Interview with Jim Charnell, April 25, 2022

Interview Summary

Mali, 2000 to 2003, Agriculture sector: Jim Charnell was born in Marion, Indiana. He had a career in the military before joining the Peace Corps at 50+ years of age. He was assigned to an agriculture project in Mali. Jim was placed in a small community of 260 residents. The principal crop was millet with rice as a cash crop. Community activities occurred for lack of electricity between sun up to sun down making full moon nights party nights! Jim worked with the farmers in liaison with the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to improve agricultural production in the area. One initiative to grow sun flowers failed as the goats ate the plants!He also advised on pesticide use. Jim’s biggest challenge was language. He studied daily during the hot, languid afternoons as work halted. Jim’s work was self-directed. He organized a summer camp for youth and assisted in getting a well for the community.

Interview Keyword

Marion, Indiana military 50+ Volunteer agriculture Mali application Pre-Service Training Bomako Capital Bombra language Tubani So House of the Dove training center Bozo language PCV visit Where there is no doctor Colon Dugu Cora Old Well Town tea greeting pidgin French lonely bashee bus Niono mail town Segou Regional Capital Marsala nearest town house millet Tuareg cattle people full moon Muslim mosque Dugu Tigi village elder climate social relations water well research group International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Peace Corps housing requirements language studies dry season malaria Fansidar prophylaxis counterpart functionaries election Tubub che cora ba Old White man Humar Peace Corps staff kids errands PCVs soy beans networking Summer camp youth development local history health water and sanitation RPCV Walmart malowe raw rice kini cooked rice Seydu Trorie Malian name World Trade Center attack Mali military memorial tree planting sun flowers failure

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