Interview with Stephanie Engelsen, July 28, 2021

Interview Summary

Stephanie Engelsen served in Cameroon, 1994-1996, in Education. Her recruiter told her “you have no skills”, so she became TESL-certified (Teaching English as a Second Language) before acceptance. Stephanie spent three months training in N’Gaoundéré where she lived with a host family. Volunteers learned French but because Stephanie already had that skill she studied the local language Fulfuldé. Posted in the isolated community of Poli with once-a-week mail delivery and no phone service, she taught English, including an AIDS syllabus, to high school students. As secondary projects, Stephanie organized an all-female Muslim and Christian soccer team and a girl’s corn-growing project. Her biggest disappointment was having to leave her site two months early after filing a complaint against her school’s principal for corruption. Stephanie credits Peace Corps with giving her lifelong Cameroonian and volunteer friendships, and the skills of resiliency, empathy, patience and adaptability.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Cameroon (Country of service) 1994-1996 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Cameroon Peace Corps (U.S.)--1990-2000 AIDS Language training French

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