By HOLLY ANGELO
hangelo@repub.com
The Republican (Massachusetts, USA)
NORTHAMPTON - In days, Rennie A. Silva will make Peace Corps history.
The 23-year-old scholar and adventurer will join the first Peace Corps team to volunteer in Cambodia.
"It's an incredible opportunity," Silva said from his home in the Florence section of Northampton Friday. "The future is brighter than the past, and hopefully Peace Corps will be part of that."
Cambodia's recent past has been filled with tragedy, most notably the genocide from 1975-79 led by Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. It would be another 15 years before the Royal Government of Cambodia signed a partnership agreement with the Peace Corps. Two years ago, an administrative and security infrastructure assessment of the country determined that enough support systems were in place to welcome Peace Corps into Cambodia in 2007.
"The volunteers are really excited," said Joanna Shea O'Brien, spokeswoman for the New England Region Peace Corps Office. "In a sense, they're the first ambassadors of peace."
The first Peace Corps group in Cambodia will include 30 people focused on education and teaching English as a second language. Of the 30, 27 will be teaching at the university level, while the others will do teacher training.
Silva doesn't know exactly what his assignment will be, just that he will be teaching English as a second language and helping train teachers.
"I'm trying not to have any expectations," Silva said. "I expect to be able to work hard."
Traveling is a passion of Silva's. He just returned from backpacking in Russia and China, and has explored Latin America and Europe as well. He likes to travel alone.
"I like it because it puts me that much closer to the people in the country I'm visiting," he said. "I think in some sense my preparation for the Peace Corps comes from my past travel experiences."
Silva is used to not having running water, hot showers and mechanical toilets on his travels. He has been reading books about Cambodia's history and language, along with the history of the Peace Corps, to prepare for his assignment.
Since 1961, the governmental agency has sent more than 187,000 volunteers to 139 countries. Volunteers commit to a 27-month assignment .
Silva, born and raised in Florence, graduated from Holyoke Community College in 2003 with an associate's degree in liberal arts. He graduated from George Washington University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He said that eventually he would like to attend graduate school, then pursue a career in public service.
"I'm really proud of him. I support him 100 percent," said Robin B. Silva, Rennie's mother. "I'm glad he's doing something for our country and the world. I think it's very positive and constructive."
On Monday, Silva will board a plane and fly to San Francisco, where he will participate in a staging event for two days. He'll then fly to Tokyo and Bangkok before arriving in Phnom Penh. He will spend a couple of months with a host family to help him learn the language and culture before he is sent off to his assignment.
"I think there's a need more than ever for people to really invest themselves in this type of effort," Silva said. "Embedded in the Peace Corps is optimism."
The 23-year-old scholar and adventurer will join the first Peace Corps team to volunteer in Cambodia.
"It's an incredible opportunity," Silva said from his home in the Florence section of Northampton Friday. "The future is brighter than the past, and hopefully Peace Corps will be part of that."
Cambodia's recent past has been filled with tragedy, most notably the genocide from 1975-79 led by Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. It would be another 15 years before the Royal Government of Cambodia signed a partnership agreement with the Peace Corps. Two years ago, an administrative and security infrastructure assessment of the country determined that enough support systems were in place to welcome Peace Corps into Cambodia in 2007.
"The volunteers are really excited," said Joanna Shea O'Brien, spokeswoman for the New England Region Peace Corps Office. "In a sense, they're the first ambassadors of peace."
The first Peace Corps group in Cambodia will include 30 people focused on education and teaching English as a second language. Of the 30, 27 will be teaching at the university level, while the others will do teacher training.
Silva doesn't know exactly what his assignment will be, just that he will be teaching English as a second language and helping train teachers.
"I'm trying not to have any expectations," Silva said. "I expect to be able to work hard."
Traveling is a passion of Silva's. He just returned from backpacking in Russia and China, and has explored Latin America and Europe as well. He likes to travel alone.
"I like it because it puts me that much closer to the people in the country I'm visiting," he said. "I think in some sense my preparation for the Peace Corps comes from my past travel experiences."
Silva is used to not having running water, hot showers and mechanical toilets on his travels. He has been reading books about Cambodia's history and language, along with the history of the Peace Corps, to prepare for his assignment.
Since 1961, the governmental agency has sent more than 187,000 volunteers to 139 countries. Volunteers commit to a 27-month assignment .
Silva, born and raised in Florence, graduated from Holyoke Community College in 2003 with an associate's degree in liberal arts. He graduated from George Washington University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He said that eventually he would like to attend graduate school, then pursue a career in public service.
"I'm really proud of him. I support him 100 percent," said Robin B. Silva, Rennie's mother. "I'm glad he's doing something for our country and the world. I think it's very positive and constructive."
On Monday, Silva will board a plane and fly to San Francisco, where he will participate in a staging event for two days. He'll then fly to Tokyo and Bangkok before arriving in Phnom Penh. He will spend a couple of months with a host family to help him learn the language and culture before he is sent off to his assignment.
"I think there's a need more than ever for people to really invest themselves in this type of effort," Silva said. "Embedded in the Peace Corps is optimism."
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