Interview with Christine "Chris" Zakarka, September 24, 2021

Interview Summary

Christine "Chris" Zakarka served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (Education) in Botswana from 1980-1984. When she was 12, her family rented an apartment to a Returned Peace Corps couple back from teaching in the Middle East. Chris saw their slides and immediately began planning how to join the Peace Corps. After college graduation, that’s exactly what she did. Chris completed the Peace Corps’ Center for Assessment and Training (CAST) selection process in Colorado and travelled to Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, for language training (Setswana) and culture. Before being posted, she went on a village live-in to the remote village of Mabeleapudi. She then taught math to middle schoolers at the Ipelegeng Junior Community Secondary School. She secured World Bank funding for upgrading her school’s facilities. She also experienced a Peace Corps medivac to Pretoria, South Africa for emergency appendicitis surgery. From 1984-1991, Chris worked in Washington, DC as a Peace Corps staff Placement Officer. She reviewed applications and oriented departing Volunteers. Chris became a Training Specialist for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in 1991 and retired as Deputy Administrator for Policy and Program Development in 2021. She remains active in the Friends of Botswana. Chris believes Peace Corps promotes positive cross cultural interactions. She credits her Peace Corps service with her ability to empathize and to mix well with others from all backgrounds.

Interview Keyword

Amsterdam, New York, U.S. Fordham University Peace Corps (U.S.) Botswana (Country of service) 1980-1984 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job (Education) Peace Corps Center for Assessment and Training (CAST), Colorado Tswana Bantu (Language) the Bantu Tswana Setswana (Official languages of Botswana) Gaborone (capital of Botswana) colonialists Boer Wars British Protectorate for Botswana, 1885-1966 Botswana independence, 1966 Sir Seretse Khama (First President of Botswana,1966-1980) Ipelegeng Junior Community Secondary School World Bank Jwaneng diamond mine (Botswana) Apartheid policy (South Africa) Pretoria, South Africa Placement Officer (U.S. Peace Corps staff, 1984-1991) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (1991-2021) Shona Xhosa Zulu English (Official languages of Botswana)

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