Interview with Patricia Reilly, June 14, 2021

Interview Summary

Interview with Patricia Reilly, Liberia 1972-1974 At age 13, Reilly knew that she wanted to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. In 1972, she headed to Liberia, where she taught secondary school English in Buchanan, the second largest town. There were sometimes 90 students in one class, where students shared books, often reading them by lamplight at night outside of closed stores. Reilly, a budding journalist, taught basic journalism to her students, along with the recommended curriculum for the West Africa exam. Reilly is an active member of Friends of Liberia. During the Liberian civil war, the group lobbied Congress for support for peacebuilding; the group continues to support Liberia through early childhood education and health worker training. Reilly states that Peace Corps is “the best bang for the buck” in terms of a U.S. outreach, as volunteers transfer knowledge to other countries while building lasting relationships. As a result of her Peace Corps experiences, Reilly is resilient and determined because she “stepped into the unknown and helped others to succeed.” Her service “grounded her;” she learned “what it means to be human on this planet.”

Interview Keyword

Liberia (Country of service) Secondary school Buchanan, Liberia journalism West Africa exam Friends of Liberia Early childhood education Health worker training U.S. outreach Resilience 1972-1974 (Years of service)

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