Interview with David W. Schodt, May 20, 2021

Interview Summary

David W. Schodt served in Ecuador from 1969-1972, working in Community Economic Development. He trained for two months in Montana learning Spanish, unusual survival skills like how to kill and dress a chicken, and community development. His group of 40 flew to Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, from which his group dispersed to sites around Ecuador. Schodt moved to Ibarra where he spent his first year working for a regional development organization interested in promoting colonization (homesteading) of Ecuador’s Amazon region. For the next 1 1/2 years, he worked with a national government land reform and colonization organization (IERAC), among whose goals was supporting colonization by facilitating the movement of poor families from the overcrowded mountainous region to the Amazon. If families cleared land and organized cooperatives, they could get a legal title. During this period, Schodt organized co-ops, functioned as an agricultural extension agent, and set up a first aid dispensary.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps volunteers Ecuador (Country of service) 1969-1972 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Economic Development Community economic development Returned Peace Corps volunteers Quito (Ecuador) Regional conflicts Spanish (Language) Homesteading Education, Higher. Teachers. Oriente (Ecuador) First aid dispensaries

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador Ecuador Ibarra (Ecuador) Land reform Community development Colonization Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980 Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers

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Interview Usage

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