Interview with Jason Shane Townsend, March 5, 2023

Interview Summary

Shane Townsend served in Bolivia, 2003-2005. As a substantial part of his duties, Shane helped with emergency planning for the safety and security of volunteers. There was gender-based violence in addition to political violence and anti-American sentiment. He described several harrowing experiences. Training was in Cochambamba. Shane said when he went to permanent site he couldn’t understand the “lowland” Spanish spoken there since he had been taught only “highland” Spanish. Shane’s permanent sites were San Ignacio, where he worked in the tourism office, and San Juancito, a forest village where he worked with local leaders on a community economic plan. Shane is a first-generation college student. He believes PC should actively recruit from rural working-class America. Relationship-building is Shane’s most memorable Bolivian experience. He said people are the same all over and just trying to live their lives. Takeaway--PC is one of the most important things the US does.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Bolivia (Country of service) 2003-2005 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Economic Development Bolivia Peru Peace Corps (U.S.)--2000-2010 Peace Corps (U.S.) – Training (language) Peace Corps (U.S.)– Recruitment and intake Regional conflict Spanish Peace Corps-related medical issues

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