Interview with Peter Boynton, October 21, 2021

Interview Summary

Peter lived in Brazil in his youth. As an undergraduate at Stanford, he received a B.A. in English and applied to Peace Corps. He requested Brazil as a posting, trained at Marquette University, was assigned to a community development/public health project, and placed in Aurora, Ceará. Two female volunteer practical nurses were already serving there, but having difficulty getting cooperation, so he worked on building relationships with the male community leaders, including the mayor, priest, doctor and others to get more attention to the women’s initiatives in health education and getting supplies for the local health post. He also assisted the local rural extension service agent mainly by teaching subsistence farm families to avoid water-borne parasites and conducting smallpox vaccinations. He also taught English and organized a LIONS Club to undertake civic projects. After 18 months he was transferred to the city of São Paulo to lead a new project with the YMCA. Brazil, 1965 – 1967, Community Development and Public Health

Interview Keyword

Sao Paulo, Brazil privileged youth boarding school Stanford University English Junior year Peace Corps recruiter fraternity brothers Harvard teaching Pre-Service Training Marquette University deselection Portuguese Brazilian graduate students Nova Scotia community development instruction practicum black community selection process Ceará Fortaleza Peace Corps management infrastructure State Directors 4H contractor Aurora veredas small communities Rural Extension Service extension agent female Volunteers State health post maternity and child care resources living conditions parochial school ESL sugar cane liquor cachaça Salvador, Bahia LIONS Club water filters civic organizing PCV site surveys São Paulo YMCA YWCA racism black PCV PCV lawyers squatters post Peace Corps graduate school education USAID Brazilian wife

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