A Carson City couple have made a commitment to take on the toughest job they’re destined to ever love. Warren and Anita Shaul have been accepted into the Peace Corps and will begin work in Nicaragua this month as volunteers.
Warren Shaul says he was motivated to join the Peace Corps because when he has traveled, he enjoyed experiences where he had the opportunity to stay in one place and build friendships with the people he worked and lived with.
“I am not ready to retire, so Peace Corps provides me with an opportunity to work and live in a foreign country and to become proficient at a different language,” said Warren.
Anita says she was motivated to join the Peace Corps because she has been volunteering in Latin American countries, tutoring and teaching English and math. “I am very interested in other languages and cultures. Peace Corps provides a more organized way to continue doing volunteer work,” said Anita.
During their first three months of service, the Shaul’s will live with a host family in Nicaragua to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the language and cultural skills necessary to assist their community, they will be sworn into service and be assigned to a community in Nicaragua, where they will live and work for two years with the local people.
Warren is a graduate of the University of Nevada-Reno, where he earned a degree in Education, and Anita graduate of Portland State University, where she earned a degree in Biology.
There are currently 172 Volunteers in Nicaragua working in the areas of community economic development, environment, health, and education. During their service in Nicaragua, Volunteers learn to speak the local language of Spanish. More than 2,295 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Nicaragua since the program was established in 1968.
More than 215,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries since President John F. Kennedy established the agency in 1961.
Through their service, volunteers increase awareness of America around the world and help our country gain an understanding of other cultures beyond our borders. Currently, 7,209 Peace Corps volunteers serve in 65 countries.
Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. Volunteers live and work with a community overseas to reach goals in education, health, business, agriculture, the environment, youth development and more.
Peace Corps volunteers spend their first three months of service in training, living with a host family and studying the local language and culture.
Volunteers receive many benefits, including transportation, a living stipend, medical care, graduate school opportunities, student loan deferment, $7,425 upon completion and much more. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens, at least 18-years old, and in good health.
