I spent the first year-and-a-half of my Peace Corps Service in Moca, a town of about 60,000 in the Dominican Republic’s central Cibao region. During my time there I taught computer classes for adults and high school kids which led to a successful collaboration with the Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (Indotel). With the support of Indotel I led trainings for over 50 attendants of government sponsored computer labs, in how to facilitate technology-themed youth groups.

Starting in November, I began work on an electronic medical records (EMR) system at Clinica de Familia La Romana a clinic providing low-cost or free care to sex workers and HIV patients among others. The project involves an implementation of OpenMRS.

Starting March 1, 2011, I will be serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. According to the materials Peace Corps has sent me to prepare me for my time abroad, I will be volunteering in support of a computer lab at either a school or a Community Technology Center (CTC).

Prior to departing for Peace Corps service, the Peace Corps requires that you provide an introduction of yourself to in-country Peace Corps staff by responding to a number of writing prompts. Collectively, these are referred to as your aspiration statement. Here is an excerpt from my aspiration statement:

When considering strategies for working effectively with host country partners, I think as a Peace Corps volunteer I will wear many hats. When I read about duties in the Assignment Description like helping my community devise strategies to maintain its computer lab, I begin to envision my role as that of someone who stimulates creative thinking and invites community members to consider problem-solving from a perspective that involves what they have rather than what they lack.

To read the rest, follow this link to it’s page on Scribd (be sure to “like” it):
http://www.scribd.com/doc/42671293/Aspiration-Statement

You can follow developments during my Peace Corps years by visiting my blog at:
http://pcvcharlie.blogspot.com

My AmeriCorps host site, Innovative Changes, featured me on their website to mark my year of service coming to a close. Here are some excerpts:

“Charles has been an integral part of the team and has helped establish Innovative Changes as a viable and valuable organization in the Oregon nonprofit community.”

“Charles helped us design our curriculum, articulate our educational vision, connect with partners and potential partners, identify and reach out to donors, and translate and preserve templates for key organizational documents. “

“Integrity and a good nature have been the hallmark of Charles’s work.”

Click here to read the full article on the Innovative Changes website