Former Peace Corps Member Tells About Time in Swaziland, Africa

A woman who made it her mission to give back was the chosen speaker this month at the Nelson T. Gant house Saturday.

Kris Fowler-Geis says her father taught her to always give back. Since she was the first person in her family to receive a college education, she wanted to give education to others. So she joined the Peace Corps from 1994 to 1996 and taught environmental education to people in Swaziland, Africa. She hopes the people at the Gant House leave with a simple message.

"Just the different culture and how unique different cultures are and how everybody is different, but very similar and how there are more ways than just our way of doing things," says Fowler-Geis.

Fowler-Geis says the Peace Corps has three goals. To take your knowledge and help others, bring American culture to another area and bring that area’s culture back to America. Fowler-Geis encourages people to see as much of the world as they can.

"There is a saying that for every language it is a whole new world and if you know more languages your eyes are opened up to so many new ways of thinking because a language really develops throughout an entire culture and has a different viewpoint from where your language comes from," tells Fowler-Geis.

Geis says everyone should join a service organization after they graduate, but it doesn’t have to be all the way in Africa. Helping people in Zanesville or Ohio can change your life.

Katie Jeffries

KJeffries@whizmediagroup.com