Interview with Charles Brandes, February 18, 2021

Interview Summary

Charles Brandes graduated in geological and civil engineering from University of California, Berkeley. When he joined Peace Corps, he was assigned to Kenya to work on water projects from July 1968 - October 1970. Charles was trained on a Sioux reservation at the Calvary Barracks training center and lived with a Sioux family. Training was good, especially with Swahili language, agriculture, and role playing cultural sessions. However, he says the training needed more focus on how to work with people and leadership. Charles initially worked in Waraza in the Nyeri province. It was a time of the country's independence from Great Britain's Trusteeship, with tribal tension and change in the air. He worked for the Ministry of Land Development and Settlements installing water systems. He learned quickly that development approaches had too much telling, and not enough listening for engaging with local leaders. Having success in his first community, he became a Volunteer leader assisting other Volunteers with water projects throughout the country training trainers.

Interview Keyword

1968-1970 (Date of service) Civil engineering Africa Kenya Standing Rock Sioux Ogalala Sioux Nyeri, Kenya Waraza, Kenya Swahili (Language) Water projects Vietnam War President Kenyatta Agricultural cooperatives Peace Corps Volunteer Leaders Civil tension Training of trainers Sustainability Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Water Sector

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kenya Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers

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