Ready to Serve Again?

By Mary Ray

August, 2007. My first visit to Colombia in 35 years started with lots of hugs, tears and laughter. The plane to Medellín was three hours late, but my two Colombian “brothers”—friends from high school exchange-student days—were waiting for me. Forty-six years had passed since we first met. I’d seen them a few times during my Peace Corps years (1966-68), and they were here to welcome me back, renew our friendship, and take me to familiar places that weren’t so familiar any more.

After a wonderful week, I flew to Manizales on a different kind of mission. Right off, I spotted a Juan Valdez jacket. Juan Valdez is the symbol of the Federación de Cafeteros, who had come to greet me with another RPCV, Merrily Beyreyther. We would spend the next five days following a whirlwind schedule set up by the Cafeteros that included a day-long orientation to their projects and visits to five schools, rural and urban.

We also met with the Secretary of Education for Caldas and other education specialists. The goal was to determine what ex-Peace Corps volunteers might do to help train Colombian teachers to carry out the government’s decree that all schools provide English classes.

The Cafeteros were gracious hosts, providing comfortable accommodations, great meals, and drivers to take us everywhere. Accompanied at all times, we never felt a sense of danger. We met many dedicated professionals who were anxious to help us plan some meaningful teacher training.

To begin, there will be a one-to-two week course in ESL methodology for 50-60 teachers. These teachers will then continue as teacher trainers for other teachers of grades K-11 in the Caldas schools. If you’re interested in helping to develop the training content, contact me at mary.ray@fcps.edu. If you’re keen to travel to Colombia to help deliver the training, contact Maureen Orth at morth@k12wired.com. We especially need RPCVs with experience teaching ESL at any level and/or those who have experience training teachers.