Interview with Tanya A. Gipson-Nahman, November 19, 2021

Interview Summary

Tanya Gipson-Nahman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 2001-2003 in an Education program. Her training took place in Santo Domingo, after which she moved to her site, Castillo, about two and a half hours from the capital. She learned that she was to work in special education as the government had requested Peace Corps help implementing a new law. The first year her work primarily involved raising awareness about special education needs, but she discovered that the teachers’ biggest challenges were about basic teaching practices, something she drew on local Peace Corps resources to address. Learning that most children with severe disabilities did not attend school, she initiated a monthly support meeting for them and their families. She also organized a summer camp for children with disabilities. Peace Corps-Dominican Republic invited her to stay for a third year to support volunteers working in education programs. Overall, she spent nearly six years in the country, followed work with the Peace Corps in Washington and in Paraguay.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Dominican Republic (Country of service) 2001-2003 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer job: Education Peace Corps (U.S)—2000-2010 Spanish (Language) Special Education Castillo Paraguay Santo Domingo Peace Corps (U.S.)—Management Peace Corps staff Manoguayabo information technology Americorps Ministry of Education

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