PISCATAWAY, NJ – Since January 2023, Piscataway High School alum, Alexis Bennett has been busy serving in the Peace Corps in the African country of Ghana as a Community Health Extension Agent.
In her role, Bennett works in rural communities helping to raise health standards through community-centered education initiatives.
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Now in her second year of service, the William Patterson University graduate shared an update with TAPinto on her work in the Peace Corps and asked for support to build new living quarters for nurses in her village:
“Since arriving in Ghana in January 2023, my world and my capacity have expanded greatly. Learning new languages, creating beautiful bonds with Ghanaians, taking on a variety of leadership roles, including as a PCVT (a trainer for new volunteers), and embracing the rich and vibrant culture of Ghana have been some of the highlights of my journey.
I am facilitating development in my rural village in the Oti region as a health volunteer and engaging with my organization to support the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of my fellow volunteers as a member of the Peer Support Network. In my village, I work with my community members to improve health outcomes and promote positive health behaviors, helping to mitigate malaria, diarrhea, cholera, and malnutrition, all of which can be deadly. In collaboration with dedicated community members, and nurses and midwives who work at our local clinic, I have had the opportunity to work with youth, adults, pregnant women, and mothers/caregivers with children under five via lessons, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive workshops.