Interview with Daniel Kraus, May 23, 2022

Interview Summary

Sri Lanka (Ceylon), December 1967 to December 1969, Community Development Daniel Kraus grew up on Long Island. He studied at Cornell University where he met RPVCs. Dan was accepted to a community development project in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). He was assigned with another volunteer to Murutange to work through the Agriculture Ministry with tenant farmers. He developed demonstration plots for such produce as rice and vegetables. Dan also organized an English class for kids. He spent his days checking on the progress of the plots and by walking or bicycling around talking with villagers. In his second year, Dan was assigned by himself to the Parakrama Boys Home, Ragama which housed about 40 boys ages 8-15 who were either orphans or came from homes that could no longer look after them. He started a garden and also tutored students. He organized summer camps. Dan traveled to India, Nepal, and Thailand. He also visited cultural sites in Sri Lanka. Dan understood local traditions need to be incorporated in approaches to development. Dan felt he had a better understanding of core values that all people globally share.

Interview Keyword

Sri Lanka Ceylon: community development Tamil Sinhalese Parakrama Boys Home NYC Long Island Cornell Fresno State College Pre-Service Training Hawaii Training Center Philippines IR8 rice CIA agents home stays Columbo Agriculture Ministry counterpart tenant farmers Buddhist monk demonstration plots housing English class kids program zoo visit, Hope ship USIS movies Boy’s school homework tutor garden Summer camps Aiya older brother Elle stick ball health issue friendships Poya day cultural sites Pera hara parade Kandy temple of the tooth of Buddha vacation army ants reintroduction to U.S. Michigan State labor relations challenges development process traditions American culture international core values

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