Interview with Zachary Klim, September 30, 2020

Interview Summary

Zachary Klim grew up in Albany, New York. Because of interactions with a Guatemalan refugee family and the RPCV parents of a friend he was introduced to both cultures and community service. He graduated from the University of Buffalo in English and Spanish and later got a teaching credential. He accepted a teacher training assignment in Bangladesh. While his language training was poor, he found intercultural communication and technical training worthwhile. He appreciated the bonds he developed with fellow trainees – a support network during service. Zachary was initially assigned to a teacher’s college, but discovered that they were not interested in including English in their curriculum. Being adaptable, he discovered other interests through a needs assessment, consensus building, and community organizing resulting in a women’s environmental group, a hospital for maternal and child health, and a public English academy that converted into a trade school and was named after him.

Interview Keyword

University of Buffalo Teacher credentials Bangladesh (Country of service) Teacher trainers Muslim culture Support networks Netrakona (Assignment site) Teacher's colleges Student protests Relationships English curriculum Maternal and child health Women's environment NGO Public English Academy and Trade School VSO Volunteer Traumatic evacuation Diversity in the Peace Corps 2000-2001 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education LGBTQ+

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Bangladesh Bangladesh Acculturation Culture Intercultural communication International travel Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteer workers in community development Volunteers

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Interview Usage

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