communities, during this period, there were times in my first year of service when I worried I might be doing something wrong. As I tried to keep up with the same schedule and watched my tree nursery struggle to grow through the drawn-out heat, I felt like I was falling behind.
Talking with my Peace Corps work counterpart and Master Farmer, Salif Ba, helped me to gain a new perspective. The planting season in our region of the country could sometimes be more delayed because of the seasonal differences in heat and rainfall. This meant getting started on seasonal work initiatives, like tree nurseries, up to two months after other volunteers in Senegal. Salif additionally helped me to better understand our village’s social dynamics, which had been shaped historically by a caste system. His advice and guidance helped me to navigate collaboration with leadership in this context in a respectful and fair way.
The need to step back
During service, there will be moments where a volunteer may question why a certain strategy or project idea took off in another volunteer’s community, but doesn’t seem to be working in their own. When this happened in my service, initially, sometimes, I would be hard on myself, questioning what more I could have done to make a particular initiative successful. In reality, however, it was just a sign that my host community’s circumstances were different in a way that meant I needed to take a step back, look at the situation holistically, and try something new.
I learned that the most important mindset for resilient problem-solving was looking to fellow volunteers for ideas and inspiration, but not worrying so much about whether I was on a similar timeline or schedule to them in my service. Instead, I leaned into the creativity, ingenuity, and practicality present in my host community. They ultimately knew the environment best when it came to planting schedules, and my mentor figures, like Salif, always had the best perspective on community dynamics. When we worked together, combining their knowledge and advice with my own ideas, or those of other volunteers, the result was often a unique strategy better suited for our community that would hopefully have longevity into the future.
Advice and Support
7. What advice would you give to future Environment volunteers in Senegal?
Integrating into a new culture is not always easy, but trying to find and maintain healthy boundaries for your sense of self and your role as a PCV in a different cultural context is an important part of self-care during service. Teasing is a really big part of Senegalese culture, and much of it can be funny and harmless. If you feel, however, that the teasing is going too far or bending a boundary, do not be afraid to stand up for yourself.
Topic of marriage
During my service, a common topic of teasing and inquiry that volunteers experienced involved the topic of marriage. I observed how other young women close to my age in the village set boundaries when being teased about this, laughing it off, but being firm that they were focused on studying and staying in school. I saw some women handle teasing by responding with something so ridiculous and funny that it ultimately ended up shutting the situation down completely. I tried this when I was approached one day in a nearby town by two men who kept asking me about marriage. I quipped that if I married them both, it would break Islamic tradition, which made them laugh, and also drop the subject, as Islam is the predominant religion in Senegal, and only men are able to have multiple spouses. I paid attention also when my host family would step in on my behalf, telling someone that I was “just a child” and should not yet be married. Later on, I used that line, too, in appropriate situations.
Sometimes stand up for yourself
Though the cultural context of teasing may be different, as you get more comfortable in service, you will figure out culturally appropriate ways to stand up for yourself that work for you and your role as a volunteer. Ask trusted host family members, friends, fellow volunteers, or Peace Corps staff about ways to handle these situations, and observe how others in your community handle them too. You’ll learn a lot about humor in a different culture and will also feel more empowered to stick up for yourself if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.
8. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?
Pre-Service Training (PST) provides a strong foundation of knowledge for starting service. Classes are held daily at the Peace Corps Training Center in the city of Thies. Besides language classes, all volunteers in Senegal receive cultural, medical, safety, and technical environmental training to prepare them for when they move to their permanent site. As a result, the schedule can be quite busy, but there is a lot of camaraderie as everyone eases into living in a new culture and balances the training schedule with time spent together. The language instructors (known as LCFs) live part time at the training center, so they are available outside of classes to answer cultural questions or practice having conversations.
Community based training
About a month of PST is also spent intermittently with a host family in a village outside the training center, nearby to Thies. This is called community based training (CBT). LCFs also go to the village with trainees and have language classes regularly during CBT stays. Outside of classes, however, this is everyone’s first time living with a host family and being completely immersed in the local language and culture, besides spending time with other trainees.
I found the pace of life in CBT was much more relaxed than the busy training center schedule, and it helped me to feel more at ease with language learning outside of the classroom. I wrote down new words, practiced basic phrases with my host family, and began learning about Senegalese cooking from my host sisters. When speaking a garbled mix of French and Pulaar (I referred to it as “Frulaar”), I made a lot of mistakes, laughed them off, and learned a lot.
Getting to know my cohort
While in training, I got to know my cohort really well as we explored the city of Thies outside of classes, tried new foods, and ventured out to the local market to buy fabric and practice our assigned local languages. These friendships became a highlight of my Peace Corps service. In a tough moment, sometimes a phone call with another volunteer can lift one’s spirits, provide a new perspective, and offer a reminder that despite the distance the cohort is still interconnected. That support is invaluable, so though PST can be busy, it’s important to set aside some time for cohort bonding.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
9. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?
Senegal is a very sunny, dusty, and dry country during certain parts of the year. Being closer to the equator makes it really easy to get sunburnt. I would recommend bringing a lightweight broad-rimmed hat for working outside, a solid pair of sunglasses, and perhaps a few lightweight long-sleeved shirts. Environment and agricultural volunteers spend a lot of time doing hands-on work outdoors, and you don’t want to get sunburnt! The Peace Corps will provide volunteers with more than enough sunscreen, but if there’s a particular brand that you like, maybe bring a few bottles to get started in your service.
Additionally, if you like to run, bring culturally appropriate running clothes and gear. For women, this means longer baggy shirts and joggers. Good running shoes are a plus and can be difficult to find in the county, so if you have a favorite pair, bring them. It also never hurts to have some Gatorade, Liquid IV, or other electrolyte powder on hand to rehydrate after running or exercising on a hotter day.
10. How has language learning been for you in Senegal?
Peace Corps Senegal does a great job of teaching all volunteers a basic foundation of Wolof (which is the majority language in Senegal) at the outset of PST. If, like me, you end up learning a minority language, you will leave training equipped with all of the necessary building blocks to communicate at a basic level, and further your language learning once you move into your permanent site.
Coming into the Peace Corps, I had an underlying knowledge of French, and this helped me move more quickly while learning Pulaar du Nord. Though the grammatical structure of Pulaar was much different than both French and English, French numbers and some French vocabulary words were intermixed with the language when spoken. Understanding bits and pieces of what was being said helped me to piece together context clues, like I was gradually solving a Pulaar du Nord puzzle. For this reason, I would definitely recommend practicing some basic French vocabulary and learning how to count in French prior to your arrival in the country.
Once I had completed training and moved to my host village, I used to carry around a notebook and tried to get out of my comfort zone each day by walking around and talking with people. More often than not, I would have to pause my conversation, ask people about vocabulary, and when I returned home, I would spend hours with host siblings as we mimed and wrote down Pulaar grammar.
Showing that sort of enthusiasm and commitment to learning a new language helped me make friends and demonstrated to the community that I cared about getting to know them. This helped me to find language learning cheerleaders in unexpected corners of the village, and by just trying my best, embracing imperfection, and with some daily review, I got the hang of it, and you will too!
Final Thoughts
11. What final advice or thoughts would you share with future volunteers?
Sometimes Peace Corps service can be tough, but by trying to stay open-minded, taking time for oneself when needed, and building strong relationships with others, you will have a rewarding two years. Don’t be afraid to ask for support, and lean on your newfound friends and mentors when you need to. My friendships with other volunteers and within my host community helped to ground me during moments where Plans A, B, and C didn’t work out in service. After pivoting, at times, to Plan K, those relationships helped provide the encouragement for me to not give up and even laugh at how things always seemed to work out, even when it’s the way you least expected.
Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Maggie, you can live abroad, work with communities, and grow in ways you didn’t expect. Apply to the Peace Corps and take the next step.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Senegal Government.
