About

Welcome to Dove & Cocoa a Peace Corps Ghana blog! To begin I would like to explain the reason the name of this blog is Dove & Cocoa. 

Dove: A symbol of peace and the official symbol of the United States Peace Corps.

Cocoa: A Cocoa Tree is present on the bottom left-hand quarter of the Ghana Coat of Arms and represents the Agricultural wealth of the country. Since I am an agriculture volunteer I wanted to represent this aspect in the name of the blog. 

That being said...

There are numerous Peace Corps blogs and perspectives from around the world, and mine is one of thousands. I began writing this blog, Dove & Cocoa, as a means of fulfilling my responsibilities of the third goal laid out in the Peace Corps Mission. The third goal is for the benefit of Americans so they may develop a deeper understanding of foreign cultures.

As an ambassador of peace between the United States and Ghana, I will use this blog to tell the stories of my experiences, new discoveries, the Ghanaian culture, and beyond. 

Originally from the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York, my Peace Corps journey began in Spring 2020 during my final semester of college. Needless to say, the world changed the year I graduated and it also put a stop to my original posting as a Youth in Development Volunteer in Ukraine. I spent the ensuing years wondering and pondering where and what to do next, when in June 2023 I made the decision to reapply to the Peace Corps. Much to my delight, I was re-accepted!

My journey now sees me serving in the Agriculture sector in Ghana (2024-2026). Agriculture Volunteers collaborate with small-scale farmers and families to improve food security and productivity, adjust to climate change, and promote environmental protection. We are responsible for working with farmers to develop strategies that avoid soil erosion, reduce pesticide use, and restore the soil. Collaboration with farmers on integrated programs frequently includes vegetable gardening, livestock management, agroforestry, and nutrition education. 

Choose any one blog and read away. If you have questions about Peace Corps but do not see them here, please contact me and I will endeavor to answer all inquiries!