Interview with Alex Piehl, September 9, 2021

Interview Summary

This is an interview with Alex Piehl, Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, 2016-2018. With a degree in Applied Economics and International Affairs, and with an internship in Barcelona, Piehl sought a unique opportunity for adventure and learning in the Peace Corps. Piehl lived and worked in Nueva Colombia as a Community Economic Development Volunteer, there to increase citizen participation in the community, teach employment skills, and develop small businesses. As such, he taught English, personal finance and leadership and entrepreneurship skills in a K-12 school using teaching materials developed by former RPCV’s. With other Volunteers, he taught business owners entrepreneurship targeted at local tourism and instructed high school students in methods to write business plans, and to run a business. Piehl thinks that one student has actually opened a bakery since the completion of these classes. His main accomplishment was demonstrating out-of-the-box, experiential approaches to teaching. He learned to be adaptive and flexible, gaining self-confidence in the process; he adapts to new environments easily now.

Interview Keyword

Paraguay (Country of service) Economics and International Affairs Internship Barcelona Nueva Colombia, Paraguay Community Development Citizen participation Employment skills Personal finance Entrepreneurship skills K-12 school Local tourism Thinking "outside of the box" Adaptive Flexible Self-confidence 2016-2018 (Years of service)

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