CHICAGO– Emily Gill, 23, of Gurley, has been accepted into the Peace Corps in The Gambia and will depart on Oct. 7, 2019, to begin training as a Community Gardening and Agroforestry Facilitator volunteer.
"I have always loved helping others and teaching about agriculture. I think it is important to share knowledge with others who may not have the same resources to advance their practices," said Gill of her desire to join the Peace Corps.
Gill is the daughter of James and Cynthia Gill of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and a graduate of Leyton High School in Dalton, Nebraska. She attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she earned a Grazing Livestock Systems degree, in August 2019.
The Peace Corps seeks additional applicants to fill hundreds of requests for volunteers in programs worldwide beginning in spring 2020. Peace Corps volunteers live and work for 27-month terms of service in more than 60 nations, and receive a living stipend, extensive language and technical training, and financial benefits including eligibility for student loan forgiveness and graduate school fellowships after service. Open positions with an Oct. 1 application deadline are available in the fields of education, health, agriculture, community economic development, youth in development, and the environment.
Nebraska has 38 residents currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, and more than 1,478 residents have served since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln has 17 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, and more than 491 alumni have served since Peace Corps was founded in 1961.
Peace Corps applicants have the option of choosing to serve where the need for their skills is greatest, or applying directly to open programs in specific countries and regions. Accepted applicants live with host families and receive three months of training before being assigned to a community in their country of service.
Gill will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in The Gambia and help Gill develop leadership, technical and cross-cultural skills that will give her a competitive edge when she returns home. Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens well-positioned for professional opportunities in today's global job market.
To learn more about how to get involved with Peace Corps and the benefits of service, connect with a recruiter online or register to attend an event. For more information, visit http://www.peacecorps.gov and follow Peace Corps on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About volunteers in The Gambia: There are more than 75 volunteers in The Gambia working with their communities on projects in agriculture, education and health. During their service in The Gambia, volunteers learn to speak local languages, including Jola, Mandinka, Pulaar, Sarahule and Wolof. More than 1,910 Peace Corps volunteers have served in The Gambia since the program was established in 1967.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 235,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide
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