Oral history
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection
RPCV-ACC-2020-030
Elaine Staab served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay from 2000 to 2002 on an agriculture project. She had an interest in anthropology and several of her family members had also served in the Peace Corps. In Paraguay, Staab did three months of in-service training outside of the capital. She was then assigned to her community, San Francisco, Calle 15, a rural Guarani speaking community. Staab's primary project was working as an agricultural extension agent to promote crop diversification and soil conservation. She worked with several families and also created model gardens. Her secondary activities included teaching English at the high school; teaching health, nutrition, and sanitation classes; building sanitary latrines; and building fugon brick ovens in several homes. The Peace Corps contributed to her decision to pursue a career as an English teacher in public school. She also serves on the Northern Virginia RPCV Board. Interviewed and recorded by Randolph (Randy) Adams, October 9, 2019. 1 digital audio file.