SEATTLE — No two Peace Corps volunteers share the same experience; Helina Tebebu Haile can attest to that. Haile spoke with the Borgen Project about her two years of service in the Peace Corps in Rwanda, her experiences as an Ethiopian-American woman in Rwanda and what she would like Americans to know about the country. She currently resides in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
Borgen Project (BP): Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps?
Helina Haile (HH): Service has always been a big component in my life. I was influenced by the values and morals instilled in me by my parents and reinforced by my spirituality. Growing up as an Ethiopian immigrant, I was exposed to the harsh reality that standards of life and opportunities available to people around the world are unjustly varied. At a young age I was taught that despite the hardship I faced as an immigrant, and continue to face as a woman part of the African Diaspora in America, that I must utilize my privilege to empower others.
I knew that I would join the Peace Corps since high school. I was drawn to the idea of working and living alongside the people you want to help. It’s an invaluable experience because it provides such a different perspective to the culture, the trials and tribulations of the people as well as their views on love, happiness and life in general. You will also begin to analyze and question yourself on your views and how your culture contributed to shaping it. This provides the perfect time for increased self-awareness and reflection.
BP: How did you choose who and where to serve?
HH: When I applied in 2011 you didn’t choose what country to serve in. You were able to indicate a regional preference (example: Latin America) but you were extended an invitation to where you were most needed…My village was located in the south east province of Rwanda, closer to the Tanzanian boarder. The village was on the main road, but was rural in terms of what you had access to.
BP: Does the demographic you serve live at or below the poverty line? How readily available is their access to education, health care and clean water?
HH: I served in Kirehe, which is one of the poorest districts.
Education – In Rwanda there are government day schools and private boarding schools. The education system is broken down into Lower Primary (first to third grade), Upper Primary (fourth to sixth grade), Lower Secondary (seventh to ninth grade) and Upper Secondary (tenth to twelfth grade). Students are required to take national examinations in P3, P6, S3 and S6. They qualify to attend better (private) boarding schools if they successfully complete the exam but they have to finance their education themselves if they choose to attend a private boarding school. Unfortunately, there are many intelligent students who miss out on a better education due to their financial situation.
The day school that I taught at was one of three in the sector. Students would walk over an hour to attend school. The classrooms are overcrowded and I was teaching about 50-55 students in one class. By the third and final term of the year my classes would range from 30-40 students as the rest had dropped out due to financial issues. A new lunch program was implemented in late 2014, which raised school fees and added to the already strained financial situation for students.
Health Care – Rwanda has a primary health insurance system. People are encouraged to buy health insurance at the village level. The price of the health insurance is determined by the family’s socioeconomic level. For example, a family in the lowest category may pay 3,000 Rwandan Francs (RWF) per person.
There were many people in my village that didn’t have health insurance. The biggest health center, the only hospital in the district, was located about a 20 minute car ride away. Eventually, a smaller health post was built in my village before I left. Regardless, health centers tend to be understaffed and overcrowded. Most people won’t go to the health center when they’re sick for various reasons. Despite the service being available people’s habits and learned behavior cause a barrier, creating a need for behavior change communication.
Clean Water – This was the most difficult issue in my village! There was no source of clean water. Most people use/buy rain water or fetch water from a river that is an hour walk away. Many young men in the village who worked as bicycle taxis would ride to the nearest tap stand (20 minute car ride away) and bring back jerry cans of water to sell in my village center during the dry season. Each jerry can would sell for 100-150 RWF. In theory, this may seem not expensive, but it is when you realize an average jerry can from the village where the tap stand is located costs about 30-40 RWF.
Tap stands were installed around my village a few months before I finished my service. These tap stands piped treated water in from the local river in an attempt to remedy the access to water. The tap stands experience congestion due to the large amount of people wanting to utilize them. It’s not ideal but it provided my village access to water that wasn’t previously available.
BP: In what ways do you feel you and other members of the Peace Corps in Rwanda made a positive impact?
HH: I think the most positive impact comes from the one-on-one relationship you form. Those relationships are where you can see the impact that you have made and that Rwanda has made on you. It’s also what sustains you when you’re struggling to cope with all the adversity. That strive for human connection is also, I believe, why many people choose to join Peace Corps to begin with.
BP: What was your view on Rwanda before joining the Peace Corps? Have your views changed in any way since you began your service?
HH: I don’t think my views of Rwanda have changed. Rwanda has changed my views on international development, humanitarian aid and international politics. I had a certain perspective of international relations because of my political science and international studies background. Living for two years in the “field” and witnessing the rise of grass-root developments changed my views on contributions from government aid and NGOs (non-governmental organizations). I finished my service in the village in November but I decided to extend my contract. I am now a Peace Corps volunteer for an international humanitarian NGO. I’ve continued to learn more and am able to use the unique perspective provided to me from working on the field level for two years.
BP: Do you think you were treated differently from the locals because you’re an American?
HH: I’ve thought a lot about the construct of identity and how we self-identify as individuals. In sub-Saharan Africa many equate American as being synonymous with white. Many black volunteers face constant micro-aggressions in which you are reminded of your blackness. Host country nationals will question your nationality and accuse you of lying. In some instances people can become very aggressive in insisting you’re not American. Colleagues might be reluctant to trust your capabilities or skills. They will look to your colleague, if a fellow volunteer is present; to validate the information you’ve given. While you both might have the same qualifications as volunteers somehow they will be viewed as the expert. At the village level, this can cause difficulties when integrating as many people aren’t exposed to the same multicultural environment that we have in America.
The same issues arise in personal settings. When going out for lunch or dinner the waiter or waitress might regard you as the “translator” for your fellow colleagues. Once the food arrives you might notice you’re served last as your colleagues or other diners are helped first. A night of having fun with friends can easily turn sour as you’re denied entrance to an establishment, while your fellow white volunteers have no issues. There is always the risk that you’ll be perceived as a sex worker, if you’re a black woman, because people aren’t accustomed to seeing a black woman drink alcohol or wear a skirt that’s slightly above the knees.
These instances coupled with possibly insensitive comments from fellow volunteers can create a difficult environment to thrive in. The beauty of life is that sometimes the challenges that cause us to feel at our lowest bring about the most amazing results. These personal experiences allowed me and Ciara Christian, another Peace Corps volunteer, to create a committee called “Ndi Umunyamerika” which translates to “I am American” in the local Kinyarwanda language. The committee aims to serve as a safe space for volunteers of color, to educate host country nationals and fellow volunteers on racial diversity through curriculum and training development and to alleviate the burdens for future volunteers of color.
BP: March 1, 2016 marked the 55th anniversary of the Peace Corps. What do you feel are some of the greatest achievements the Peace Corps has made in this time?
HH: I think the greatest Peace Corps achievements are the small acts done by volunteers to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served (Goal Two) and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans (Goal Three). It’s the small discussions we have with others whether in our host country or in America that help to dispel misunderstanding, shatter stereotypes and change perspectives.
BP: What are a few things you wish Americans knew about Rwanda?
HH: I wish Americans knew there is more to Rwanda than the genocide. Most Americans only know about the genocide through films and news reports, which is only a small fraction of the situation. To expand on that, I think most Americans have a tendency of lumping all of Africa together. Some people fail to realize the vast diversity among Africans and the global black Diaspora. Our individual experience as people of color varies by our nationality, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status and so on. I wish they knew that Africa is an extremely diverse continent with various cultures. There may be some similarities but my experience in Rwanda is completely different than that of a volunteer who served in another African country.
Photo: Flickr