Interview with Tim Fournier, May 3, 2024

Interview Summary

Tim Fournier served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1990 to 1992, in the Agriculture and Education programs. Tim’s training was in the Pantoja neighborhood of Santo Domingo, where he lived with a host family. Training included Spanish language, culture, geography, and politics. Tim’s first assignment was in Villa Altagracia. He lived in Otenta Casitas, and worked with a local counterpart. After six months he was relocated to Jima Arriba, where he taught at an elementary school. As a secondary project he organized shoe shine boys into a collective and taught them basics of financial management. Peace Corps service changed Tim’s career direction from law to education. He has worked with under-advantaged students throughout his career. While working in a University of Michigan Peace Corps Fellowship program he met his wife, also an RPCV. After retiring they applied for a Peace Corps Response assignment. The project was delayed, and Tim volunteered for a Peace Corps Virtual Service project, connecting students in the U.S. with students in North Macedonia. Tim remains in contact with Dominican friends and visits his old site every couple of years.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Dominican Republic (country of service) 1990-1992 (date of service) North Macedonia (country of virtual service) 2024 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Peace Corps (U.S.)--1990-2000 Peace Corps (U.S.) – Training (cultural, language, technical) Virtual Service Volunteer Pantoja, Santo Domingo (training site) Spanish (language) Entrena Company training contractor Villa Altagracia (assignment site) Ochenta Casitas Jima Arriba (second assignment) shoe shine boys collective University of Michigan Peace Corps Fellowship Program

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Interview Usage

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