THE VILLANOVA PEACE CORPS CONNECTION

The Peace Corps’ website states, “Peace Corps Volunteers work at the grassroots level to create change that lasts long after their service.” It’s a philosophy that resonates with Villanova’s College of Engineering, as evidenced by its commitment to service learning and sustainable development initiatives. This connection has made the University a natural fit for former and future Peace Corps Volunteers.

SARIELLE BENJAMIN ’13 MSSE Returned Community Service Volunteer, Ecuador

Arielle Benjamin served as a community service volunteer in Ecuador for 27 months.

Inspiration: I always knew that I’d want to take my sustainable engineering experience abroad and find ways to connect engineering with community organizing and development work. After the fallout from the Flint water crisis along with a mission trip with my church to Uganda, I decided to put my plans into action.

Insight: I chose human connection over productivity and being present over being perfect. This was a huge transition from my corporate engineering job, but when working in community development, I learned that the most sustainable work comes from fostering deep relationships. Showing up consistently for my community in the ways they needed brought innovation and success to the projects I partnered with them on.

Working with others from different cultural and educational backgrounds: I’ve learned how to become a better listener and observer. There is a lot of power harnessed when we can learn how to just pass time and sit with one another and share our stories. When we look at the world through different lenses, we can see how our ideas intersect and pinpoint better solutions.

How you would encourage others to prepare for the experience: Take ample time to immerse yourself in a diverse US community that challenges your cultural norms. Volunteer with a local shelter for immigrants seeking asylum, at a community recreation center teaching dance or tutoring in an after-school program in a neighborhood that is not your own. Find a house of worship that celebrates and welcomes cultural expressions that differ from your own. Learning how to love people and affirm the humanity of fellow Americans who do not share your background story will empower you with the ability to do the same when you enter into another country’s cultural context as an outsider.

Volunteers in Peru: Andrew Meluch ’16 ME, ’18 MSSE; Bryan Ramirez ’18 CE, ’22 MSSE and Chris Wilson ’16 ME (far right), seen with Deputy Chief of Mission from the US Embassy in Lima, Mark Wells.

ANDREW MELUCH ’16 ME, ’18 MSSE Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Peru

Inspiration: Over the past five years I have visited 33 countries. Traveling expands our minds, opens us to new people and perspectives, fosters a sense of cross-cultural awareness, and pushes us outside our comfort zone. My Peace Corps assignment allows me to apply the skills and knowledge I learned in the classroom in a way that directly benefits those in need.

Insight: Be flexible. A large part of being a PCV is recognizing that anything can happen, at any time, for any reason, and it’s our job to make the most of it, no matter what.

Working with others from different cultural and educational backgrounds: It’s about meeting people where they are and building meaningful relationships with community members to become a part of their lives in such a way that there is a mutual trust. This takes time, but we were told, “they won’t care about your work if they don’t care about you.” How Villanova prepared you: As a student I participated in four engineering service learning trips. It was these opportunities in places like Cambodia and India that inspired me and helped me develop and refine my sense of flexibility, adaptability and patience.

How Villanova prepared you: As a student I participated in four engineering service learning trips. It was these opportunities in places like Cambodia and India that inspired me and helped me develop and refine my sense of flexibility, adaptability and patience.

BRYAN RAMIREZ ’18 CE, ’22 MSSE Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Peru

Inspiration: The Peace Corps’ open, inclusive and supportive mission—which is allowing Andrew Meluch and me to serve together as the first same-sex couple in Peace Corps Peru—is a huge reason why I wanted to join. Insight: I’ve witnessed firsthand the resourcefulness of people in developing communities. We (volunteers from the outside) often think we have the solutions to their problems, when in reality there is so much we can learn from them. Many times, our role is simply to help bring together people so they can put their ideas into action.

Insight: I’ve witnessed firsthand the resourcefulness of people in developing communities. We (volunteers from the outside) often think we have the solutions to their problems, when in reality there is so much we can learn from them. Many times, our role is simply to help bring together people so they can put their ideas into action.

Working with others from different cultural and educational backgrounds: I’ve traveled to over 30 countries and performed development work in many of them. Every time I meet people from different cultures, I take away new insights, perspectives and outlooks, including slowing down and taking life one minute at a time. How Villanova prepared you: A lot of what I learned and carried out in my VESL work was reinforced during my Peace Corps training.

How Villanova prepared you: A lot of what I learned and carried out in my VESL work was reinforced during my Peace Corps training.

CHRIS WILSON ’16 ME Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Peru

Inspiration: My senior capstone design project involved working with Catholic Relief Services in Madagascar. While there I interacted with PCV and learned how they use a grassroots method of sustainable development to give community leaders and members the tools and skills to improve their own communities. That type of development work and the lifestyle it entailed really appealed to me.

Insight: In the news, people in developing countries are lumped into poverty statistics and indicators. However, by living and working alongside these people you learn that the reality is much more colored and beautiful.

Working with others from different cultural and educational backgrounds: I’ve learned to suspend immediate judgment so that I can learn on a cultural level the reasons behind why something may be a certain way.

How Villanova prepared you: Through VESL, I gained different perspectives and developed empathy on a deeper level. Villanova’s engineering education taught me that any design should ultimately work to improve people’s lives.

IAIN HUNT: THE FACE OF SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING’S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRACK

Iain Hunt ’15 MSSE leads curriculum development for the International Development track of the College’s Sustainable Engineering program. He also is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Before pursuing his graduate degree, Hunt served two-year assignments in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Connections he made led to a job opportunity in Nicaragua, working as the program manager for Water for Waslala, an organization founded by Villanova alumni whose local operations are now under the umbrella of El Porvenir, a continuing VESL partner. Through that position, Hunt met VESL Director Dr. Jordan Ermilio. Once he learned about the Sustainable Engineering program, he realized it was a great next step for his personal and professional growth.

Hunt’s advice for those interested in a career in international development: “You first have to pay your dues getting experience in the field in a volunteer capacity, and Peace Corps is an excellent way to do that.”