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THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

ETHIOPIA

A P E A C E C O R P S P U B L I C ATI O N
FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA O c t o b e r 2 010 9


2 PEACE CORPS
A WELCOME LETTER
Greetings from Ethiopia!

As your country director, let me be the first to welcome you


and to tell you that I am delighted you will soon be joining
us for training and two years of service. Your commitment
to helping the people of Ethiopia, whether in their struggle
against HIV/AIDS or their desire to better manage their
natural resources, is commendable. Your service will affect the
lives of many people (including yours) in ways that you could
never imagine.

Your two years in Ethiopia will be (to borrow from Dickens)


“the best of times and the worst of times.” It will be a time of
challenge and growth for you. It will not be easy and may even
be the most difficult thing you will ever do. You will be faced
with cultural adjustments, with isolation and loneliness, and
with poverty, misfortune, and the devastation of AIDS in the
very community in which you live. Peace Corps staff will help
you adjust and cope. We will support you during the tough
times and cheer you on at all times. Ultimately, however,
you will need to develop the inner resources and strength of
character necessary to successfully fulfill your commitment.

The rewards of your service will delight and surprise you.


You will develop warm and lasting relationships with your
Ethiopian counterparts, friends, and community members.
You will forge lifelong friendships with other Volunteers. You
will have the opportunity to see, over time, the efforts of your
work revealed through the learning and accomplishment of

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 1


Ethiopian counterparts. You will experience yourself as part
of a different culture; eating different foods, relating in a
different fashion, speaking a new language, and moving at a
different speed. You will have the exposure to a different part
of the world with a very different historical past, a different
form of government, different weather patterns, and different
problems. You will have the privilege of putting a human face
to development and, through it, you will meet and get to know
a proud and friendly people who will welcome you into their
lives and their beautiful country.

Before you even arrive in Ethiopia, we hope you will find ways
to read up on Ethiopian culture and history and maybe even
sample some Ethiopian food, if such restaurants exist near
you. All this will give you a head start for training.

We at the Peace Corps office believe you have made the right
(and brave) decision to join us here in Ethiopia. We look
forward to meeting you soon!

Nwando Diallo

Country Director
NOTES
4 PEACE CORPS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Map of Ethiopia

A Welcome Letter 1

Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers 9

Peace Corps/Ethiopia History and Programs 13


History of the Peace Corps in Ethiopia 13
History and Future of Peace Corps
Programming in Ethiopia 13-14

Country Overview: Ethiopia at a Glance 17


History 17
Government 17-18
Economy 18-20
People and Culture 20
Environment 20

Resources for Further Information 23

Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle 29


Communications 29-30
Housing and Site Location 30-31
Living Allowance and Money Management 31
Food and Diet 31-32
Transportation 32
Geography and Climate 32
Social Activities 32-33
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior 33-34
Personal Safety 34-35
Rewards and Frustrations 35-37

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 5


Peace Corps Training 39
Overview of Pre-Service Training 39
Technical Training 39
Language Training 39-40
Cross-Cultural Training 40
Health Training 41
Safety Training 41
Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service 41-42

Your Health Care and Safety in Ethiopia 45


Health Issues in Ethiopia 45
Helping You Stay Healthy 45-46
Maintaining Your Health 46-47
Women’s Health Information 47
Your Peace Corps Health Kit 48
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist 49-50
Safety and Security—Our Partnership 51
Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 51-53
Summary Strategies to Reduce Risk 53-54
Support from Staff 54-55
Crime Data for Ethiopia 55-57
Security Issues in Ethiopia 57-58
Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime 58-59
Preparing for the Unexpected: Safety Training
and Volunteer Support in Ethiopia 59-61

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues 63


Overview of Diversity in Ethiopia 64
What Might a Volunteer Face? 64
Possible Issues for Female Volunteers 64-65
Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 65
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers 65-66
Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers 66
Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers 66
Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities 66-67
Possible Issues for Married Volunteers 67
Frequently Asked Questions 69

Welcome Letters From Ethiopia Volunteers 75

Packing List 81

Pre-departure Checklist 87

Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters 91


8 PEACE CORPS
CORE EXPECTATIONS
FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS
In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps Mission of
promoting world peace and friendship, as a trainee and
Volunteer, you are expected to:

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a


commitment to serve abroad for a full term of
27 months

2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people


with whom you live and work; and, in doing so, share
your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed

3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under


conditions of hardship, if necessary, and with the
flexibility needed for effective service

4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable


development work is based on the local trust and
confidence you build by living in, and respectfully
integrating yourself into, your host community
and culture

5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7


days a week for your personal conduct and
professional performance

6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of


cooperation, mutual learning, and respect

7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace


Corps and the local and national laws of the country
where you serve

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 9


8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to
protect your health, safety, and well-being and that
of others

9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host


country and community, as a representative of the
people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United
States of America

10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values,


and traditions of your host country and community to
people in the United States both during and following
your service

10 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 11


PEACE CORPS/ETHIOPIA
HISTORY AND PROGRAMS
History of the Peace Corps in Ethiopia
Peace Corps/Ethiopia is one of the oldest Peace Corps
programs. The first group of Peace Corps Volunteers arrived
in Ethiopia (including present-day Eritrea) in September
1962, with 279 secondary school teachers. Volunteers
worked in both secondary and vocational/technical schools,
with others working in the health, small business, rural
development, law, and agriculture sectors. From 1962 to 1977,
Peace Corps/Ethiopia was one of the largest Peace Corps
programs in the world. More than 3,000 Volunteers served in
the country before Peace Corps terminated the program in
1977 due to the unstable political situation.

In 1991, the Marxist regime in power since 1974 was


overthrown. The new government requested Peace Corps’
return and in July 1995, 25 Peace Corps Volunteers arrived
as secondary school English teachers. Hostilities between
Ethiopia and Eritrea erupted in 1999, forcing Peace Corps to
suspend its operations; the program was officially closed in
March 2000. In May 2002, Peace Corps received an invitation
from the government of Ethiopia to resume its program. After
a thorough assessment process, the program reopened with
the arrival of 43 health Volunteers in October 2007. Plans are
underway to initiate an environment program by September
of 2010.

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Ethiopia


The Peace Corps has been involved in almost every facet
of Ethiopia’s development over the past decades, making

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 13


contributions in the fields of education, health, rural
development, and small business development. Peace Corps’
current program focuses on HIV/AIDS. Volunteers collaborate
with Ethiopian counterparts to support the government of
Ethiopia’s strategy to create and strengthen community- and
family-centered HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support
models in the Amhara, Oromiya, Tigray, and Southern Nations
regions. Placements will be in health centers, community-
based organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
and HIV/AIDS resource centers. Peace Corps plans to expand
into the environment sector by September 2010. Environment
Volunteers will collaborate with Ethiopian counterparts to
support the government of Ethiopia’s strategy to protect
its bio-diversity and promote effective and sustainable
management of its natural resources.

14 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 15


COUNTRY OVERVIEW:
ETHIOPIA AT A GLANCE
History
The present Ethiopia is home to more than 80 ethnic and
linguistic communities. Proud to be one of the few African
states that were never colonized, the Kingdom of Ethiopia
dates back to the first millennium. King Menelik I, the
legendary son of Queen Sheba and King Solomon of Israel,
established his kingdom in Axum. After the rise of Islam in
the seventh century, the kingdom became isolated as Arabs
gained control of the Red Sea trading routes. By the 12th
century, the successor of the Axumite dynasty had expanded
southward, principally to Lalibela.

Ethiopia’s modern period (post-1855) was characterized by


the process of recreating a cohesive state; by the Marxist
regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam; and, since mid-1991, by the
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
under Meles Zenawi. The period has been dominated by
recurrent conflict with neighboring Eritrea, formerly a
province of Ethiopia until its independence in 1991. A
tentative cease-fire ended hostilities in 2000, but the border
remains undefined and tensions continue, particularly since
the 2007 withdrawal of U.N. peacekeepers.

Government
In Ethiopia, President Meles Zenawi and members of the
Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE) pledged to
oversee the formation of a multi-party democracy. The
election for a 547-member constituent assembly was held
in June 1994, and this assembly adopted the constitution of
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in December

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 17


1994. The elections for Ethiopia’s first popularly chosen
national parliament and regional legislatures were held in
May and June 1995. Most opposition parties chose to boycott
these elections, ensuring a landslide victory for the EPRDF.
International and nongovernmental observers concluded
that opposition parties would have been able to participate
had they chosen to do so. The Government of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was installed in August 1995.

Parliament consists of the House of Federation, or upper


chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies
to serve five-year terms), and the House of People’s
Representatives, or lower chamber (547 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts
to serve five-year terms). The Council of Ministers is selected
by the prime minister and approved by the House of People’s
Representatives. The president is elected by the House of
People’s Representatives for a six-year term (eligible for a
second term). The last election was in May 2005; the next will
be held in October 2010. The prime minister is designated by
the party in power following legislative elections.

Economy
In the economic arena, the TGE inherited a shattered country.
In his first public speech after the EPRDF had captured Addis
Ababa, Meles Zenawi indicated that Ethiopia’s coffers were
empty; moreover, some 7 million people were threatened
with starvation because of drought and civil war. Economic
performance statistics reflected this gloomy assessment.

The current government has embarked on a cautious


program of economic reform, including privatization of state
enterprises and rationalization of government regulation.
While the process is ongoing, reforms have attracted only
meager foreign investment.

18 PEACE CORPS
The Ethiopian economy is based on agriculture, which
contributes 47 percent to GNP and more than 80 percent of
exports, and employs 85 percent of the population. The major
agricultural export crop is coffee, providing 35 percent of
Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings, down from 65 percent
a decade ago because of the slump in coffee prices since the
mid-1990s. Other traditional major agricultural exports are
hides and skins, pulses, oilseeds, and leather. Sugar and gold
production has also become important in recent years.

Ethiopia’s agriculture is plagued by periodic drought,


soil degradation caused by poor agricultural practices
and overgrazing, deforestation, high population density,
undeveloped water resources, and poor transport
infrastructure, making it difficult and expensive to get goods
to market. Yet agriculture is the country’s most promising
resource. Potential exists for self-sufficiency in grains and
for export development in livestock, flowers, grains, oilseeds,
sugar, vegetables, and fruits.

Gold, marble, limestone, and small amounts of tantalum


are mined in Ethiopia. Other resources with potential for
commercial development include large potash deposits,
natural gas, iron ore, and possibly oil and geothermal energy.
Although Ethiopia has good hydroelectric resources that
power most of its manufacturing sector, it is totally dependent
on imports for its oil.

A landlocked country, Ethiopia has relied on the port of


Djibouti since the 1998–2000 border war with Eritrea.
Ethiopia is connected with the port of Djibouti by road and
rail for international trade. Of the 23,812 kilometers (14,796
miles) of all-weather roads in Ethiopia, about 7,000 km (4,349
miles) are asphalt. Mountainous terrain and the lack of good
roads and sufficient vehicles make land transportation difficult

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 19


and expensive. However, the government-owned airline’s
reputation is excellent. Ethiopian Airlines serves 38 domestic
airfields and has 42 international destinations.

In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the


Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in 2005
the International Monetary Fund voted to forgive Ethiopia’s
debt. Under Ethiopia’s land tenure system, the government
owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the
system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as
entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans.

People and Culture


Ethiopia’s population is mainly rural, with most people living
in highlands above 5,900 feet (1,800 meters).

Religion plays an important role in Ethiopian society. Almost


half the people are Ethiopian Orthodox, while Muslims
account for about 35 percent of the total population. A small
minority are Catholics or Protestants; and the remainder
practice traditional religious beliefs. Amharic is the official
language at the federal level but there are more than 80
ethnic groups with their own distinct languages within
Ethiopia.

Environment
Due to its wide range of altitudes, Ethiopia experiences
extremely varied climatic conditions, including cold
mountains, temperate highlands, and hot deserts. Normally,
the rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-September
(longer in the southern highlands) preceded by intermittent
showers from February to May; the remainder of year is
generally dry.

20 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 21


RESOURCES FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION
Following is a list of websites for additional information about
the Peace Corps and Ethiopia and ways to connect you to
returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind
that although we try to make sure all these links are active
and current, we cannot guarantee it. If you do not have access
to the Internet, visit your local library. Libraries offer free
Internet usage and often let you print information to
take home.

A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that


you may find bulletin boards and chat rooms in which people
are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based
on their own experience, including comments by those who
were unhappy with their choice to serve in the Peace Corps.
These opinions are not those of the Peace Corps or the U.S.
government, and we hope you will keep in mind that no two
people experience their service in the same way.

General Information About Ethiopia

www.countrywatch.com/
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in
the capital of Ethiopia to how to convert from the dollar to
Ethiopian currency. Just click on Ethiopia and go from there.

www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any
country in the world.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 23


www.state.gov
The State Department’s website issues background notes
periodically about countries around the world. Find Ethiopia
and learn more about its social and political history.

www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm
This site includes links to all the official sites for
governments worldwide.

www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online world atlas includes maps and geographical
information, and each country page contains links to
other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain
comprehensive historical, social, and political background.

www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical
information for member states of the U.N.

www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and
historical information about countries around the world.

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees

www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made
up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all
the Web pages of the “friends of” groups for most countries of
service, comprised of former Volunteers who served in those
countries. There are also regional groups that frequently
get together for social events and local volunteer activities.
Or go straight to the Friends of Ethiopia site at http://www.
ethiopiaeritrearpcvs.org/

24 PEACE CORPS
http://www.rpcvwebring.org
This site is known as the returned Peace Corps Volunteer Web
ring. Browse the Web ring and see what former Volunteers are
saying about their service.

www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers.
It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts of their Peace Corps service.

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Ethiopia

http://allafrica.com/ethiopia/
News wire stories about Ethiopia

International Development Sites About Ethiopia

http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/coun-
tries/ethiopia/
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s work
in Ethiopia

Recommended Books
1. Ashabranner, Brent. A Moment in History: The First
Ten Years of the Peace Corps. Garden City, N.Y.:
Doubleday, 1971.

2. Clift, Elayne (ed.). But Do They Have Field


Experience! Potomac, Md.: OGN Publications, 1993.

3. Kennedy, Geraldine (ed.). Hartmattan: A Journey


across the Sahara. Santa Monica, Calif.: Clover Park
Press, 1991.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 25


Books About the History of the Peace Corps
1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The
Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 1960’s. Cambridge,
Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2000.

2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace


Corps. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1985.

3. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent


Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution
Press, 2004.

Books on the Volunteer Experience


1. Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a
Forgotten Place. Santa Barbara, Calif.: McSeas Books,
2004.

2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan


Peace Corps Experience. Gig Harbor, Wash.: Red
Apple Publishing, 2000.

3. Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two


Years in the Heart of an African Village. New York,
N.Y.: Picador, 2003.

4. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the


Yangtze. New York, N.Y.: Perennial, 2001.

5. Kennedy, Geraldine (ed.) From the Center of the


Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps. Santa Monica,
Calif.: Clover Park Press, 1991.

6. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps


Chronicle. Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington
Press, 1997 (reprint).

26 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 27


LIVING CONDITIONS AND
VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE
Communications
Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service we
take for granted in the United States. Airmail from the United
States to major cities in Ethiopia typically takes 2-4 weeks
to arrive. Volunteers have been pleasantly surprised by the
efficiency of the Ethiopian postal service, but delayed and lost
mail does occur. Advise your family and friends to number
their letters and to include “Airmail” and “Par Avion” on
their envelopes. Packages normally take 3-4 weeks to reach
Ethiopia via airmail. Sending packages by ground mail can
take up to a year to arrive so make sure to let your friends
and family know this.

Your address during training will be:

Your Name/PCT
US Peace Corps/Ethiopia
P.O. Box 7788
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

You will purchase a personal postal office box once you move
to your site. Mail arriving in Addis Ababa, after you have
obtained your own postal office box, will continue to be held
at the Peace Corps office until you pass through on official
business or when a Peace Corps/Addis Ababa staff member
visits you at your site.

Telephones
Almost all sites have telecom centers with international long
distance. Peace Corps/Ethiopia provides a telecommunications

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 29


allowance. Cellular telephones are widespread in Ethiopia,
although coverage varies across the country. You will have the
option of purchasing a SIM card and phone during pre-service
training (PST); almost all current Volunteers have mobile
phones.

Computer, Internet, and Email Access


Internet access is available at Internet cafes in most towns
and cities, but can be slow and costly, so most Volunteers use
Internet about once every few weeks. Designated computers
in the resource center at the Peace Corps office have Internet
access, and you are welcome to use these when in Addis
Ababa. Many Volunteers bring laptops for research, digital
photos or entertainment, but as with any valuable item, there
is a risk of theft or damage.

Housing and Site Location


As a Volunteer, you will most likely live in a peri-urban or
small town and have electricity and a water source at your
house, although these services suffer frequent outages and
shortages in Ethiopia. When it comes to your housing, you
should not lose sight of the guiding goal of the Peace Corps.
Maintain your focus on service to the people of Ethiopia and
not on the level of your accommodations.

Housing varies greatly among sites, so Peace Corps sets


minimum housing standards:

• There must be a private, lockable room with a private


entrance, if housing is shared with other people

• The room should have windows

• The roof should not leak

• There should be a cement floor and a place for a


Volunteer to bathe

30 PEACE CORPS
• There should be a latrine that is private or semiprivate
with a cemented floor

• The Volunteer will use the same water source as his or


her community
Your site assignment is made during PST in collaboration
with the training staff. Site placements are made using the
following criteria (in priority order):

• Medical and security considerations

• Priorities of the Ethiopian government

• Site requirements matched with technical, cross-


cultural, and language skills of Volunteers

• Personal preference of the trainee (expressed during


interviews with staff)

Living Allowance and Money Management


Each Volunteer receives a monthly allowance sufficient to
cover basic costs. The allowance enables Volunteers to live
adequately according to the Peace Corps’ philosophy of a
modest lifestyle. It is based on the local cost of living and
is paid in local currency. Your living allowance is intended
to cover food, housing, clothing, transportation from home
to worksite, utilities, household supplies, recreation and
entertainment, incidental personal expenses, communications,
and reading material.

Food and Diet


In most parts of Ethiopia there is a regular, although limited,
selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. Butcher shops sell
beef and lamb, live chickens can be purchased at market and
in areas near lakes, and fresh fish is available. With a little
creativity, you can enjoy a varied diet. Fruits and vegetables

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 31


are seasonal, which means some items may not be available
at all times. Vegetarian Volunteers will have little difficulty
continuing their diets, as Orthodox Christians “fast” by
eating a vegan diet on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout
the year. Vegetarianism, however, is not common, so be
prepared to explain your habits. Meat is eaten during special
occasions and holidays, so it may be prudent to discuss your
vegetarianism with host families early to avoid embarrassing
or offending them.

Transportation
All Volunteers will be expected to travel in Ethiopia using
local transportation (i.e., foot, bicycle, public buses, mini-
vans –called “blue donkeys due to the way they drive in
tight traffic). Volunteers may not own or operate motorized
vehicles in Ethiopia. Peace Corps will provide a stipend for
Volunteers wishing to purchase a bike (with helmet) at site. If
you purchase a bike, you are required to always wear a helmet
while riding.

Geography and Climate


Most of Ethiopia is expected to enjoy a tropical climate due to
its proximity to the equator, but since most of the country’s
land mass is above 4,920 feet (1,500 meters), that is not
the case. Ethiopia experiences extremely varied climatic
conditions from cool to very cold in the highlands which most
of the population inhabits, to one of the hottest places on
Earth at the Danakil Depression.

Social Activities
The most common form of entertainment is socializing among
friends and neighbors. Some Volunteers visit other Volunteers
on weekends and holidays. The Peace Corps encourages

32 PEACE CORPS
Volunteers to remain at their sites as much as possible to
develop relationships with community members, but it also
recognizes that they need to make occasional trips to regional
centers and to visit friends.

You will find it easy to make friends in your community and


to participate in weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations,
and other social events. It is impossible to overemphasize the
rewards of establishing rapport with supervisors, co-workers,
and other community members. A sincere effort to learn the
local language will greatly facilitate these interactions.

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior


Ethiopians regard dress and appearance as an outward sign
of the respect one holds for another individual. Neatness in
appearance is more important than being “stylish.” Volunteers
should always wear clean and neat clothes. Buttoned shirts for
men and blouses and skirts or dresses (to or below the knee)
for women are appropriate during business hours. T-shirts are
appropriate only for casual, non-business activities. Tank tops,
see-through blouses, or low-cut blouses are not appropriate;
exposing one’s shoulders is unacceptable. Blue jeans should
not be worn during business hours unless the conditions of
the job assignment or training activity allow it, and never
when visiting government offices. Shorts may be worn only at
home, when exercising (if appropriate), or when doing work.

Aside from dress, there are other standards of appearance


that must be respected. Women should wear appropriate
undergarment, including bras and slips. Your hair should be
clean and combed. For men, beards should be neatly trimmed.

The matter of sexual behavior is, of course, a highly personal


one. However, because of other social implications of such
behavior, it is important that Peace Corps standards be clear.
Sexual mores in Ethiopia are very conservative and strict,

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 33


and you are expected to respect them. Public displays of
affection between members of the opposite sex, such as
kissing, hand holding, or hugging are not generally socially
acceptable, though hand holding among men is very common.
Homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia and punishable by
imprisonment or deportation. Further information will be
provided during your PST on appropriate and inappropriate
sexual behavior.

These restrictions have been formalized in response to


specific instances of inappropriate dress and behavior by
Volunteers. In general, the above guidance is meant to convey
to Volunteers that adherence to professional standards is
appropriate at all times and in all places. When in doubt, look
to your Ethiopian counterparts for guidance. If the country
director determines that willful disregard of cultural standards
is jeopardizing your credibility or that of the program, you
may be administratively separated from the Peace Corps.

Personal Safety
More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach
to safety is contained in the Health Care and Safety chapter,
but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As
stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps
Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling
in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a
limited understanding of local language and culture, and being
perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a
Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying degrees
of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and
burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and
sexual assault do occur, although most Ethiopia Volunteers
complete their two years of service without personal security
incidents. The Peace Corps has established procedures and
policies designed to help you reduce your risks and enhance

34 PEACE CORPS
your safety and security. These procedures and policies, in
addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive
in Ethiopia. At the same time, you are expected to take
responsibility for your safety and well-being.

Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed


to providing Volunteers with the support they need to
successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe,
healthy, and productive service. We encourage Volunteers and
families to look at our safety and security information on the
Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov/safety.

Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer


health and Volunteer safety. A video message from the
Director is on this page, as well as a section titled “Safety and
Security in Depth.” This page lists topics ranging from the
risks of serving as a Volunteer to posts’ safety support systems
to emergency planning and communications.

Rewards and Frustrations


Before accepting this assignment, you should give ample
thought to some of the potential obstacles you will face. Until
your adjustment to Ethiopia is complete, you will undoubtedly
feel out of place speaking a new language and trying to
practice customs that may seem strange to you. No matter
what your ethnic, religious, or racial background is, you may
stick out as someone from outside the Ethiopian culture.
However, many situations can be overcome with a sense of
humor and an open mind.

Your work situation may also present many difficulties and


frustrations. Most of your work will be to educate, motivate,
and organize community groups, an often slow task. You will
find yourself in situations that require an ability to motivate

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 35


yourself and your colleagues and take action with little
guidance from your colleagues and counterparts. You must
possess the self-confidence, patience, and vision to continue
working toward long-term goals without seeing immediate
results or feedback. Co-workers, severely underpaid and
burdened with extended family commitments, will have a
much different outlook on life than your own, and rainy and
agricultural seasons will delay many project activities. As each
Volunteer’s job description will be uniquely dependent upon
the expressed needs of the community and the skills that you
bring, you will be constantly defining and redefining your role
as you attempt to meet the needs of your community. This
is both a gift and a challenge. A gift in that you are free to
work in areas where you are needed most, and a challenge in
that you must invent and reinvent yourself in an oftentimes
unstructured work environment. Defining your role and
finding your “niche” within your community will be one of
your greatest challenges, but one that can be achieved with
time, personal drive, resourcefulness, and a flexible and
patient mind.

Peace Corps service is not for everyone. More than a job, it


requires greater dedication and commitment to serve than
do most other work environments. It is for confident, self-
starting, and concerned individuals who are interested in
assisting in other countries and increasing understanding
across cultures. If you have the personal qualities needed to
accept the challenges described above and can demonstrate
them for a two-year service commitment in Ethiopia, you will
have a rewarding, enriching, and lasting experience, while
at the same time making a much-needed contribution to the
development of Ethiopia.

Even with the many economic, social, political, and


environmental challenges facing Ethiopia today, there is an
atmosphere of excitement and hope. The changes occurring

36 PEACE CORPS
are some of the most important in the country’s modern
history. To join the people of Ethiopia in this effort, and to
be part of this historical and defining moment, will be both
fascinating and satisfying to Volunteers willing to work hard,
be tolerant, and give generously of their time.

The HIV epidemic strikes across all social strata in Ethiopia.


You will probably be working regularly with people living with
HIV/AIDS. Volunteers need to prepare themselves to embrace
these relationships in a sensitive and positive manner. It is
important to be aware of the high emotional toll this disease
can have on Volunteers and take care to maintain your own
emotional strength so you can continue to serve
your community.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 37


PEACE CORPS TRAINING
Overview of Pre-Service Training
Pre-service training (PST) will be busy for
everyone. Often you will work over eight hours a day before
returning to your host family in the evening. Be prepared
for a rigorous and full schedule. Training will be conducted
by Ethiopian staff members and current Volunteers who
will serve as valuable resources for dealing with the many
questions that will arise. PST covers five major topics:

Technical Training
Technical training will prepare you to work in Ethiopia by
building on the skills you already have and helping you
develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the
country. The Peace Corps staff, Ethiopia experts, and current
Volunteers will conduct the training program. Training places
great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have
to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer.

Technical training will include sessions on the general


economic and political environment in Ethiopia and strategies
for working within such a framework. You will review your
technical sector’s goals and will meet with the Ethiopia
agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to
assist them. You will be supported and evaluated throughout
the training to build the confidence and skills you need to
undertake your project activities and be a productive member
of your community.

Language Training
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills
are the key to personal and professional satisfaction during

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 39


your service. These skills are critical to your job performance,
they help you integrate into your community, and they can
ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings.
Therefore, language training is the heart of the training
program, and you must successfully meet minimum language
requirements to complete training and become a Volunteer.
Ethiopia language instructors teach formal language classes
five days a week in small groups of four to five people.

Your language training will incorporate a community-based


approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given
assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with
your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic
social communication skills so that you can practice and
develop language skills further once you are at your site. Prior
to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies
to continue language studies during your service.

Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your pre-service training, you will live with an
Ethiopian host family. This experience is designed to ease
your transition to life at your site. Families go through an
orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the
purpose of pre-service training and to assist them in helping
you adapt to living in Ethiopia. Many Volunteers form strong
and lasting friendships with their host families.

Cross-cultural and community development training will help


you improve your communication skills and understand your
role as a facilitator of development. You will be exposed to
topics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution,
gender and development, nonformal and adult education
strategies, and political structures.

40 PEACE CORPS
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical
training and information. You will be expected to practice
preventive health care and to take responsibility for your
own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are
required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include
preventive health measures and minor and major medical
issues that you might encounter while in Ethiopia. Nutrition,
mental health, safety and security, setting up a safe living
compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) are also covered.

Safety Training
During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to
adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work, and
during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective
strategies for coping with unwanted attention and about your
individual responsibility for promoting safety throughout
your service.

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service


In its commitment to institutionalize quality training, the
Peace Corps has implemented a training system that provides
Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their
commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their
technical and cross-cultural skills. During service, there are
usually three training events. The titles and objectives for
those trainings are as follows:

• In-service training: Provides an opportunity for


Volunteers to upgrade their technical, language,
and project development skills while sharing their
experiences and reaffirming their commitment after
having served for three to six months.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 41


• Midterm conference (done in conjunction with
technical sector in-service): Assists Volunteers in
reviewing their first year, reassessing their personal and
project objectives, and planning for their second year
of service.

• Close of service conference: Prepares Volunteers for


the future after Peace Corps service and reviews their
respective projects and personal experiences.

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted


to country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the
training system is that training events are integrated and
interrelated, from the pre-departure orientation through
the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and
evaluated cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps
staff, and Volunteers.

42 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 43


YOUR HEALTH CARE AND
SAFETY IN ETHIOPIA
The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good
health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical
programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative,
approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Ethiopia maintains
a clinic with a full-time medical officer, who takes care of
Volunteers’ primary health care needs. Additional medical
services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also
available in Ethiopia at local hospitals. If you become seriously
ill, you will be transported either to an American-standard
medical facility in the region or to the United States.

Health Issues in Ethiopia


Ethiopia is geographically diverse. Health risks in Ethiopia
include insect-borne diseases such as malaria, tick-borne
typhus, and dengue fever; food- and water-borne diseases
such as intestinal worms, giardiasis, amebiasis, typhoid fever,
hepatitis A and E, cholera, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, polio,
rabies and snake bites. There are also periodic outbreaks
of meningococcal meningitis in some areas, and fatal
hemorrhagic fevers are present but rare.

Helping You Stay Healthy


The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary
inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy.
Upon your arrival in Ethiopia, you will receive a medical
handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a medical
kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first-aid
needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 45


During pre-service training, you will have access to basic
medical supplies through the medical officer. However, you
will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs
and any other specific medical supplies you require, as the
Peace Corps will not order these items during training. Please
bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs you use,
since they may not be available here and it may take several
months for shipments to arrive.

You will have physicals at midservice and at the end of your


service. If you develop a serious medical problem during
your service, the medical officer in Ethiopia will consult with
the Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is
determined that your condition cannot be treated in Ethiopia,
you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation
and care.

Maintaining Your Health


As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility
for your own health. Proper precautions will significantly
reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. The adage “An
ounce of prevention …” becomes extremely important in
areas where diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up
to the standards of the United States. The most important
of your responsibilities in Ethiopia is to take the following
preventive measures:

Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely


preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken.
These illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections,
hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worms, tapeworms, and
typhoid fever. Your medical officer will discuss specific
standards for water and food preparation in Ethiopia during
pre-service training.

46 PEACE CORPS
Abstinence is the only certain choice for preventing infection
with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. You are
taking risks if you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk,
use a condom every time you have sex. Whether your partner
is a host country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else,
do not assume this person is free of HIV/AIDS or other STDs.
You will receive more information from the medical officer
about this important issue.

Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means


of birth control to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Your
medical officer can help you decide on the most appropriate
method to suit your individual needs. Contraceptive methods
are available without charge from the medical officer.

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the


medical office or other designated facility for scheduled
immunizations, and that you let the medical officer know
immediately of significant illnesses and injuries.

Women’s Health Information


Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer
health conditions that require medical attention but also have
programmatic ramifications. The Peace Corps is responsible
for determining the medical risk and the availability of
appropriate medical care if the Volunteer remains in-country.
Given the circumstances under which Volunteers live and
work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’
medical and programmatic standards for continued service
during pregnancy can be met.

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to


purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps medical
officer in Ethiopia will provide them. If you require a specific
product, please bring a three-month supply with you.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 47


Your Peace Corps Medical Kit
The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit
that contains basic items necessary to prevent and treat
illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be
periodically restocked at the medical office.

Medical Kit Contents


Ace bandages
Adhesive tape
American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook
Antacid tablets (Tums)
Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B)
Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens)
Band-Aids
Butterfly closures
Calamine lotion
Cepacol lozenges
Condoms
Dental floss
Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)
Insect repellent stick (Cutter’s)
Iodine tablets (for water purification)
Lip balm (Chapstick)
Oral rehydration salts
Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)
Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed)
Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough)
Scissors
Sterile gauze pads
Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
Tinactin (antifungal cream)
Tweezers

48 PEACE CORPS
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist
If there has been any change in your health—physical, mental,
or dental—since you submitted your examination reports to
the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of
Medical Services. Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries,
allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and may
jeopardize your eligibility to serve.

If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your
physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office
of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update
your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant
has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or
repair, you must complete that work and make sure your
dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the
Office of Medical Services.

If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact


your physician’s office to obtain a copy of your immunization
record and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you
have any immunizations prior to Peace Corps service, the
Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for the cost. The Peace
Corps will provide all the immunizations necessary for your
overseas assignment, either at your pre-departure orientation
or shortly after you arrive in Ethiopia. You do not need to
begin taking malaria medication prior to departure.

Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-


counter medication you use on a regular basis, including
birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot
reimburse you for this three-month supply, it will order
refills during your service. While awaiting shipment—which
can take several months—you will be dependent on your
own medication supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for
herbal or nonprescribed medications, such as St. John’s wort,
glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 49


You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions
signed by your physician. This is not a requirement, but they
might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about
carrying a three-month supply of prescription drugs.

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you—a pair and
a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace it, using
the information your doctor in the United States provided
on the eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace
Corps discourages you from using contact lenses during your
service to reduce your risk of developing a serious infection
or other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have
appropriate water and sanitation to support eye care with
the use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply
or replace contact lenses or associated solutions unless an
ophthalmologist has recommended their use for a specific
medical condition and the Peace Corps’ Office of Medical
Services has given approval.

If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age,


or have a health condition that may restrict your future
participation in health care plans, you may wish to consult
an insurance specialist about unique coverage needs before
your departure. The Peace Corps will provide all necessary
health care from the time you leave for your pre-departure
orientation until you complete your service. When you finish,
you will be entitled to the post-service health care benefits
described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. You may
wish to consider keeping an existing health plan in effect
during your service if you think age or preexisting conditions
might prevent you from reenrolling in your current plan when
you return home.

50 PEACE CORPS
Safety and Security—Our Partnership
Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety
and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar
environment, a limited understanding of the local language
and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American
are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk.
Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon. Incidents
of physical and sexual assault do occur, although almost all
Volunteers complete their two years of service without serious
personal safety problems. In addition, more than 83 percent
of Volunteers surveyed in the 2008 Peace Corps Volunteer
Survey say they would join the Peace Corps again.

The Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a


partnership with you. This Welcome Book contains sections
on: Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle; Peace Corps
Training; and Your Health Care and Safety. All of these
sections include important safety and security information.

The Peace Corps makes every effort to give Volunteers the


tools they need to function in the safest and most secure way
possible, because working to maximize the safety and security
of Volunteers is our highest priority. Not only do we provide
you with training and tools to prepare for the unexpected, but
we teach you to identify, minimize and manage the risks you
may encounter.

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk


There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s
risk, many of which are within the Volunteer’s control.
By far the most common crime incidents that Volunteers
experience are thefts. Frequently these occur in crowded
locations, such as markets or on public transportation,
or are due to Volunteers leaving items unattended. More
serious assaults, however, do occasionally occur. Based on

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 51


information gathered from incident reports worldwide in
2007, the following factors stand out as risk characteristics
for crimes against Volunteers, many of which can be avoided
with appropriate actions. Assaults consist of physical and
sexual assaults committed against Volunteers; property crimes
include robbery, burglary, theft, and vandalism.

• Location: Most assaults (53 percent) occurred when


Volunteers were in public areas (e.g., street, park,
beach, public buildings). Specifically, 36 percent of
assaults took place when Volunteers were away from
their sites. Most property crimes occurred in the
Volunteer’s residence or another Volunteer’s residence,
followed closely by public areas. Forty-eight percent of
property crimes occurred when Volunteers were away
from their sites

• Time: Assaults usually took place during the evening,


between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.— though the single hour
with the largest percentage of assaults was 1:00 a.m.(8
percent) Property crimes were more common in the
middle of the day, from noon to 9 p.m.

• Day: Assaults and property crimes were more


commonly reported on weekends (48 percent and 49
percent, respectively).

• Absence of others: Assaults and property crimes (64


percent and 53 percent, respectively) occured more
frequently when the Volunteer was alone.

• Relationship to assailant: In most assaults and property


crimes (64 percent and 85 percent), the Volunteer did
not know or could not identify the assailant.

• Consumption of alcohol: 23 percent of all assaults


and 4 percent of all property crimes involved alcohol
consumption by Volunteers and/or assailants.

52 PEACE CORPS
Risk factors can vary within countries throughout the world
that are served by the Peace Corps. A Volunteer in Ethiopia
may face risks specific to this country in addition to risks
associated with living in a developing country.

Summary Strategies to Reduce Risk


Before and during service, your training will address these
areas of concern so you can reduce the risks you face. For
example, here are some strategies Volunteers employ:

Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of theft:


• Know the environment and choose safe routes/times
for travel

• Avoid high-crime areas per Peace Corps guidance

• Know the vocabulary to get help in an emergency

• Carry valuables in different pockets/places

• Carry a “dummy” wallet as a decoy

Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of burglary:


• Live with a local family or on a family compound

• Put strong locks on doors and keep valuables in a lock


box or trunk

• Leave irreplaceable objects at home in the U.S.

• Purchase the Peace Corps recommended personal


property insurance

• Follow Peace Corps guidelines on maintaining


home security

Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of assault:


• Make local friends with local people who are respected
in the community

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 53


• Make sure your appearance is respectful of local
customs; don’t draw negative attention to yourself by
wearing inappropriate clothing

• Get to know local officials, police, and neighbors

• Travel with someone trusted by your community


whenever possible

• Avoid known high crime areas

• Limit alcohol consumption

Support from Staff


In March 2003, the Peace Corps created the Office of
Safety and Security with its mission to “foster improved
communication, coordination, oversight, and accountability of
all Peace Corps’ safety and security efforts.” This office is led
by an associate director for safety and security who reports to
the Peace Corps Director and includes divisions which focus
on Volunteer safety and overseas security and crime statistics
and analysis.

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident,


Peace Corps staff is prepared to provide support. All Peace
Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents
of crime committed against Volunteers. The first priority
for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure
the Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as
needed. After assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace
Corps staff members provide support by reassessing the
Volunteer’s worksite and housing arrangements and making
any adjustments, as needed. In some cases, the nature of the
incident may necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace
Corps staff will also assist Volunteers with preserving their
rights to pursue legal sanctions against the perpetrators of the
crime. It is very important that Volunteers report incidents as

54 PEACE CORPS
they occur, not only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also
to preserve the future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers
decide later in the process that they want to proceed with the
prosecution of their assailant, this option may no longer exist
if the evidence of the event has not been preserved at the
time of the incident.

Crime Data for Ethiopia


The country-specific data chart below shows the incidence
rates and the average number of incidents of the major types
of safety incidents reported by Peace Corps Volunteers/
trainees in Ethiopia as compared to all other Africa region
programs as a whole, from 20022004–20062008. It is
presented to you in a somewhat technical manner for
statistical accuracy.

To fully appreciate the collected data below, an explanation of


the graph is provided as follows:

The incidence rate for each type of crime is the number of


crime events relative to the Volunteer/trainee population.
It is expressed on the chart as a ratio of crime to Volunteer
and trainee years (or V/T years, which is a measure of 12 full
months of V/T service) to allow for a statistically valid way
to compare crime data across countries. An “incident” is a
specific offense, per Peace Corps’ classification of offenses,
and may involve one or more Volunteer/trainee victims. For
example, if two Volunteers are robbed at the same time and
place, this is classified as one robbery incident.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 55


Incidence Rates ofofReported
Incidence Rates ReportedIncidents
Incidentsin
in PC/Ethiopia andAfrica
PC/Ethiopia and Africa
Region,
Region,2004-2008
2004-2008
9.0
8.0
8.0

7.0
6.2 6.2
6.0 5.3 Ethiopia
5.0 Africa
4.1 4.1
4.0
2.7
3.0

2.0
1.1
0.7 0.8
1.0
0.0 0.0
0.0
Sexual Other Sexual Physical Robbery Burglary Theft
Assault* Assault** Assault***
*Sexual Assault includes the categories of rape, attempted rape, and major sexual assault.
**Other Sexual Assault consists of unwanted groping, fondling, and/or kissing.
***Physical Assault includes aggravated assault and major physical assault.

1Incidence rates equal the number of assaults per 100 Volunteers and trainees
per year (V/T years). Since most sexual assaults occur against females, only
female V/Ts are calculated in sexual assaults and other sexual assaults.
2Due to the small number of V/T years, incidence rates should be interpreted
with caution.
3Data collection for Ethiopia began as of 2007.
Source data on incidents are drawn from Assault Notification Surveillance
System (ANSS),
Epidemiologic Surveillance System (ESS), and Crime Incident Reporting
Form (CIRF);
the information is accurate as of 9/04/09.
Prior to CIRF and prior to 2006, Other Sexual Assaults were termed Minor
Sexual Assault.

The chart is separated into eight crime categories. These


include vandalism (malicious defacement or damage of
property); theft (taking without force or illegal entry);
burglary (forcible entry of a residence); robbery (taking
something by force); other physical assault (attacking without
a weapon with minor injuries); other sexual assault (fondling,
groping, etc.); aggravated assault (attacking with a weapon,
and/or without a weapon when serious injury results); and
rape (sexual intercourse without consent).

When anticipating Peace Corps Volunteer service, you should


review all of the safety and security information provided
to you, including the strategies to reduce risk. Throughout
your training and Volunteer service, you will be expected to
successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of

56 PEACE CORPS
areas, including safety and security. Once in-country, use the
tools and information shared with you to remain as safe and
secure as possible.

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes


and, naturally, crimes that occur overseas are investigated
and prosecuted by local authorities through the local courts
system. If you are the victim of a crime, it is up to you if you
wish to pursue prosecution. If you decide to prosecute, Peace
Corps will be there to assist you. The Office of Safety and
Security, through our regionally-based Peace Corps safety and
security officers, will work with the security officer at the U.S.
embassy and the staff at the Peace Corps office in-country
to coordinate with local police and prosecutors. One of our
tasks is to ensure you are fully informed of your options and
understand how the local legal process works. We are here to
provide support and assistance every step of the way. Peace
Corps will help you ensure your rights are protected to the
fullest extent possible under the laws of the country.

If you are the victim of a serious crime, get to a safe location


as quickly as possible and contact your Peace Corps office. It’s
important that you notify Peace Corps as soon as you can so
we can get you the help you need.

Security Issues in Ethiopia


When it comes to your safety and security in the Peace Corps,
you have to be willing to adapt your behavior and lifestyle to
minimize the potential for being a target for crime. As with
anywhere in the world, crime does exist in Ethiopia. You can
reduce your risk by avoiding situations that make you feel
uncomfortable and by taking precautions. Crime at the village
or town level is less frequent than in the large cities; people
know each other and generally are less likely to steal from
their neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are favorite

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 57


worksites for pickpockets. The following are safety concerns
in Ethiopia of which you should be aware:

Major Ethiopian cities are growing at a rapid rate, and with


increasing economic difficulties, they are becoming more
dangerous. There are increases in the number of beggars,
street children, and violent crimes in all the large cities
of Ethiopia.

Travel is by far one of the biggest concerns for Volunteers


in Ethiopia. The safest response is to avoid travel whenever
possible; yet, the reality is that for work, medical, or other
reasons Volunteers do travel from time to time. As part of
Peace Corps/Ethiopia’s overall preventive strategy to reduce
road travel, the post has developed a safety and security
plan that includes bringing service closer to Volunteers
(e.g., conducting medical clinics at regional offices and
conducting regional meetings). The post also has developed
detailed safety policies regarding Volunteer travel. Regional
meetings provide opportunities to review safety and security
information at Volunteer sites, discuss preventive strategies,
and review or revise locator maps and the emergency
action plan.

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime


You must be prepared to take on a large degree of
responsibility for your own safety. Only you can make yourself
less of a target, ensure that your home is secure, and develop
relationships in your community that will make you an
unlikely victim of crime. In coming to Ethiopia, do what you
would do if you moved to a new city in the United States:
Be cautious, check things out, ask questions, learn about
your neighborhood, know where the more risky locations
are, use common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your
vulnerability to crime by integrating into your community,

58 PEACE CORPS
learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding
by Peace Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely and
effectively in Ethiopia may require that you accept some
restrictions on your current lifestyle.

Volunteers tend to attract a lot of attention both in large cities


and at their sites, but they are more likely to receive negative
attention in highly populated centers, and away from their
support network (“family,” friends, and colleagues) who look
out for them. While whistles and exclamations may be fairly
common on the street, this behavior can be reduced if you
dress conservatively, abide by local cultural norms, and do not
respond to unwanted attention. In addition, keep your money
out of sight by using an undergarment money pouch, the kind
that hangs around your neck and stays hidden under your
shirt or inside your coat. Do not keep your money in outside
pockets of backpacks, in coat pockets, or in fanny packs. And
always walk with a companion at night.

Peace Corps/Ethiopia has developed a comprehensive


Volunteer safety and security handbook that will be issued to
you when you arrive in-country.

Preparing for the Unexpected: Safety Training and Volunteer


Support in Ethiopia
The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to
help you stay safe during your two-year service and includes
the following: information sharing, Volunteer training, site
selection criteria, a detailed emergency action plan, and
protocols for addressing safety and security incidents.
Ethiopia’s in-country safety program is outlined below.

The Peace Corps/Ethiopia office will keep you informed of any


issues that may impact Volunteer safety through information
sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 59


newsletters and in memorandums from the country director.
In the event of a critical situation or emergency, you will be
contacted through the emergency communication network.
An important component of the capacity of Peace Corps to
keep you informed is your buy-in to the partnership concept
with the Peace Corps staff. It is expected that you will do
your part in ensuring that Peace Corps staff members are
kept apprised of your movements in-country so that they are
capable of informing you.

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and


security issues in Ethiopia. This training will prepare you to
adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment
that promotes safety and reduces risk in your home, at work,
and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout
service and is integrated into the language, cross-cultural
aspects, health, and other components of training. You will be
expected to successfully complete all training competencies in
a variety of areas, including safety and security, as a condition
of service.

Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe


housing for Volunteers before their arrival. The Peace Corps
staff works closely with host communities and counterpart
agencies to help prepare them for a Volunteer’s arrival and to
establish expectations of their respective roles in supporting
the Volunteer. Each site is inspected before the Volunteer’s
arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure
housing and worksites. Site selection is based, in part, on
any relevant site history; access to medical, banking, postal,
and other essential services; availability of communications,
transportation, and markets; different housing options and
living arrangements; and other Volunteer support needs.

60 PEACE CORPS
You will also learn about Peace Corps/Ethiopia’s detailed
emergency action plan, which is implemented in the event of
civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive
at your site, you will complete and submit a site locator form
with your address, contact information, and a map to your
house. If there is a security threat, you will gather with other
Volunteers in Ethiopia at predetermined locations until the
situation is resolved or the Peace Corps decides
to evacuate.

Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive


to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers
immediately report any security incident to the Peace
Corps office. The Peace Corps has established protocols
for addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and
appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety
and security data to track trends and develop strategies to
minimize risks to future Volunteers.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 61


DIVERSITY AND CROSS-
CULTURAL ISSUES
In fulfilling its mandate to share the face of America with
host countries, the Peace Corps is making special efforts to
see that all of America’s richness is reflected in the Volunteer
corps. More Americans of color are serving in today’s Peace
Corps than at any time in recent years. Differences in race,
ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation
are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of
the Peace Corps’ mission is to help dispel any notion that
Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that
each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our
many differences.

Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways,


however, it poses challenges. In Ethiopia, as in other
Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers’ behavior, lifestyle,
background, and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very
different from their own. Certain personal perspectives or
characteristics commonly accepted in the United States may
be quite uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed
in Ethiopia.

Outside of Ethiopia’s capital, residents of rural communities


have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures,
races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical
American behavior or norms may be a misconception, such
as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair
and blue eyes. The people of Ethiopia are justly known for
their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of
the community in which you will live may display a range of
reactions to cultural differences that you present.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 63


To ease the transition and adapt to life in Ethiopia, you may
need to make some temporary, yet fundamental compromises
in how you present yourself as an American and as an
individual. For example, female trainees and Volunteers may
not be able to exercise the independence available to them
in the United States; political discussions need to be handled
with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best
remain undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and
personal strategies for coping with these and other limitations.
The Peace Corps staff will lead diversity and sensitivity
discussions during pre-service training and will be on call to
provide support, but the challenge ultimately will be
your own.

Overview of Diversity in Ethiopia


The Peace Corps staff in Ethiopia recognizes the adjustment
issues that come with diversity and will endeavor to
provide support and guidance. During pre-service training,
several sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping
mechanisms. We look forward to having male and female
Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups, ages,
religions, and sexual orientations, and hope that you will
become part of a diverse group of Americans who take pride
in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of
American culture.

What Might a Volunteer Face?

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers


Peace Corps Volunteers in Ethiopia work mostly in rural
areas. Traditional gender roles are very distinct in Ethiopia,
especially among the Muslim community. Generally, women

64 PEACE CORPS
are expected to show deference to men and do most of the
housework. Sexual harassment (e.g., men making unwanted
comments) is common. As a Volunteer, it is important to
stand up for your rights and beliefs as a person while still
being culturally sensitive. Female Volunteers should expect
curiosity from host country friends regarding their marital
status and whether they have children, and if not, why.

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color


The average rural Ethiopian assumes that all Americans are
white (Caucasian). White Volunteers may receive special
attention, both positive and negative, including being
harassed for money or food, especially in public areas. Some
Ethiopians are unaware that there are black Americans,
Asians and Latinos, and may not believe, at first, that you are
an American.

Volunteers of color in Ethiopia will have unique experiences


and encounters with issues relating to their race and ethnicity.
However, being called by the wrong race or ethnicity is a
common issue. Whereas in the United States Volunteers may
have identified themselves as a member of a specific group,
they may suddenly find themselves being labeled “white.”

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers


The Ethiopian culture has great respect for age. As a senior
Volunteer, people may offer to do things for you as a sign of
respect. Since the mandatory retirement age is 55, Ethiopians
may not fully comprehend why a “retiree” would still
be working.

Pre-service training may be physically demanding for older


Volunteers. Likewise, language acquisition may also
be challenging.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 65


Because most Peace Corps Volunteers are comparatively
young, older Volunteers may feel a sense of isolation within
the Volunteer community. On the other hand, some older
Volunteers serve as mentors and may be sought out by the
younger Volunteer community.

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers


Homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia and is punishable by
imprisonment or deportation. Many Ethiopians have beliefs
about homosexuality similar to those of many Americans
in the 1940s and 1950s. It is important for gay, lesbian,
or bisexual Volunteers to know about these conservative
attitudes to be able to live and work productively in Ethiopian
communities. Past Volunteers in Ethiopia have reported that
they could not publicly acknowledge their sexuality for fear
of negative repercussions. We suggest that anyone wishing to
discuss this subject do so in confidence with a Peace Corps
staff member. The medical office can provide confidential
counseling and help connect you with the gay and lesbian
support group for returned Volunteers.

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers


Ethiopia is a highly religious society, both Christian and
Muslim. Prayers at public gatherings are common. Generally,
you will not observe the separation of church and state
in your community activities. People will ask you what
denomination you are and might try to convert you to theirs.

Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities


As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps
Office of Medical Services determined that you were
physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable
accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer service
in Ethiopia without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself

66 PEACE CORPS
or interruption of service. The Peace Corps/Ethiopia staff
will work with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable
accommodations for them in training, housing, jobsites, or
other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively.

The post complies with the Americans With Disabilities


Act to ensure productive Peace Corps service by physically
challenged Volunteers.

Ethiopians who are physically challenged are generally


not accorded the same human dignity as other Ethiopians.
Regardless of the nature of the physical challenge, social
services are generally lacking for these Ethiopians. Ethiopia
has little infrastructure to accommodate the needs of
individuals with physical handicaps, blindness or
mobility impairment.

Possible Issues for Married Volunteers


Given the distinct gender roles within Ethiopian society,
especially in the rural areas, Ethiopians will expect married
Volunteers to act accordingly. For example, the wife is
expected to cook, clean and do laundry so neighbors will ask
questions if they see the husband doing chores they
consider inappropriate.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 67


68 PEACE CORPS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Ethiopia?
Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess
charges for transport of baggage that exceeds those limits.
The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will
not pay the cost of transport for baggage that exceeds these
limits. The Peace Corps’ allowance is two checked pieces
of luggage with combined dimensions of both pieces not to
exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and a carry-on
bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked
baggage should not exceed 80 pounds [or 100 for countries
with cold weather] total with a maximum weight of 50 pounds
for any one bag.

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets,


weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave radios
are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas
assignments. Do not pack flammable materials or liquids
such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol
containers. This is an important safety precaution.

What is the electric current in Ethiopia?


The local current is 220-240 volts/50 cycles. Small electrical
appliances can generally be used with converters. Most
electronic equipment (MP3 players, battery chargers, etc.)
will operate on local current with just an adapter (two small
round pins).

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 69


How much money should I bring?
Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people
in their community. You will be given a settling-in allowance
and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your
expenses. Often Volunteers wish to bring additional money for
vacation travel to other countries. Credit cards and traveler’s
checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra
money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans
and needs.

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?


Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of
service (excluding training). Leave may not be taken during
training, the first three months of service, or the last three
months of service, except in conjunction with an authorized
emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit
you after pre-service training and the first three months of
service as long as their stay does not interfere with your work.
Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and may
require permission from your country director. The Peace
Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa, medical, or
travel assistance.

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?


The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for
personal effects; Volunteers are ultimately responsible for
the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you
can purchase personal property insurance before you leave.
If you wish, you may contact your own insurance company;
additionally, insurance application forms will be provided,
and we encourage you to consider them carefully. Volunteers
should not ship or take valuable items overseas. Jewelry,
watches, radios, cameras, and expensive appliances are

70 PEACE CORPS
subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and in many places,
satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available.

Do I need an international driver’s license?


Volunteers in Ethiopia do not need an international driver’s
license because they are prohibited from operating privately
owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or
taxi. Rural travel ranges from buses and minibuses to trucks,
bicycles, and lots of walking.

What should I bring as gifts for Ethiopian friends and my


host family?
This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient.
Some gift suggestions include knickknacks for the house;
pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs
from your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or
photos to give away.

Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how


isolated will I be?
Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites
until after they have completed pre-service training. This
gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each
trainee’s technical and language skills prior to assigning sites,
in addition to finalizing site selections with their ministry
counterparts. If feasible, you may have the opportunity to
provide input on your site preferences, including geographical
location, distance from other Volunteers, and living conditions.
However, keep in mind that many factors influence the site
selection process and that the Peace Corps cannot guarantee
placement where you would ideally like to be. Most Volunteers

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 71


live in small towns or in rural villages and are usually within
several hours from another Volunteer. Some sites require a
10- to 12-hour drive from the capital.

How can my family contact me in an emergency?


The Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services provides
assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and
Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States,
instruct your family to notify the Office of Special Services
immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious
illness or death of a family member. The number for the
Office of Special Services is 800.424.8580; select option 2,
then extension 1470, or 202.692.1470. For nonemergency
questions, your family can get information from your country
desk staff at the Peace Corps by calling 800.424.8580.

72 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 73


WELCOME LETTERS FROM
ETHIOPIA VOLUNTEERS
Salam!
Welcome to Ethiopia, birthplace of mankind and coffee!
You’ve been offered a choice that will send you on the most
challenging, but probably most rewarding, adventure of your
life. Just a few months after moving to my quiet mountain
town, I felt like I’d spent a lifetime here. Your experience will
be as diverse as you are, but there are a few things I wish I’d
known before I packed my bags.
Life in Ethiopia moves slower than life in the States.
The famed shay/buna (tea and coffee) break comes before
anything else. Most Volunteers aren’t happy with one project
when they could have 12, but Ethiopians revel in the simple
pleasures of conversation over coffee. If nothing else, Ethiopia
will teach you patience and a superhuman tolerance
for caffeine.
Ethiopians are some of the most curious people you’ll ever
meet. They are bursting with questions about life in America
and how it compares to Ethiopia. Keep a sense of humor and
you’ll immediately endear yourself to your colleagues and
friends. Be
honest – true cultural exchange lies in understanding the
tiniest details (such as “fat” being a compliment in Ethiopia or
that American women like men who do housework).
Being an American here is like being a celebrity. Everyone
knows your name, where you live, and what you’ve done each
day. Your every move is fascinating – buying produce, riding a
gari (horse-cart), speaking broken Amharic. Everyone wants
to shake your hand or invite you for buna. Don’t be afraid
to set boundaries and take time for yourself. Some days the

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 75


shouting children will be hilarious and other days they’ll drive
you to tears. It’s OK to not love every aspect of your life here
– you don’t love everything about America, so why should this
be any different?
Resist the urge to compare yourself or your site to
other Volunteers or sites. Someone will always be quicker
at language or have a nicer house or better weather or be
more loved by their community than you are. Focus on
your strengths rather than getting lost in your perceived
shortcomings. Don’t be afraid of big ideas – the only failure
lies in not trying, so don’t let slow-moving projects
discourage you.
Peace Corps will teach you that being alone isn’t the same
as being lonely. Bring hobbies, or else you’re likely to ponder
yourself into insanity. Pack fewer clothes and more books
than you think you need. Find a tutor as soon as you move to
your site. Invest in a couch; it’ll make your house feel homier.
Nothing starts on time here, so always carry a book. Also, you
can never have too much duct tape.
-Jessica Ducey (Assela, 2007-2009)

Dear Future Volunteers,

First, congratulations on accepting your invitation to Peace


Corps/Ethiopia! I remember all the anxiety and questions I
had as I prepared to leave America for 27 months. I’ll try my
best to give you a brief idea of what lies ahead.
Life here is fun, frustrating, rewarding, challenging and
unique. I find myself facing new situations each day and I
never quite know what is going to happen when I wake up in
the morning. The fun and rewarding parts include making a
real difference in the community you live in, creating lifelong

76 PEACE CORPS
bonds with other Volunteers, and having an adventure every
day. The frustrating and challenging situations are found
while awkwardly discovering the unique culture in Ethiopia,
being called “ferengi” (foreigner) by children everywhere and
feeling a universe away from America.
Trying to describe a “typical day” here is nearly impossible,
but to give you an idea, I often spend my time filling buckets
of water, washing laundry by hand, cooking food from scratch,
or surviving a trip to the market. I was thinking when I came
here that I wanted anything but a 9 to 5 job, and in my town,
I definitely found what I was looking for. Working with the
HIV/AIDS problem here is nothing like a structured 40-hour
work week in America. I am partnered with the Ethiopian
government’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office in
my town of 35,000 people. Much of my work is with this
organization, planning prevention events, teaching about
HIV to high school students, or creating my own projects
according to the needs of my town. Each Volunteer finds his
or her own unique niche and everyone’s projects are
slightly varied.
They say Peace Corps is the toughest job you will ever love
and I definitely agree. The whole experience is filled with ups
and downs, highs and lows, but overall I am loving my Peace
Corps experience. It is challenging, but each day I am growing
and learning. You will soon have the three goals of Peace
Corps drilled into your minds, but it is important to remember
that one-third is being involved in sustainable projects,
while two-thirds is about cultural exchange. I spend a lot of
time getting to know neighbors and colleagues, or fielding
questions about life in America.
The details of daily life here really depend on how big your
site is. Some Volunteers have a full bathroom with running
water, while others haul water from a river and bathe in
buckets. Some Volunteers have sitemates, but others are a
five-hour bus ride away from another Volunteer. The key to

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 77


Peace Corps is to remain flexible! Everyone in my training
group has electricity at least a few days a week, and everyone
is given a cellphone to keep in contact – although some sites,
like mine, rarely have service. Housing here is typically in a
compound with several other people, but everyone has their
home within the compound. I share a latrine bathroom with
10 other people in my compound, but remember, everyone’s
situation is different.
During training, you will go through language, cultural and
technical classes in small community clusters. Each trainee
will live with a host family where they will inevitably want you
to eat more than you care to stomach.
My advice for you now is to enjoy this remaining time
in America (eat some delicious Mexican food), don’t stress
too much about packing (remember life here is simple), get
excited about the adventure of a lifetime that awaits you ...
and be prepared to drink a lot of coffee!
Good luck and I will see you soon!
- Jennifer Porter (2008-2010)
(Jenn.porter@gmail.com)

78 PEACE CORPS
NOTES

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 79


PACKING LIST
This list has been compiled by Volunteers
serving in Ethiopia and is based on their
experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own
list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is
no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on the
list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you
personally and professionally. You can always have things
sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind
that you have an 80-pound weight limit on baggage. And
remember, you can get almost everything you need
in Ethiopia.

General Clothing
Bring clothing that makes you feel good, but still works with
Ethiopian dress standards. You will find that clothing you
bring from home will suffer more wear and tear than usual,
so don’t bring anything you will be sad to see ruined. Most
Ethiopians wear the same outfit for several days – you will
probably adopt the same practice. Also, Ethiopians are pretty
thin people so finding clothes in-country can be difficult.
Height is different too.

Some suggestions:

• Several pairs of lightwweight trousers (khaki,


linen, etc.)
• Long and short-sleeved shirts
• Sweat shirt/fleece/light jacket
• Jeans
• One or two dressy outfits (do not bother bringing
a suit)
• Long skirts or conservative dresses (below the knee)

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 81


• Spandex bike shorts (for wearing under skirts in
hot weather)
• Rain coat
• Swimsuits/exercise/sports clothing
• Socks and undergarments (bring extra bras – they are
hard to find)

Shoes
Durable shoes are essential. Shoes will wear out more quickly
in Ethiopia because of all the walking you will do. Sizes run
small so most American sizes are not available.

• Walking/hiking shoes or boots (Chacos, keens, etc.)


• Sneakers or running shoes
• Comfortable dress shoes for work
• Comfortable sandals, preferably waterproof (Tevas,
Chaco flips)
• Rain boots – for the rainy season

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items


Most basic hygiene items are available, but selection is limited.
Peace Corps provides a medical kit with first aid supplies,
insect repellent, sun screen and over-the-counter medications.
Also consider:

• Deodorant (stick is not available in Ethiopia)


• Contact lenses and solution (not recommended or paid
for by Peace Corps)
• Three months supply of any prescription drugs,
including birth control pills
• Tampons (bring a lot) or Diva cup
• Aloe or after-sun lotion

82 PEACE CORPS
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Lip balm (with SPF)
• Face wash or scrub/acne medicine (expensive
in-country)
• Q-tips/cotton balls
• Nail clippers/tweezers
• Wet wipes (useful during traveling or water shortages)
• Shampoo and conditioner (not the best quality
in country)
• Pumice stone/loofah (your skin will get dirtier
in Ethiopia)

Recreation/Entertainment
You will find yourself with an unprecedented amount of free
time once you are at site, particularly at night. Bring your
favorite hobbies or materials to learn new ones, such as:

• Camera and accessories (film and digital printing/


burning is available locally)
• Music - iPod, MP3 player, Discman, charger
• DVDs (even if you don’t bring a laptop or DVD player,
DVD players are available in most towns)
• Shortwave radio (three- to seven-band
is recommended)
• Portable musical instruments
• Sports equipment (e.g., Frisbee, football or soccer,
jump rope, etc.)
• Art supplies
• Knitting/crochet/sewing supplies
• Games and puzzle books (e.g., playing cards, Scrabble,
chess, etc.)
• Books (the Peace Corps office in Addis Ababa
maintains a Volunteer library, but bring others)

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 83


• Camping or hiking gear (including a tent, which is
useful for backpacking)
• Sleeping bag/thermarest (if you do not camp)
• Seeds (if you intend to garden)
• External hard drive with movies and TV shows
• Laptop

Kitchen/Household Items
Most kitchenware/household items can be found in the capital
or big cities. However, the first couple of months are not spent
in these cities. Some useful items include:

• Sharp paring knife (chopping vegetables will become a


pastime)
• Vegetable peeler and can opener
• Packaged seasonings (herbs, parmesan, pesto, etc.)
• Powdered drink mixes (Gatorade, Crystal Light, etc.)
• Sturdy water bottle (Nalgene)
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Scissors
• 10 weeks worth of junk food or favorite snacks

Miscellaneous
• Pens and pencils, stationary, and journals
• Alarm clock
• Rechargeable batteries with two round pin adapters
(continental Europe transformer)
• Head lamp and/or flashlight (a small keychain with one
is very useful)
• Earplugs
• Sewing kit and scissors

84 PEACE CORPS
• Sun glasses and bandanas/hat
• Tools such as Leatherman/Swiss Army knife and duct
tape
• Solar shower
• Cash
• Pictures from home
• Checks from a U.S. bank account (handy for ordering
things from home)
• Umbrella
• Good pillow

Just as added help and to reiterate: Here is a list of things


NOT to bring:

• Males: Suits (not necessary – nice shirts, ties and dress


pants is enough)
• Solar charger – most Volunteers discovered they were
not that useful
Note: Again, bring things you cannot live without. Items that
make you feel good, should be packed.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 85


PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
The following list consists of suggestions for you
to consider as you prepare to live outside the United States
for two years. Not all items will be relevant to everyone,
and the list does not include everything you should make
arrangements for.

Family

❒ Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Office
of Special Services at any time if there is a critical
illness or death of a family member (24-hour telephone
number: 800.424.8580, extension 1470).

❒ Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to


family and friends.

Passport/Travel

❒ Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork


for the Peace Corps passport and visas.

❒ Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight


limits for international travel.

❒ Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after


your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will
expire three months after you finish your service, so if
you plan to travel longer, you will need a
regular passport.)

Medical/Health

❒ Complete any needed dental and medical work.

❒ If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 87


❒ Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all
medications (including birth control pills) you are
currently taking.

Insurance

❒ Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.

❒ Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage


while you are away. (Even though the Peace Corps is
responsible for your health care during Peace Corps
service overseas, it is advisable for people who have
pre-existing conditions to arrange for the continuation
of their supplemental health coverage. If there is a
lapse in coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to
be reinstated.)

❒ Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.

Personal Papers

❒ Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.

Voting

❒ Register to vote in the state of your home of record.


(Many state universities consider voting and payment
of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)

❒ Obtain a voter registration card and take it with


you overseas.

❒ Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to


you overseas.

88 PEACE CORPS
Personal Effects
❒ Purchase personal property insurance to extend from
the time you leave your home for service overseas until
the time you complete your service and return to the
United States.

Financial Management

❒ Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S.

❒ Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or


loan service.

❒ Execute a Power of Attorney for the management of


your property and business.

❒ Arrange for deductions from your readjustment


allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other
debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial
Operations at 800.424.8580, extension 1770.

❒ Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks,


and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with an attorney or
other caretaker.

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 89


CONTACTING PEACE CORPS
HEADQUARTERS
This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate
office at Peace Corps headquarters to answer various questions.
You can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly
using the local numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free
number and extensions with your family so they can contact you
in the event of an emergency.

Peace Corps Headquarters


Toll-free Number: 800.424.8580, Press 2, then
Ext. # (see below)

Peace Corps’ Mailing Address: Peace Corps


Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20526

For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number

Responding to Office of
an Invitation Placement
Africa
Region Ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Programming or Desk Officer Ext. 2319 202.692.2319


Country Information amartin@
peacecorps.gov

Desk Assistant Ext. 2323 202.692.2323


pkoster@
peacecorps.gov

A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 91


For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number

Plane Tickets, Travel Officer Ext. 1170 202.692.1170


Passports, (Sato Travel)
Visas, or Other
Travel Matters

Legal Clearance Office of Ext. 1840 202.692.1840


Placement

Medical Clearance Screening Nurse Ext. 1500 202.692.1500


and Forms Processing
(including dental)

Medical Handled by a
Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772

Loan Deferments, Volunteer Ext. 1770 202.692.1770


Taxes, Readjustment Financial
Allowance Withdrawals, Operations
Power of Attorney

Staging (Pre-departure Office of Staging Ext. 1865 202.692.1865


Orientation) and
Reporting Instructions
Note: You will receive
comprehensive information
(hotel and flight arrange-
ments) three to five weeks
before departure. This in-
formation is not available
sooner.

Family Emergencies Office of Special Ext. 1470 202.692.1470


(to get information to Services 24 Hours
a Volunteer overseas)

92 PEACE CORPS
PEACE CORPS
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street NW · Washington, DC 20526 · www.peacecorps.gov · 1-800-424-8580
A WELCOME BOOK · ETHIOPIA 93

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