Interview with Carolyn Peacock Chapman, June 13, 2022

Interview Summary

Carolyn Peacock Chapman Benin 1987-1989 - At Michigan State, Chapman majored in French and African Studies before working as a Rural Community Development Volunteer at a social center in Sahoué-Houéyogbé in the Mono region of Benin. There, powdered milk, peanut oil, and flour were distributed to mothers with babies ages 0 to 2 years. Additionally, she led small gardening projects for women and school children and worked with villages for their contribution toward water wells funded by the German Volunteer Service. As a white woman in Africa, Chapman dressed conservatively, respecting the norms of the society in which she lived. In addition to building wells, Chapman was instrumental in planning and funding a new nutritional recuperation center which was built in her village after she returned to the U.S. From her service, Chapman learned to be altruistic, to appreciate her own literacy and to improve that of others, as well as to appreciate the medical care available to her in the U.S. She still has lasting friendships over 30 years later. Chapman went on to study African Languages and Literature after her service.

Interview Keyword

Michigan State University African Studies Rural Community Development Sahoue-Houeyogbe, Benin Babies Water wells German Volunteer Service Nutritional recuperation center Altruistic Literacy

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