Interview with Elizabeth Yi, October 23, 2020

Interview Summary

Elizabeth Yi served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin in a Rural Community Development and Health Education program from 1998-2000. She discusses her work as a community health worker with the Social Promotion Center in the town of Zagnanado, Zou Department, including her relationships with co-workers and the women they served. She talks about the role of women in Benin at the time and the universal struggles of people regardless of where they live. She also discusses the sexual advances by men that she had to deal with as a young single woman and that, as a Korean American, she was oftentimes mistaken for a person from China or a masseuse or sex worker when she was in a big city. She discusses her post-Peace Corps healthcare and research career in the U.S. and abroad and speaking to students as part of the Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools program. She ends the interview with an impassioned call for greater international and community service to shape who we are as Americans.

Interview Keyword

Benin (Country of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Rural Community Development 1998-2000 (Date of service) Women’s health Third Goal activities Diversity in the Peace Corps Call for international and domestic service Women’s impact Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Health education Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Development Korean Americans

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Benin Benin Community and health services Culture Volunteers Communication and culture Intercultural communication Language and culture Volunteer workers in community health services

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Interview Usage

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