Interview with Ellen Wuertz, July 23, 2023
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Ellen Wuertz served as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador in 2015 and 2016, in the Community and Economic Development Program. Ellen lived in Puerto Rico for nine years as a child, and had a long history of community service work before joining Peace Corps in her 60’s. Training for her group was conducted in Chalatenango. Training included Spanish language, history, culture, and community development skills. Ellen was placed in a community called Los Lopez, working with a local community development group to identify needs, and assist in developing projects. Along with the women in the group she identified needs and generated several income generating ideas. Ellen also taught English classes for kids on Saturdays, and started an intercultural exchange project. Ellen was in the process of switching her assignment to work with a local NGO when Peace Corps shut down in El Salvador due to gang violence and concerns for PCV safety. Ellen later continued her international community service work with Outreach360 in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. She is active in the Atlanta RPCV group.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Peace Corps (U.S.) El Salvador (country of service) 2015-2016 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Economic Development Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer (EPCV) Evacuated due to program closure Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020 Peace Corps (U.S.) – Training (cultural, language, technical) Spanish (language) Chalatenango (training site) Los Lopez (assignment site) Outreach360 Atlanta RPCVs Older Americans many faces of peace corps #manyfacesofpeacecorps diversity in peace corpsInterview Rights
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Wuertz, Ellen Interview by Julius Sztuk. 23 Jul. 2023. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Wuertz, E. (2023, July 23). Interview by J. Sztuk. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Wuertz, Ellen, interview by Julius Sztuk. July 23, 2023, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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