Interview with Heidi Hartsough, February 8, 2021

Interview Summary

Heidi Hartsough served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, from 1995 to 1998, in the Safe Motherhood and Child Survival Program. Hartsough’s decision to join Peace Corps was influenced by her mother, who was a PCV in Pakistan. Her group’s training site was in Pagala, Togo. Training included French, local languages, health awareness, culture, religion, child nutrition, and bicycle maintenance. Hartsough felt that training was very good in preparing volunteers for their assignments. Hartsough was assigned to the village of Kouloumi, in Tchamba Prefecture, near the Benin border. She worked closely with midwives in Kouloumi and surrounding villages to provide child health and nutrition education. Hartsough extended for a third year, and worked in the CARE office in Atakpame. The interview includes discussion of her motivation for serving, training, her work, observations of local health and cultural practices, and reflections on the value of Peace Corps service.

Interview Keyword

Togo (Country of service) 1995-1998 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Health Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Safe Motherhood and Child Survival Child of RPCV Pakistan Peace Corps (U.S.)--1990-2000 Kouloumi, Togo Tchamba Prefecture, Togo Atakpame, Togo Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) French (Language) Kotokoli (Language) Pagala, Togo Female genital mutilation Tem (Language)

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Togo Togo Women in education. Health education. Health promotion. Peace Corps (U.S.). Africa Region Peace Corps (U.S.)--Africa, West. Atakpamé (Togo) French language. Female circumcision Gender and society Gender and culture Gender politics, global issues Islam and culture. Tem language Midwives. Sex discrimination.

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Interview Usage

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