Interview with Pamela White, April 5, 2022

Interview Summary

Cameroon, 1971-1973, Education Pamela White grew up in Maine where people rarely traveled more than 200 miles from home. Her world turned upside down when a dyamic Peace Coprs recruiting team visited her high school when she was 18 and she immediately committed to serving her country. Four years later, and one week after graduating from UMaine, she was on her way to training in Canada, followed by her assignment as an English teacher in a small African village in Cameroun. She set out to change Africa, Africa changed her. The lessons she learned during her two years formed the strong base that shaped her 45-year career in the foreign service. Pamela learned the strength of women bonds, the need to educate girls, the importance of culture and the art of both listening and being heard. These foundations allowed her to be a successful USAID Mission Director in Mali, Tanzania and Liberia as well as US Ambassador to The Gambia and Haiti. Her fascinating stories cover discussions with Taurag tribes in Mali, difficult meetings with several presidents both US and Afriican, journeys into remote villages in Liberia and Haiti, and endless attempts to change human behavior in order to save lives.

Interview Keyword

Maine books sports Vietnam war personal University of Maine Journalism recruiter application parents reaction stagging Philadelphia Pre-service training intense Pocatere, Canada religious seminary selection process psychiatrists TEFL commitment Cameroon Yaoundé capital Doula economic capital Saa village cas de passage guest house mayor’s wife regional middle school Surveillant Generale disciplinarian beating USAID Ambassador assignment structure books content stories women’s culture river meetings babies deaths women students reading protection racial awareness cultural differences boy friend parents catholic church hostels Third Goal high school exams parents cultural events Peace Corps staff community chief community mayor democracy religion Hevioso god of lightning doctors foreign aid cook culture development listening

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