In this interview, we hear from Riley Morales. Riley is a Peace Corps volunteer working as a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer in Colombia. What Riley 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. Riley talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Riley’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
- Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. Can you tell us more about serving as an CED volunteer in Colombia?
Community Economic Development Volunteers are placed in sites to identify opportunities to increase entrepreneurship and personal money management skills in their communities, with a particular focus on women and youth. Our primary local partner is an assigned high school where we must identify a willing teacher counterpart to implement an entrepreneurship curriculum with junior and senior students.
Another potential partner is SENA, a national vocational training institution. Volunteers can offer their expertise to SENA instructors and apprentices in local courses by acting as co-facilitators or mentors. Outside of these identified allies, it is up to the Volunteer to seek out and develop opportunities to implement projects. Women, youth, and entrepreneurial associations have proven to be the best partners in my case.
A busy day in my life might look like the following:
- 8:30 am: Entrepreneurship class 1
- 9:30 am: Co-planning with teacher counterpart
- 10:30 am: Entrepreneurship class 2
- 12:30 pm: Lunch
- 2:00 pm: SENA Emprende Rural Beekeeping class
2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Colombia?
I joined the Peace Corps because I have always dreamed of living in a Spanish-speaking country. Sadly, I was unable to study abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I felt that the Peace Corps was the most likely way I could achieve that dream. I also feel passionately about social impact work and I wanted to improve my Spanish.
If I had had it my way, I would have chosen Mexico; my grandparents immigrated from Mexico. However, because I chose the “Serve Where Needed Most” route of application, I received my first offer from Colombia and went for it. I don’t regret it one bit.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. Tell us more about your home situation:
I live in the Caribbean coastal region in a semi-urban town of about 50,000 people. My home is located in the center, a brief 5-minute walk from my school and the nearest supermarket. I live with a host family that is made up of a couple in their late 60s and at first only 2 young grandchildren, but recently we have had the addition of 2 more, ages ranging from 3-12 years old. The family has a cat, a dog, and many chickens. Thankfully, my fan is so loud I can’t hear the roosters at 4 in the morning. We share one bathroom, which albeit at times can be frustrating, but has not yet caused any serious conflicts.
Managing Daily Life with Water Scarcity and Heat
Water scarcity is prevalent in my town. Most days we do not have running water, and 9 times out 10 I take bucket showers. The climate is extremely hot, reaching 90 + degrees midday and 80% humidity. I am luckier than some of my peers in that my host family has blessed me with a room with an air conditioner. This is, however, not the norm.
Navigating Meals and Cultural Adaptation
As for my diet, I eat a typical Colombian lunch with my family each day. It is usually some variation of meat, whether fish, pork, beef, or chicken, white rice, beans, salad, sometimes plantains in some form, and a beverage, whether a natural juice, iced tea, or soda. I gave up my abstention of red meat upon arrival and feel lucky I have little dietary restrictions therefore I can eat the local food freely. I cook my own breakfast and dinner, however, they are so simple that little cooking is actually involved. Greek yogurt for breakfast, eggs for dinner. I’ve prioritized simplicity.
Staying Active: Fitness and Recreation in My Community
For my personal fitness, I try to go to the local gym 3 times a week and lift weights. I also have enough space and a yoga mat to do pilates and yoga in my room and I enjoy the occasional community stroll. I have a bike, however I think I’ve used it less than a handful of times. Not really my thing.
4. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had with community members?
Making friends in my community has been quite challenging, I won’t lie. As a 24-year-old woman, there are few other women my age in the community; most have left to pursue higher education and if they haven’t, it is likely that they are married and have children. Therefore, my idea of what a typical “friend” looks like has had to change. It has also taken me time to recognize a friend where there was one; many professional connections have morphed into great friends, and I want to highlight one in particular who has taken me under her wing.
María José is an entrepreneur and artisan. She is part of an association that sells its products at stands outside of the local museum. She is also a mother to three young girls, all of whom are students at the school I teach. María José was one of the first local entrepreneurs I met and has since become a friendly face I see on my almost-daily route. She is my confidant and cheerleader on days when I have been frustrated or down. She and her daughters are avid participants of both mine and my then sitemate’s community classes. When she found out I liked salchipapas, a Colombian fast-food staple, she invited me over to make them from scratch. She shows interest in my life and supports me in all my projects. Though we have many years and different life experiences between us, I consider her a true friend.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about Community Economic Development challenges in Colombia?
I was surprised upon arrival to learn that over 50% of the working population are informally employed, working in the “rebusque” or odd jobs that can range from selling fried foods from their doorstep to handmade jewelry on the street or shaved ice in the park. Especially in rural towns, opportunities for formal employment are few and far between which gives birth to a need for creativity to produce any income-generating activity. This issue, compounded with poor education opportunities and economic inequality results in a shared sense of hopelessness among many individuals and the desire to seek economic opportunities outside of the country.
6. What challenges did you face while working on CED projects with community members?
The greatest challenge I faced was demonstrating the value of the information I was charged to share and capturing the interest of community partners and members to take advantage of the opportunity to learn. Upon arrival to my community, the first question I received was if I taught English. At the time I had a TEFL sitemete, so I could safely say no and direct them her way. When I stated that I could instead teach entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and socioemotional development, I received very little interest. The school I was partnered with, which did not have a pre-existing entrepreneurship course, seemed to not know what to do with me.
Overcoming Skepticism: Building Trust and Demonstrating Value
It took me a long time to learn even what I had in my PCV toolkit and how to communicate it to potential partners and participants in order to generate interest. The school became my main stage for trial and error. Arriving at my site in November of 2022, I set out to build relationships with the teachers at my school and share a little about my project before the start of “winter” break. At the beginning of the school year in January, I continued to interview teachers and give presentations on the CED school project. It was not until May that I finally got in front of a class. Quickly I came to know the curriculum better, how to adapt it to my audience, and how to run a classroom.
Persistence in the Community: From Conversations to Collaboration
My confidence was building and that spread to my projects outside of the school. In the community, I had focused my energies on building relationships with local associations. I found that by simply having conversations with members on a consistent basis, related or unrelated to my work, I was able to create rapport and trust in my abilities. Many of these people turned into good friends who would later go on to participate in my community classes.
Reflecting on Success: The Power of Personal Connections
Looking back, I realize that my most successful projects likely occurred because my partners and participants believed in me more than the value of what I was actually offering. Sure, the latter may have played a part, but I truly think that it was a desire to support me because of the relationship created that got them on board, and the value of the information spoke for itself later.
7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved?
What started as a secondary project quickly took priority as I went on to write and direct a grant for it. Colombia GLOW, which stands for Girls Leading Our World, was started in 2014 by Peace Corps Volunteers. It is one of Peace Corps Colombia’s most sustainable projects. It seeks to teach young women and girls empowerment, leadership, and personal, professional, and academic self-development.
I became involved with my local Club GLOW and Camp GLOW as a counselor in my first year of service, fell in love with the program, and took the role of Grant Director for Camp GLOW in my second year. Gender equality is a cause very near and dear to my heart, as is youth development. Being able to take such large roles in the biggest event, Camp GLOW, was the highlight of my service.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to someone considering serving as an CED volunteer in Colombia?
I understand that the CED program may undergo some changes and will not be accepting a new cohort until September of 2025; therefore, I can’t say how it may look to a future Volunteer, as it has even evolved from cohort to cohort upon return post-pandemic. My best advice to a CED Volunteer is to have a thick skin or be prepared to grow one. Being able to self-motivate and withstand failure and rejection is a skill, and though I believe all PCVs require it, CED Volunteers may face situations with greater ambiguity and far less structure.
9. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for a CED volunteer?
Self-starter attitude. Perseverance and resilience. Determination. Emotional regulation. Cultural humility. Selling, persuasion, and persistence. Confidence, or fake it until you make it. Curiosity. Relationship building. Positive coping skills and healthy outlets for stress.
10. How has the Peace Corps training helped you during your service?
Peace Corps training has helped me the most by being a validating and inspiring setting. PST doesn’t really count, because you don’t know yet what you’re getting into; it’s just something you have to get through. Upon returning from my Observation period at site and meeting my cohort members at IST, I felt validated in all the frustrations and challenges I was facing. At MST, I felt inspired by the projects my peers had completed and implemented their learnings into ideas of my own.
Discover all you need to know about Peace Corps Colombia! History, culture, languages, volunteer experiences, safety, and connecting with RPCVs. Click HERE to find out more!
Practical Tips and Language Learning
11. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Colombia volunteers?
I didn’t bring enough casual, “normal” clothes. As much as the pre-departure training might seem to tell you, you will not be in business casual as often as you think. So bring what you will be most comfortable in on the weekends or after work. Bring clothes to go out in, to workout in, to travel in, to feel beautiful and yourself in. You never know when you might need them!
12. How has learning the language been?
Learning Spanish has been a challenging and rewarding process. I have been taking Spanish classes since my freshman year of high school, and I even minored in Spanish in college. However, upon arrival in Colombia, I had not studied or practiced for at least a year, and my speaking ability was much weaker than reading or writing. I wish I would have been consistent with it prior to arrival and better prepared. Regardless, you learn quickly, because it’s essentially sink or swim when you get here. Your host family will not speak English, and neither will the majority of your community members.
The hardest parts for me were understanding the regional accent, acquiring the regional vocabulary, and getting out of my own head. The embarrassment of my ability had to go out the window straight away if I wanted to advance, and after much internal battle, after I was able to finally let it go, be okay with making mistakes, and grow the courage to ask questions, it was much smoother sailing. To this day, I still may ask someone to speak slower, be honest when I don’t understand, ask what a word means, and write it in my notes app.
Final Thoughts
13. Any last comments or observations you’d like to pass on to future Colombia volunteers?
The best advice I ever received during my service was “tranquila”, which basically translates to “relax”. This came during the height of my clash with Colombian culture. As a Type-A individual with a very U.S. work style, I was struggling against the more ambiguous and unbound by time nature of the coastal Colombian work style.
Throughout service, there will be many moments in which you believe your efforts aren’t paying off or projects aren’t advancing. You will feel so often like you are failing because you are holding yourself to a standard you’ve created in your head based on your cultural experience. So save yourself the stress and anxiety, and just relax. You’re not failing, in fact, you are learning and growing, and soon you will see the fruits of your labor. There’s no rush except the one you create for yourself. All you can do is keep trying, and tranquila while you’re at it.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Colombia Government.
