Interview with Montfort Cassell, September 22, 2020
Project: Peace Corps: COVID-19 Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Montfort Cassell was born in Sierra Leone during the civil war before coming to the United States. He attended Montgomery Community College for two years and went into banking. He volunteered for humanitarian activities. At 31 years of age and with no medical records from his home country, he needed vaccinations for acceptance into the Peace Corps. He chose Fiji and Youth Development to experience other parts of the world. In Pre-Service Training, he learned to speak Itaukei, cultural norms from his host family in Niatutu, and creative activities for engaging with youth. Montfort was assigned to the village of Wailevu on the island state of Kadava. He taught TEFL, tutored students, and organized a youth club. He helped found a library and a newsletter. In addition, Montfort assisted with the village farm to bring revenue to the community. Montfort shared insights on diversity, Volunteer advisory committee, and Covid19 evacuation.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
2018-2020 (Date of service) Sierra Leone Immigrants Montgomery Community College Voluntarism Medical records Fiji (Country of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Youth in Development Itaukei (Language) Pre-service training Kadava (Assignment site) Wailevu (Assignment site) Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) Youth clubs Women's groups Library Village farms Students with dyslexia (Barton System) Diversity in the Peace Corps Evacuation Youth Development Fijian languages Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) #covid19Interview Rights
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Cassell, Montfort Interview by Randolph A. Adams. 22 Sep. 2020. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Cassell, M. (2020, September 22). Interview by R. A. Adams. Peace Corps: COVID-19 Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Cassell, Montfort, interview by Randolph A. Adams. September 22, 2020, Peace Corps: COVID-19 Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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