Interview with Sheila Collins, November 28, 2022

Interview Summary

Sheila Collins served in Chile, 1980-1982, working in Rural Youth in Development. Sheila learned of Peace Corps when a RPCV spoke at her school. Sheila received a week’s training in Virginia, along with 25 other social workers and special education teachers. After interviews, they flew to Santiago. Their training center was on the outskirts of Santiago. She stayed with a host family in town. She said 90% of the 3-months’ training was Spanish. Sheila's job was at an all-boys,’ religious orphanage in Quinta de Tilcoco. She started a Head Start program for 2 to 5-year-olds. Sheila counts the children and women she worked with as positive experiences and says people-to-people relationship-building is PC’s strength. Back in the US, Sheila ran the Minnesota PC recruiting office, worked for AFS and also the University of Minnesota’s Study Abroad Office. She estimates that through her work she has talked to thousands about PC.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Chile (Country of service) 1980-1982 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Rural Youth in Development Chile Peru Ecuador Latin America Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990 Peace Corps (U.S.) – Training (language) Regional conflict English Spanish

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