Interview with Eli Wittum, August 12, 2020

Interview Summary

Eli Wittum grew up in a multi-generational military family. After working as an environment technician, he decided to apply to various military services and Peace Corps. Peace Corps responded first. He was invited to an environmental conservation project in Panama and was trained in organic farming, tree nurseries, gardens, etc. Wittum was the second Peace Corps volunteer in Dos Aguas, a small community a 45-minute walk from a main road. He worked with a local environment collective (nursery) as well as the local school (recycling). His community work focused on cook stoves and reforestation. The small community had internal divisions which made working relationships quite sensitive. As his language skills improved so did his working relationships. A lesson learned was that two years is still not sufficient time for some sustainability. He shares a timeline on the COVID-19 virus with respect to hearing about it, Panama’s response, and the Peace Corps' evacuation challenges.

Interview Keyword

Military Panama (Country of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Environment Cook stoves Reforestation Community conflict Sustainability Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Communication issues Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer (EPCV) 2016-2018 (Date of service) Peace Corps (U.S.)--2020-Evacuation Evacuation #covid19

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Panama Volunteer workers in environmental education Volunteer workers in environmental protection Volunteers Voluntarism Volunteer workers in horticulture Language and culture Language and languages Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations and culture Culture Communication and culture Acculturation

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