In this interview, you’ll hear from Pam Williams, a Peace Corps Health volunteer in Malawi. Pam 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 Health volunteer in Malawi?
Every day I work at the local health center. I started in the under 5 clinic, weighing babies for vaccines or to go to the doctor, and filling out health passports with the appropriate information. I am now focusing on training the new-to-be mothers (ante natal clinic) on the importance of Nutrition, the ‘First 1000 Days’, how and why malaria is more dangerous for pregnant women, and the importance of cleanliness, focusing on using soap with hand washing.
I also take the women’s weight and blood pressure and alert the nurse when it is high, and help with filling out the registries. I take part in the weekly ART clinic for our HIV clients, who have a special spot in my heart. There I weigh, and take blood pressure, along with finding master cards and measuring the babies. I help co-facilitate our Teen Club, which is for teenagers who are HIV positive.
I work with a women’s group and support groups on building sustainable gardens using irrigation and teaching them how to make soap. I co-facilitate reusable pad making projects with the local girls and mothers. I have a girl’s club where I teach and encourage girl empowerment, and we take field trips to the city. I have a grant submitted to drill a new borehole for the secondary school, which is a hostel for over 300 girls.
2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in Malawi?
I had a very painful and traumatic loss in 2019. I grieved for several years. I was tired of crying every day and had heard that helping others may help alleviate grief and bring healing. I saw a video on YouTube about the Peace Corps, and watched it, and it really resonated with me, and my thought was, “I can do that.” I am a military veteran, so I was confident in my skills.
I joined with no real expectations and asked to be sent where they needed me most, but I did want to work with children. I put Africa as my first choice, and when I received Malawi, I had to pull out the map just to find out where that was.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. What is your housing like in Malawi?
I live in a rural village called Kasiya with a population of about 60,000 people. I am the only foreigner here. My home is beautiful and located right behind the head nurse’s home. I am surrounded by maize in the rainy season. I have a large front yard that is fenced, and I have started a lovely permaculture garden that the locals will be able to enjoy long after I am gone.
I do live alone except for the few dogs that have adopted me and my yard while staying here. There was no water or electricity, but I paid for it to be brought to my home. No water on the inside of the home, we take bucket baths and use a pit latrine, hand-wash clothes and dishes. Electricity is not a given, so when it is on, lots of charging and enjoying the comfort of cooking inside on my 2-burner stove, otherwise, it is an outdoor fire we have to cook over.
4. What moments or interactions stand out during your service?
For me, it was seeing how hard-working the locals are. Working out in the fields starting at 4:30 in the morning. With no modern equipment, the planting and cultivating of maize, which I have never seen so much maize in my life. The beautiful songs that are sung, whether it is women working together, or their sheer gratefulness for a project completed. The laughter that I hear floating across the fields as I sit on my back step. These are some of the most beautiful and content people I have ever met.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about living or working in Malawi?
I think what surprised me and will continue to surprise me is the lack of knowledge we Americans have of the cultures here in Malawi. I was surprised by their extremely minimal technology, but still their ability to consistently do what is needed at the health center, the education structure across Malawi, how disputes are handled, the treatment of animals, and the extreme poverty.
6. What challenges have you faced in your Health work, and how did you respond?
My first challenge was just to build relationships and trust with the current health workers. Once that was established, things started falling into place. I like to hit the road running, but I had to rein myself in a little bit to allow for those relationships to be built. Some health workers were not on board with training, so I found the areas in the health center that were more open and had the time to help co-facilitate the training.
We all had the challenge of USAID disappearing in a day, which NGOs also disappeared in our HIV arena, so we really had to step up and I even became the temporary data clerk for them until things were figured out. Being adaptable in any way that I can be throughout my service, has helped with such challenges..
7. What secondary projects have you worked on during your service?
My main secondary project is our Queens Court Girls’ Club. I also have the Princess group, who are under the age of 13. We meet every Thursday. The girls have learned paper charcoal making, eco-brick stool construction, arts and crafts, sewing, and empowerment skills, to name a few of the activities.
I have also used the Darien Book Aid organization to get books shipped to Malawi for the library at the secondary school. I am always looking for gently used books for this project.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to future Health volunteers in Malawi?
Have no expectations, be open minded, ready to work and be very adaptable.
9. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?
PST (Pre-Service Training) helped with the culture shock of new living conditions and local foods. It was intense training in all aspects of the Peace Corps, to include language. Learning how to make relationships and how to share cultures. My “host mother” still calls and checks on me.
IST (In-Service Training) provided more information to help with the project side of things and to get the creative juices flowing for how to complete such projects after seeing what was needed in the village.
MST (Mid-Service Training) was more sharing of ideas, but between the cohorts, instead of reinventing the wheel, and some of us had contacts that others could use. It was also the tying in of the grants along with your logical project framework (LPF). The final push to the finish line, and encouragement to finish strong.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?
If you are coming to Malawi, find out when and what the weather is like. I came in June, and it was cold, and I did not bring clothes for such weather. You will be able to get most things in the city, but if you have a favorite face-wash or shampoo or any personal item, then bring it and enough for until someone can ship more for you.
I brought snacks, Chex Mix as my weakness and boy did it save the day when I struggled with the local food at first. My two favorite items are my rechargeable fan and my Kindle. I buy used clothes in town and have had running shoes shipped to me. I would not bring flashy or expensive items or things near and dear to your heart. I lost a necklace that I should have left at home. Lesson learned.
11. How has language learning been for you in Malawi?
Language was my nemesis. Being older, it was a whole lot more work than the younger generation. I studied all the time. I was adamant that I would pass the language proficiency exam the first time around, and I did. My personal experience is that it was hard. The younger generation did not struggle, but if you are struggling, don’t give up, and use all the tools that are available to you. The Peace Corps will do whatever it takes to make you successful.
Social Identity
12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?
Serving as a 50+ woman
I celebrated my 60th birthday here. It was a wonderful celebration too. There are different expectations for this age. I am known around here as “Agogo” which means grandmother, and there are expectations tied to that role. I am honored that I fit into that role, and I carry it proudly. My appearance is one aspect; by dressing appropriately in traditional chitenge, I gain a lot of respect. Being available for certain questions from the girls or maybe sewing a tear in a dress to be worn to school to just providing a space for people to come and chat. I also feel that when teaching I am seen as someone with a little bit more wisdom.
13. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?
My biggest challenge is that I am the oldest of my cohorts, This brings exclusivity, whether it is intentional or not, and can enhance the loneliness that happens when at site. I learned to be okay with this situation, as it is not forever.
14. What advice do you have for volunteers who share your identity?
Be comfortable with who you are and embrace it fully. If you are going through some struggles, find someone who you can voice those things with. This is how I met Jim! I feel that if we hold things in, it just intensifies, and we start listening to untruths of who we are and why we are here. I am thankful I had someone I could confide in.
Final Thoughts
15. If you share content online, how has that shaped your service?
I am not a techy gal, but I did start a YouTube channel. It is for just people here locally to see what is going on in Kasiya.
16. What final advice or thoughts would you share with future volunteers?
Dig deep and make sure this is what you want to do. When you change your mind after accepting the position, it affects so many people in the host country. You are not aware of this, but after living here now for a year, I can see the impact of changing our mind at the last minute. Houses have been set up, villages are expecting you, people have been trained, money has been invested, and most of all, you don’t get to make a lasting impact on another human being.
So, before you accept the assignment, have a true heart-to-heart with yourself. If you choose to accept, then make it a commitment. You will be pleasantly surprised I believe and hopefully will not have any regrets. Most importantly, TRUST THE JOURNEY!
Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Pam, 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 Malawi Government.
