Camper Selection

Choosing which kids we want to invite to camp is a very difficult process.  Each volunteer works with hundreds, if not thousands, of students in their towns, yet we can only bring two each to camp.  In order to get the most return from the experience, we look for children who have strong English-language skills, leadership qualities, and the motivation to share what they learned with their communities when they return home.

For this camp, we decided to use a standardized selection process to ensure fairness.  First, interested students submit a written application, and then are interviewed by Peace Corps volunteers and school directors.  PCV Eric "George" Woodbury in Sebeta shares his experience selecting campers below:

Picking students to attend was a difficult task. To add objectivity, I asked PCV Gilliane McShane of Tullubollo fame to come and interview with me. I knew student academic performance from class, but we were looking for well-rounded candidates with leadership potential. Meeting someone new in an interview was a clue as to how they would embrace the camp experience.

Of course, the student who listed me as his “role model” in his written application was tough to overlook. But, I only had one vote. The School Director knew the kids best and cast tiebreakers. He did agree that we should take a 7^th grader who was the most active in the English Club. Rewarding effort is part of American culture that we are trying to instill here.

What struck me was how little the students had traveled outside their village of perhaps 5,000. We picked one student who had spent two months in Addis Abeba last summer. He is a solid student and very outgoing. We had to consider downside risk- we didn’t want anyone getting homesick.

I was also taken by the preferred vocations of the candidates. Almost all wanted to be a doctor or a teacher in order to help others. No one talked about gaining wealth. One girl said she wanted to break the gender stereotype and be a butcher- she is our alternate candidate.

When I announced who was picked there was not one complaint! The students all seemed genuinely happy for the ones selected. What a breath of fresh air! In the Northeast U.S., parents might interrogate you about why their student wasn't selected. There is a lot of respect for teachers and elders (which I love!) here, and I think that may be a good thing. It was a very positive experience for all.