Peace Corps Deputy Director visits the Philippines July 15-19

Peace Corps Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet was in the Philippines July 15-19 to see first-hand the many projects being undertaken by Peace Corps Volunteers in various locations in the country. 

While in Guimaras Island in Central Philippines, she met with advisers and members of a Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O Club) at a local high school. 

A Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the area, who co-teaches English at the school, also works with the 150-member club in helping the local community with environmental conservation activities.  The PCV recently introduced the brick bottle-making project that recycles used plastic bottles.  Right photo shows Deputy Director Hessler-Radelet with Yes-O Club members making a brick bottle that will be used to construct vegetable garden fences and benches around the school campus.  The used plastic bottles are filled with a mixture of soil, water, and cement, which are then packed together to form the walls and foundation of the fences and benches.  

There are currently 163 Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the Philippines in the areas of education, child and youth welfare and development, and environmental conservation.