In this interview, you’ll hear from Luke Carstens, a Peace Corps Education volunteer in Lesotho. Luke shares what daily life looks like, the work being done, and how service has 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
- Social Identity
- Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. What do you do as a Peace Corps Education volunteer in Lesotho?
I work at a primary school as the Grade 4 teacher, where I teach literacy, numeracy, and life skills. In addition, I run after-school clubs for Grades 5–7 and assist with operating classroom technology. Seasonally, I coach the soccer team for competitions against neighboring schools. I am also involved in small side projects aimed at improving our school.
2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in Lesotho?
Prior to joining the Peace Corps, I followed the traditional path of going to college and then finding a job after graduation. It was a good job that most people would be happy with. Growing up, I had always been told that if I worked hard, earned a degree, and secured a stable job, that would be the ultimate goal. But once I achieved it, I found myself asking, “This is it? This is what I have been working toward?” I stayed in that role for a couple of years, but the longer I worked, the more I felt that while the path I had chosen was considered successful, it was not the right one for me.
I remember sharing my lack of fulfillment with friends, and one of them asked me, “What does your dream job look like?” I answered, “I want to help people. I want to work on the ground, hands-on. I want to travel overseas and use my skills to make a difference.” My friend responded, “That sounds like something my aunt used to do in the Peace Corps.”
At the time, I was unfamiliar with the Peace Corps, but when I looked it up, it immediately clicked: “THIS! This is what I want.” It was the perfect opportunity to align my personal values with my professional goals. I applied as an education volunteer, checking the box for “place me anywhere.” Shortly after, I was asked if I would be interested in serving in Lesotho. Once I began learning about the country, its people, culture, and landscapes, I knew without a doubt I was all in.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. What is your housing like in Lesotho?
I live in a rural village in the highlands of Lesotho, about four and a half hours by taxi from my camp town. I stay in a rondavel, a thatched stone house, on my host family’s property. I do not have electricity. My water comes from a small seasonal stream about half a kilometer away, and during the dry season, my host family helps me fetch water from the next village.
For food, I usually eat the local meals provided at school. Breakfast is a corn-based porridge that I mix with peanut butter and powdered milk. Lunch rotates between two options: split peas with papa, which is made from maize meal and is a staple food in Lesotho, or beans with samp, a form of corn with the outer casing removed. For dinner, my meals vary, but my usual choice is rice and eggs.
In the afternoons, I spend time exercising, playing soccer with the locals, reading, or sitting with my host family playing cards and passing the time.
4. What moments or interactions stand out during your service?
Special moments I have experienced in Lesotho have all been with the people. The views are breathtaking, but my happiest and most memorable experiences come from connecting with the Basotho community. I think of my Grade 4 learners who struggled with a subject and then succeeded, their excitement for learning growing. I think of late nights spent playing cards and laughing with my host family, school trips where I grew closer to my counterparts, and deep conversations with strangers who were eager to share their culture while learning about mine. These are the moments that stand out, and they are the ones I will carry with me forever.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about living or working in Lesotho?
How capable and hard working the kids are! To see a 10 year old herd 20+ cows to the fields on their own in the morning will always catch me off guard.
6. What challenges have you faced in your Education work, and how did you respond?
One of the main challenges I have faced in my education work is the lack of resources. Fortunately, we were introduced early on to SolarSPELL, an offline digital library with a wide range of books and learning materials that can be accessed on any WiFi capable device. This has greatly expanded our resources and enhanced learning opportunities. Also, we received books from Darien Book Aid and created a small library for children to explore and learn independently.
Another challenge is that learners are often at very different levels. Some students may need an hour to complete an assignment, while others finish in just a few minutes. Our solution has been to make use of the mini library, allowing students who finish early to stay engaged while giving me the chance to offer extra support to those who need more time.
7. What secondary projects have you worked on during your service?
We created a mini library for students to explore and learn independently. We have also started several after school clubs, including a chess club, a reading club that makes use of the mini library, and a SolarSPELL club. Also, we completed a grant project to bring technology to classrooms. As part of this grant, we extended electricity to all classrooms, received seven laptops and a projector, and are providing ongoing teacher training to ensure the new technology is used effectively in lessons.
For a small local project, we were able to support our community soccer team by providing more than 20 pairs of soccer cleats, along with soccer balls and training cones.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to future Education volunteers in Lesotho?
Integrate with your community. The faster you connect with people, make friends, and get to know your surroundings, doors it opens for so many opportunities, projects, and lifelong memories. This includes your counterparts and co-teacher.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It was difficult for me to accept help early on, having the mindset of “I’m supposed to be the one here helping.” As soon as I started to accept help from others, life became smoother. You’re surrounded by the experts, the locals!
9. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?
The Peace Corps did an excellent job preparing me for service. They emphasized what was important, encouraged language learning, and provided hands-on practice in the classroom during PST. I was very satisfied with all the training provided. This is not to say that PST was without stress. There is a lot to take in at once, and the early reduction of agency can be challenging. However, considering the intended outcomes of PST and the way things were managed, looking back, the training was highly effective.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?
Things I’m glad I packed:
- A nice hiking bag – this makes travel with items and carrying groceries much easier.
- Solar power bank – life saver with no electricity.
- A nice raincoat – there’s a rainy season and being soaked isn’t great.
- Quality hiking shoes – depending on your site, there’s a lot of mountainous walks on loose dirt, and lots of slipping, quality hiking shoes make a big difference.
Things I could’ve left behind:
- Dress shoes – I thought I would have to be more professional on a daily basis, I do not wear these, ever.
- Excess clothes – you can buy clothes here, they’re cheaper too!
11. How has language learning been for you in Lesotho?
I started a month before arriving in Lesotho just to feel more comfortable early on with the basics. This helped me a lot, but it’s not necessary. The Peace corps does a great job at giving you everything you need when you arrive at PST to learn Sesotho successfully. What does help when you’re at PST is trying to use it daily outside of the language class and looking over your notes in the afternoon.
Social Identity
12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?
As a 28-year-old white male, I am aware that my identity has provided me with access and safety that others may not have had during service. I also recognize that I have less insight into the day-to-day experiences of marginalization that other volunteers may encounter. This awareness has highlighted the importance of learning about how other volunteers may be treated differently while serving in Lesotho.
13. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?
A common perception in Lesotho is that if you are white, you are wealthy and always carrying sweets. This can lead to frequent requests from people for money, sweets, or to buy them things. These requests are generally not overbearing, and they provide a valuable opportunity to explain that not all white people are wealthy. They can also open the door for deeper conversations about life in America, Lesotho, and how circumstances vary around the world.
14. What advice do you have for volunteers who share your identity?
I find it important to remain conscious of my privilege and to stay curious about the experiences of those who are marginalized. Understanding that others may face more challenging experiences in the country, it is essential to learn from and support what other volunteers are going through here in Lesotho.
Final Thoughts
15. What final advice would you share with future volunteers?
Have cultural humility, acceptance, and open mindedness. This is growth, growth can be hard, but it’s good to do hard things.
The toughest job you’ll ever love indeed.
Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Luke, 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 Lesotho Government.
