In this interview, we hear from Colton Lipfert. Colton is a Peace Corps volunteer working as a Health volunteer in Zambia. What Colton shares gives us a better understanding of the work volunteers do. We learn about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that happens from volunteering in a new place. Colton talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Colton’s journey and see how volunteering with Peace Corps can change lives.
Table of Contents
- Volunteer Experience and Motivation
- Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
- Surprises and Challenges
- Advice and Support
- Practical Tips and Language Learning
- Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. Tell us more about serving as a Health volunteer in Zambia?
Health volunteers in Zambia split their between the clinic, outreach campaigns, and grant projects. Clinical work is mostly clerical. I spent almost all of my shifts at the pharmacy documenting HIV patients and updating the pharmaceutical stocks.
Outreach campaigns are more varied, but they usually involve biking/driving to a rural area within the community, giving a presentation about a health topic like nutrition, and then providing a service to the attendees. At under-5 outreach trips, my job was to measure the baby’s weight to determine whether they were at risk for malnutrition.
I spent most of my time, though, on grant work. I built a medical waste incinerator at my clinic so they could dispose of their used needles safely. It was a long, tedious process, but also one of my proudest accomplishments.
2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Zambia?
I wanted to work in a developing healthcare setting outside of the U.S., and Peace Corps Zambia offered the most intense and genuine experience.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. Tell us more about your home situation:
Almost all Peace Corps Zambia volunteers are posted in isolated, rural villages. That means no electricity, plumbing, and little access to cell service or asphalt roads. I was lucky to have a cell tower 8 kilometers from my house (I watched an ungodly amount of YouTube and anime over my two years), but unlucky to be 60 kilometers away from a tarmac. Every trip to a local city involved cramming into an overstuffed van for two hours on a bumpy dirt road.
My house was just two rooms, a living room that held my desk, kitchen, and closet, and a smaller bedroom area that just barely fit my bed and a reclining chair. The roof was made of thatched straw that made the perfect home for mice and bush-babies.
My host family lived in a house across from mine. Like everyone else in the area, they were tobacco farmers. Not every volunteer grows close to their host family, but I did. I choked up when I said goodbye for the last time.
Zambian cuisine revolves around nshima, a paste-like substance made from cornmeal that is eaten with your hands. It took a while, but I grew to enjoy nshima.
4. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had?
So many it’s hard to count. Conversations with struggling mothers changed my worldview. Laughing with my friends and colleagues at the clinic. This one crazy guy threw a brick at me and crashed my bike. Most of my intense and “are you kidding me” stories come from the Peace Corps.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about Health challenges in Zambia?
The most surprising health challenge in Zambia was the lack of essential medication. Antibiotics, painkillers, and malaria medication were almost always in short supply.
6. What challenges did you face while working on Health projects?
Motivating people. It’s very difficult to get tired and dejected farmers to change their habits or even attend a meeting.
7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved in?
Actually, a lot of my service was spent on secondary projects… (don’t tell Peace Corps). I joined a remote cancer/public health lab and published some papers in medical journals. I started a non-profit called Meds For Zambia that provides undersupplied clinics with essential medication. I started a substack called Stranger in a Strange Land that documented my experience in Zambia. I also ran the half-marathon in Zimbabwe and applied to medical school. There’s a lot of downtime in Peace Corps, and I spent it working on interesting projects.
Meds for Zambia is on a mission to supply essential malaria medication to underserved clinics in Central Province, Zambia. By sourcing affordable medication locally, working within existing healthcare systems, and tracking medication use, they ensure every donation makes an impact. Consider a donation to make a difference HERE.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to someone considering serving as a Health volunteer in Zambia?
If you’re considering the Peace Corps, the best advice I can give you is: to understand your motivation for wanting to join. Peace Corps is hard, maybe the hardest thing you’ll ever do. If you don’t have a good reason for joining, then there’s a good chance you’ll burn out along the way.
9. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for a Health volunteer?
Adaptability and resistance. In my opinion, living in a rural village is the most difficult part of Peace Corps Zambia. Comfort and relaxation were only memories throughout my service. Persisting through that environment requires a lot of flexibility and grit. Adjusting to the harsh reality of village life is the most important trait that a volunteer can have.
10. How has the Peace Corps training helped you during your service?
The first training you get called Pre-Service Training (PST) is the most important. This is where I learned the technical parts of the health program like HIV and nutrition and about the language. I learned the most, though, from current volunteers who visited us trainees to talk about their experiences. Outside of language, current volunteers are the best resources available. Ask them questions and listen.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
11. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Zambia volunteers?
Above all: pack light! Don’t worry too much about leaving something essential behind. If worst comes to worst and you do forget something, your family can probably send you a package in the mail (even in Zambia).
Other than that, bring items that allow you to invest in your hobbies. If you love coffee, bring a nice pour-over set up. If you’re a runner, bring your favorite sneakers. I love music and books, so I brought a nice set of noise-canceling headphones and my Kindle.
12. How has learning the language been?
I learned Icibemba, the most commonly spoken language in Zambia. It was difficult to learn such a foreign language and even harder to keep learning it once I posted. My best advice is just to use your language as much as possible. Make a point of speaking often and learning from your mistakes.
Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
13. How do you think your blog contributes to your overall mission as a Peace Corps volunteer?
Writing about my experiences every week gave me the space to process all of the wild experiences. It was also a great way to stay connected to my friends and family back home. If you’re interested in starting a blog or a YouTube channel to document your experience, my best advice is to publish, and publish often. Don’t worry too much about being perfect or super professional. Get over your fear of starting by writing/filming as much as you can.
Stranger in a Strange Land: Colton’s Peace Corps Journey in Zambia
Join Colton, who served as a Peace Corps health volunteer, as he reflects on his service in Zambia. Through his blog, he shares stories and insights from his time in Sub-Saharan Africa, offering a personal look at life and work abroad. Catch up on his journey and experiences HERE!
14. Any last comments or observations you’d like to pass on to future Zambia volunteers?
Every village and every community is different. Some people will be posted in communities that are ripe for change and action. Some people will spend their whole two years just adjusting to their circumstances. That’s just how it is. Don’t compare yourself to other volunteers. Learn from them and understand that every village and everything is just luck of the draw.
What are you waiting for? Opportunities like this don’t come often. If you have a passion for service and an adventurous spirit like Colton‘s, apply to the Peace Corps today. Expand your horizons, push your limits, and create positive impact as a volunteer. You never know how serving as a Peace Corps volunteer could change your life.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Zambia Government.
