THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

LIBERIA

A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS

April 2014 CCD
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MAP OF LIBERIA
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A Welcome Letter

Dear Peace Corps/Liberia Invitee:

It is a pleasure to welcome you to Peace Corps/Liberia. We congratulate you on your decision to commit 

the next 27 months to assisting the Liberian people to pursue their educational development aspirations. 

You are to be commended for having successfully completed the rigorous Peace Corps selection process 

through which you will become a member of the next training class to serve in Liberia. 

The information contained in this welcome book represents a general outline of life as a Volunteer in 

Liberia. The nature of development work is such that the living conditions and work environment can 

change often, though every effort is made to keep this book as a current and accurate representation of the 

reality in Liberia. 

From 1962–90, the Peace Corps and Liberia had a 28-year history of cooperation, during which more than 

3,800 Volunteers served throughout the country. The Peace Corps was re-established at the invitation of 

President Sirleaf to meet the needs of the education system that suffered considerably during the 

devastating civil war from 1990–03. The 2008 return of Peace Corps Volunteers represents to the 

Liberian people the promise of hope in their future.

Liberia offers a unique opportunity for a challenging and rewarding tour of service. Some of you may live 

in towns and villages with relatively good access to electricity, Internet, and phone service. Some of you 

will live in communities in which these and other conveniences are not available. Wherever you are 

located, you will contribute meaningfully to the positive development of people in a community while 

gaining experience, knowledge, and a broadened understanding and perspective that will enrich your life 

through Peace Corps service. 

As a Volunteer, you can be an agent of positive and enduring change if you possess open-mindedness and 

a sincere interest in working with and helping others succeed. You will assist Liberians at the community 

level to achieve their development aspirations through your energy, motivation, creativity, and genuine 

desire to make a contribution. You will work with a local counterpart or supervisor, which will require 

you to adapt to new and different modes of interpersonal relations. In a developmental context, attitudinal 

and organizational change can be challenging, but in the end, the fulfillment and satisfaction of having 

contributed to improved opportunities for those with whom you will live and work, will be a worthy 

reward.

Ten weeks of pre-service training will provide you with a comprehensive orientation to your future work 

assignment, and approaches, tools, and strategies to effectively serve in Liberia. You will likewise receive 

crucial information about staying healthy and safe, and living in a Liberian household will be an integral 

part of your pre-service training. 

As a result of this experience, you will grow in knowledge, self-confidence, and cultural appreciation. We 

expect that this journey upon which you have begun will be life-changing and always have a special place 

in your memories. 

We look forward to your arrival!

Brannon Brewer

Country Director
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Welcome Letter.........................................................................................................................................3

Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers............................................................................................7

Peace Corps/Liberia History and Programs..................................................................................................8

History of the Peace Corps in Liberia.......................................................................................................8

Peace Corps Programming in Liberia.......................................................................................................8

Peace Corps Volunteers............................................................................................................................8

Peace Corps Response Volunteers............................................................................................................8

Country Overview: Liberia at a Glance ......................................................................................................11

History ....................................................................................................................................................11

Economy.................................................................................................................................................12

People and Culture..................................................................................................................................12

Environment ...........................................................................................................................................13

Resources for Further Information..............................................................................................................14

General Information About Liberia........................................................................................................14

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees .........................................................................14

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Liberia ................................................................................15

International Development Sites About Liberia .....................................................................................15

Recommended Books.............................................................................................................................15

Books About the History of the Peace Corps.....................................................................................15

Books on the Volunteer Experience...................................................................................................15

Books About Liberia ..........................................................................................................................16

Travel .................................................................................................................................................16

Fiction ................................................................................................................................................16

Nonfiction ..........................................................................................................................................16

History and Culture ............................................................................................................................16

Children’s Books................................................................................................................................16

Ornithology ........................................................................................................................................16

Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle ................................................................................................18

Communications.....................................................................................................................................18

Housing and Site Location .....................................................................................................................19

Living Allowance and Money Management ..........................................................................................19

Food and Diet .........................................................................................................................................19

Transportation.........................................................................................................................................20

Geography and Climate ..........................................................................................................................21

Social Activities......................................................................................................................................21

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior ....................................................................................................21

Smoking..................................................................................................................................................22

Personal Safety .......................................................................................................................................22

Rewards and Frustrations .......................................................................................................................23

Peace Corps Training..................................................................................................................................25

Overview of Pre-Service Training..........................................................................................................25

Technical Training..................................................................................................................................25

Language Training..................................................................................................................................26

Cross-Cultural Training..........................................................................................................................26

Health Training.......................................................................................................................................27

Safety and Security Training ..................................................................................................................27

Evaluating Learning and Qualifying for Service....................................................................................27

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service.....................................................................................27
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Your Health Care in Liberia .......................................................................................................................31

Health Issues in Liberia ..........................................................................................................................31

Helping You Stay Healthy......................................................................................................................31

Maintaining Your Health........................................................................................................................32

Women’s Health Information.................................................................................................................32

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit...............................................................................................................33

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist................................................................................................33

Safety and Security in Depth ......................................................................................................................36

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk..............................................................................................36

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime ............................................................................................37

Support from Staff..................................................................................................................................37

Office of Victim Advocacy ....................................................................................................................37

Crime Data for Liberia ...........................................................................................................................38

Volunteer Safety Support in Liberia.......................................................................................................38

Diversity and Inclusion Overview ..............................................................................................................41

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site ......................................................................................................41

Cross-Cultural Considerations................................................................................................................42

What Might a Volunteer Face?...............................................................................................................42

Possible Gender Role Issues ..............................................................................................................42

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color.............................................................................................43

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) 

Volunteers..........................................................................................................................................44

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities ................................................................................45

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples...............................................................................................45

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers ...........................................................................................46

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers ....................................................................................................46

Frequently Asked Questions.......................................................................................................................49

Welcome Letters from Liberia Volunteers .................................................................................................53

Packing List ................................................................................................................................................55

Pre-Departure Checklist..............................................................................................................................60

Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters........................................................................................................61
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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 do the following:

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

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
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PEACE CORPS/LIBERIA HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Liberia

Liberia has a remarkable history with the Peace Corps. Between 1962–90, when more than 3,800 

Volunteers served in Liberia, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) served in multiple facets of Liberia’s 

development efforts with an emphasis on education, agriculture, rural development, and health education. 

Although the program closed in 1990 due to internal conflict, the Peace Corps is still fondly remembered 

and well-loved in Liberia; most people over age 30 benefitted from a Peace Corps Volunteer in their 

community at some point.

The Peace Corps re-entered Liberia in 2008 with a group of 12 Peace Corps Response Volunteers 

(PCRVs), who are often returned Peace Corps Volunteers who undertake short-term assignments around 

the world.

In 2010, Peace Corps/Liberia began the transition to a full Peace Corps program, with arrival of the first 

group of two-year Volunteers. All Volunteers work within the secondary education project, teaching 

English, science, and math. Peace Corps/Liberia continues to receive both Volunteers and PCRVs to 

complement the development needs and aspirations of the country.

Peace Corps Programming in Liberia

As a result of the civil war, it is reported that 80 percent of the country’s schools were destroyed. The war 

also led to the flight of well-trained teachers, and erratic pay and compensation for those who remained. 

According to the Ministry of Education (MoE), approximately 65 percent of teachers have no teacher 

training background. The MoE has a long-term goal to train current and future generations of teachers and 

to support the government’s efforts to maintain quality services in the classroom. Through both classroom 

teaching and strengthening the capacity of teachers, the Peace Corps provides support through its 

programming.

Peace Corps Volunteers

Volunteers are placed at government junior or senior secondary-level schools where they have an 

opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of Liberian youth, by providing them with educational 

instruction and opportunities for extracurricular activities. All Peace Corps Volunteers are trained in the 

communicative approach teaching methodology. Volunteers are challenged to implement this interactive 

methodology in their classrooms and to link lessons to practical applications based on their students’

interests, needs, and daily lives. 

In addition to the primary teaching assignment, Volunteers engage in activities that include creating afterschool tutoring and clubs, organizing sports teams, supporting parent-teacher associations, teacher

training, promoting life skills and facilitating peer mentoring, and organizing libraries. Some Volunteers 

undertake secondary activities based on local needs and personal skills, such as establishing model 

gardens and conducting health and hygiene education.

Many Volunteers work alongside Liberian volunteers from the National Youth Service Program, a 

Liberian government program modeled on the Peace Corps, helping to transfer skills and promote 

teaching best practices. Additionally, Volunteers encourage their school administrators to create 

management plans to guide the school toward more learning-conducive environments for students. 

Peace Corps Response Volunteers 

The assignments of Response Volunteers continue to focus on education, but instead of being studentfocused like the two-year Volunteers, they are teacher-focused. 
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Rural Teacher Training Institutes (RTTIs) were established in the 1960s to produce teachers prepared for 

the conditions and needs of schools and students in the less-populated rural areas. After a 15-year closure 

due to the war, the institutes have been re-established. PCRVs mentor the leadership of the RTTIs to 

strengthen the institutions’ ability to prepare future teachers.
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COUNTRY OVERVIEW: LIBERIA AT A GLANCE

History

Liberia, the oldest independent republic in Africa, lies on the West African coast, just 300 miles north of 

the equator. Portuguese explorers established contacts with Liberia as early as 1461 and named the area 

the Grain Coast. In 1663, the British installed trading posts on the Grain Coast, but the Dutch destroyed 

these posts a year later. There were no further reports of settlements by foreigners until the arrival of freed 

slaves in the early 1800s. 

Liberia, “land of the free,” was founded by African-Americans former slaves and freemen who arrived 

from the United States beginning in 1820. An initial group of 86 immigrants, who came to be called 

Americo-Liberians, established a settlement in Christopolis (now Monrovia, named after U.S. President 

James Monroe) on February 6, 1820. 

Thousands of freed American slaves and free African-Americans arrived during the following years. The 

drive to resettle freed slaves in Africa was promoted by the American Colonization Society (ACS), an 

organization of white clergymen, abolitionists, and slave owners. Between 1821–67, the ACS resettled 

some 10,000 African-Americans and several thousand Africans from interdicted slave ships; ACS

governed the Commonwealth of Liberia until it declared independence as the Republic of Liberia on July 

26, 1847.

In Liberia’s early years, the Americo-Liberian settlers periodically encountered stiff and sometimes 

violent opposition from indigenous Africans, who were excluded from citizenship in the new republic 

until 1904. At the same time, British and French colonial expansionists encroached upon Liberia, taking 

over much of its territory. Politically, the country was a one-party system ruled by the True Whig Party. 

Joseph Jenkins Roberts, who was born and raised in America, was Liberia’s first president. The 

government and constitution were based on those of the United States, and the Americo-Liberian elite 

monopolized political power and restricted the voting rights of the indigenous population. The True Whig 

Party dominated all sectors of Liberia, from independence in 1847 until April 12, 1980, when indigenous 

Liberian Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe (from the Krahn ethnic group) seized power in a coup d’état. 

Doe’s forces executed then-President William R. Tolbert and several officials of his government, mostly 

of Americo-Liberian descent. 

After the October 1985 elections, characterized by widespread fraud, Doe consolidated his control. The 

period after the elections saw increased human rights abuses, corruption, and ethnic tensions. The 

standard of living further deteriorated. 

On December 24, 1989, a small band of rebels led by Doe’s former procurement chief, Charles Taylor, 

invaded Liberia from Cote d’Ivoire. Taylor and his National Patriotic Front rebels rapidly gained the 

support of many Liberians and reached the outskirts of Monrovia within six months. 

From 1990–96, one of Africa’s bloodiest civil wars ensued, ultimately claiming the lives of more than 

200,000 Liberians and displacing a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries. The 

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened in 1990 and succeeded in 

preventing Taylor from capturing Monrovia. An Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) was 

formed in The Gambia under the auspices of ECOWAS in October 1990. After more than a dozen peace 

accords and declining military power, Taylor finally agreed to the formation of a five-man transitional 

government, followed by special elections on July 19, 1997. Taylor and his National Patriotic Party 

emerged victorious. Taylor won the election by a large majority, primarily because Liberians feared a 

return to war had Taylor lost. 
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For the next six years, the Taylor government did not improve the lives of Liberians. Unemployment and 

illiteracy stood above 75 percent, and little investment was made in the country’s infrastructure. Liberia is 

still recovering from the ravages of war; pipe-borne water and electricity are generally unavailable to 

most of the population, especially outside Monrovia, and schools, hospitals, roads, and infrastructure 

remain derelict. By 2003, armed groups, largely representing factions that fought Taylor during Liberia’s 

previous civil war (1990–96), challenged Taylor. 

On June 4, 2003, in Accra, Ghana, ECOWAS facilitated peace talks among the government of Liberia, 

civil society, and the rebel groups. In July 2003, a cease-fire was signed that all sides failed to respect; 

bitter fighting reached downtown Monrovia in July and August of 2003, creating a massive humanitarian 

disaster. 

On August 11, 2003, under intense international pressure, President Taylor resigned and departed into 

exile in Nigeria. This move paved the way for the deployment by ECOWAS of what became a 3,600-

strong peacekeeping mission in Liberia (ECOMIL). On August 18, leaders signed a comprehensive peace 

agreement that laid the framework for constructing a two-year National Transitional Government of 

Liberia (NTGL). The United Nations took over security in Liberia in October 2003, subsuming ECOMIL 

into the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), a force that grew to over 12,000 troops and 1,148 

police officers. 

The October 2005 presidential and legislative elections and the subsequent November 2005 presidential 

run-off were the most free, fair, and peaceful elections in Liberia’s history. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defeated 

international soccer star George Weah to become Africa’s first democratically elected female president. 

She was inaugurated in January 2006.

The political situation has remained stable since the 2005 elections. The government of Liberia has made 

positive strides aimed at political stability and economic recovery, and the UN peacekeeping presence is 

gradually phasing out. Taylor was convicted for war crimes at the Hague and recently began serving a 50-

year sentence in the United Kingdom. However, some Liberians continue to support Taylor.

Economy

The Liberian economy relied heavily on the mining of iron ore and on the export of natural rubber prior to 

the civil war. Liberia was a major exporter of iron ore on the world market. In the 1970s and ’80s, iron 

mining accounted for more than half of Liberia’s export earnings. Following the 1980 coup d’état of, the 

country’s economic growth rate slowed because of a decline in the demand for iron ore on the world 

market and political upheavals in Liberia. 

The 1990–03 civil war had a devastating effect on the country’s economy. Most major businesses were 

destroyed or heavily damaged, and most foreign investors and businesses left the country. Iron ore 

production stopped completely, and the United Nations banned timber and diamond exports from Liberia. 

Currently, Liberia’s revenues come primarily from exporting rubber, diamonds, iron ore, and timber, and 

from its maritime registry program—the second-largest in the world. With the discovery of oil off the 

coast, Liberia is expected to soon start exporting oil.

People and Culture

There are 17 ethnic groups that make up Liberia’s indigenous population. The Kpelle in central and 

western Liberia is the largest ethnic group. Americo-Liberians, descendants of freed slaves who arrived in 

Liberia early in 1821, make up an estimated 5 percent of the population. 

There also are sizable numbers of Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals who comprise part 
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of Liberia’s business community. The Liberian constitution restricts citizenship to only people of “Negro”

descent, and land ownership is restricted to citizens. 

Liberia was traditionally noted for its academic institutions, iron ore mining, logs, and rubber. Political 

upheavals beginning in the 1980s, and the 14-year civil war, largely destroyed Liberia’s economy and 

brought a steep decline in living standards. 

Environment

Just 300 miles north of the equator, Liberia has a relatively long coastline of 350 miles. From the lagoons 

and mangrove swamps of the coastal plains, the land rises evenly along its length in belts parallel to the 

coast, from rolling hills, through a broader region of plateaus and low mountain ranges, and into the 

foothills of the Guinea Highlands. Just beyond these 4,500-foot peaks originate the headwaters of the 

Niger River. Half of the country is covered by tropical rain forest.

Liberia is directly in the path of seasonal winds. From May through November, the prevailing monsoon 

winds drop most of the nearly 200 inches of rain received annually in the capital city of Monrovia. From 

December through April, the red dust-laden harmattan winds originating over the Sahara Desert prevail. 

The transition periods between seasons are punctuated by violent thunderstorms and sudden torrential 

downpours. Monrovia is the wettest capital city in the world.

Temperatures average 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity averages 82 percent, with little variation over 

the course of the year. Precautions must be taken against mildew and rust caused by the heat, constant 

humidity, and the corrosive salt air of the coast.
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RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Following is a list of websites for additional information about the Peace Corps and Liberia and to 

connect you to returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that although the Peace Corps

tries to make sure all these links are active and current, the Peace Corps 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 experiences, 

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 please keep in mind that no two 

people experience their service in the same way.

General Information About Liberia

State.gov

The Department of State’s website issues background notes periodically about countries around the 

world. Find Liberia and learn more about its social and political history. You can also go to the site’s 

international travel section to check on conditions that may affect your safety.

Gpo.gov/libraries/public/

The U.S. Government Printing Office publishes country studies intermittently.

lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

The Library of Congress provides historical and sociological data on numerous countries.

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/pocketbook/World_Statistics_Pocketbook_2013_edition.pdf

United Nations resource book with 2013 statistical country data

Data.un.org

United Nations site with links to data from U.N. member countries

Wikipedia.org

Search for Liberia to find encyclopedia-type information. Note: As Wikipedia content is user-generated, 

information may be biased and/or not verified.

Worldbank.org

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the 

developing world. It is a development bank that provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance, and 

knowledge-sharing services to developing countries to reduce poverty. This site contains a lot of 

information and resources regarding development.

Data.worldbank.org/country

Provides information on development indicators on countries, including population, gender, financial, and 

education, and climate change statistics.

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees

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 
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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 Liberia site: 

http://fol.org/

PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org

This site, hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers, is a monthly online publication of essays and 

Volunteer accounts of their Peace Corps service.

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Liberia

UN.org/News/

The United Nations news service provides coverage of its member states and information about the 

international peacekeeping organization’s actions and positions.

VOAnews.com

Voice of America, the U.S. government’s multimedia broadcaster, features coverage of news around the 

world.

http://monrovia.usembassy.gov/

The official website of the United States Embassy in Liberia has information on programs, policy, and 

consular affairs.

International Development Sites About Liberia

http://www.usaid.gov/liberia

The official website of the United States Agency for International Development, with details on its many 

programs in Liberia 

Recommended Books

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 

1960s.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.

2. Rice, Gerald T. “The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace Corps.” Notre Dame, IN: University of 

Notre Dame Press, 1985.

3. Stossel, Scott. “Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver.” Washington, DC: Smithsonian 

Institution Press, 2004.

4. Meisler, Stanley. “When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and its First 50 

Years.” Boston: Beacon Press, 2011.

Books on the Volunteer Experience

5. Dirlam, Sharon. “Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place.” Santa Barbara, CA: McSeas 

Books, 2004.

6. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. “Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace Corps Experience.” Gig Harbor, 

WA: Red Apple Publishing, 2000.

7. Erdman, Sarah. “Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village.” New 

York City: Picador, 2003.

8. Hessler, Peter. “River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze.” New York City: Perennial, 2001.

9. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. “From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps.” Santa 

Monica, CA: Clover Park Press, 1991.

10. Thomsen, Moritz. “Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle.” Seattle: University of Washington 

Press, 1997 (reprint).
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Books About Liberia

Travel

11. Greene, Graham. “Journey Without Maps.” New York City: Penguin Classics, 2006.

12. Greene, Barbara. “Too Late to Turn Back.” New York City: Penguin, 1991. These two books 

document two famous cousins’ journey through Liberia in the 1930s.

Fiction

13. Gay, John. “Red Dust on Green Leaves.” Northridge, CA: New World African Press, 2002. The 

first in a trilogy about the Kpelle twins Koli and Sumo. 2002. The next two are “The Brightening 

Shadow” and “Long Day’s Anger.”

14. Neff, Heather. “Accident of Birth.” New York City: Harlem Moon, 2004.

15. Banks, Russell. “The Darling.” New York City: Harper Perennial, 2005.

16. Sankawulo, Wilton. “The Rain and the Night.” Accra, Ghana: Sedco Publishing, 1997.

17. Moore, Bai T. “Murder in the Cassawa Patch.” Monrovia, Liberia: Ducor Publishing House, 

1968. Based on a true story, considered a Liberian literary classic.

Nonfiction

18. Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson. “This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First 

Woman President.” New York City: Harper, 2009.

19. Powers, William. “Blue Clay People.” New York City: Bloomsbury, 2006.

20. Huffman, Alan. “Mississippi in Africa.” New York City: Gotham, 2005.

History and Culture

21. Johnson, Charles S. “Bitter Canaan.” Edison, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 1930, 1987.

22. Tyler McGraw, Marie. “An African Republic.” Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North 

Carolina Press 2007.

23. Schuster, Lynda. “The Final Days of Dr. Doe.” New York City: Atlantic Monthly Press 1992.

Children’s Books

24. Aardema, Verna. “Koi and the Kola Nuts.” New York City: Aladdin, 2003. 

Ornithology

25. Gatter, Wulf. “Birds of Liberia.” New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998.

26. Borrow, Nik and Demey, Ron. “Birds of Western Africa.” Princeton: Princeton University Press, 

2005, 2004.

27. Sinclair, Ian and Ryan, Peter. “Birds of Africa, South of the Sahara.” Cape Town, South Africa: 

Random House Struik, 2008.
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LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE

Communications

Mail

Mail may be sent to:

[your name]

Peace Corps Volunteer

P.O. Box 707

Monrovia, Liberia

Letter mail may be received at the above post office box number. Parcels may also be sent, but delivery is 

not reliable. If parcels are sent it is recommended to keep the tracking number for reference. Expensive 

items have been pilfered from parcels. Mail typically arrives in the capital in three to five weeks, but may 

take months or never arrive at all. Please keep in mind that mail delivery is nearly nonexistent outside of 

Monrovia, so Volunteers should not count on receiving a lot of mail. Volunteers will not travel to 

Monrovia often, so picking up packages and other mail is sporadic. Only mail that is sent the post office 

box is duty-free based on our country agreement. Should you use alternate addresses or use other vendors 

such as Federal Express or DHL, you should expect long delays and to pay duties. 

Communication by Phone

All of the telephone lines were destroyed in the war and there are no land lines available. All calls are 

made by cellphone. The cellphones in Liberia are not “locked” into a particular provider, as they are in 

the United States. They use SIM cards, so if you bring a phone with you, please be sure it is multisystem 

and is “unlocked.” Otherwise, you may purchase a phone here. 

The two major cellular networks are Lonestar MTN and Cellcom GSM. Both carriers work in most towns 

and villages, but in some sites only one network. A few sites have no signal. Phone usage is prepaid and 

purchased on “scratch cards” containing codes redeemed for credit. A simple, robust phone costs about 

$40, and smart phones are much more expensive in Liberia than they are in the States. Peace 

Corps/Liberia has a “friends and family” plan that provides free calls between Cellcom phones within the 

Peace Corps family. Calling the United States from Liberia is very inexpensive. From your cellphone, 

you can call the United States for five cents a minute. 

The Peace Corps will provide one satellite phone to each security warden for a clustered group of 

Volunteers. It is for emergency communications and Peace Corps business only and is not available for 

personal calls, incoming or outgoing.

Communication through the Internet

Internet access is limited throughout Liberia, though a few Internet cafes are opening in Monrovia and a 

few of the major towns. Some of the major towns have limited wireless locations. However, if you have 

your own laptop or smartphone, you may be able to use a data SIM card. Several cellphone companies 

offer Internet service through cellphone technology. You can purchase a data SIM card and it calls a 

nearby cellphone tower for service. It is slow, but works in most towns. The data SIM card is currently 

available, but there is a monthly fee charge. The data SIM card uses the regular phone cards which are 

sold for $5 per card; when the phone card is finished, the data card will go off. If you have a newer laptop 

that requires the more sophisticated “smartcard” you may need to buy a compatible cellphone that can 

attach to your computer or you may wish to bring a separate data card reading device. 

Email is the best bet for communicating, but access will vary according to location. There are computers 
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available for Volunteers in the Peace Corps office in Monrovia, the nation’s capital, but trips to Monrovia 

are infrequent.

Housing and Site Location

Housing is in short supply in many regions of Liberia, so be prepared for very basic accommodations.

Volunteers are assigned to work at the community level. Volunteer housing is provided by the host 

country; the Ministry of Education collaborates with local school authorities, community leaders, and 

partner organizations to secure housing. The majority of Volunteers serve without electricity and running 

water; few Volunteer houses have these. Some Volunteers invest in small generators for electricity. Water 

will be from nearby pumps and will have to be carried to your house.

Most Volunteers are assigned to schools in rural towns. Your workplace will be within walking distance 

of your home, but it might be a long walk! Dependent on community need, the Peace Corps makes every 

effort to cluster Volunteers within reasonable distances of each other in order to promote collaborative 

efforts, maximize safety and security, and minimize isolation. Some Volunteers might be placed in the 

same community or in the same school. This is typical in Liberia and most Volunteers share a house with 

another Volunteer.

You must be prepared to accept the living conditions to which you are assigned as you will be living 

under the same conditions as the people with and for whom you work. The Peace Corps inspects all 

potential housing and surrounding communities to ensure they meet consistent standards for health and 

safety. 

Living Allowance and Money Management

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance in Liberian currency that is sufficient to live at the level of the 

local people. The allowance covers food, housing, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and 

from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are 

expected to live at a level that is comparable with that of their host country counterparts. The Peace Corps 

discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home, so it will be 

important to budget your funds.

Volunteers will receive a settling-in allowance to purchase the basics they need, such as bedding, dishes, 

etc. The price of purchasing a local cellphone has been incorporated as well.

The banking system in Liberia is rebuilding from the long period of war. There are not a lot of bank 

branches up-country, and in some areas there are no ATM machines. The banks intend to open them over 

time, so this may happen during your tenure in Liberia. Until that time, you will likely have to travel 

some distance to banking facilities in another town.

Liberia is a cash economy, and credit cards are not accepted. There are a few retailers in Monrovia who 

will cash a U.S. personal check for a fee. You may bring travelers checks, but there are only a couple of 

places that take them. In villages and towns, most daily transactions use Liberian currency. Banks only 

distribute U.S. currency, but money changers are ubiquitous and offer competitive rates. 

Food and Diet

In Liberia, rice is the staple. If someone does not have rice to eat in a day, the person may feel as if he or 

she has not eaten. Other favorite foods include plantains, fufu, and dumboy. The latter are paste balls 

made out of various root vegetables and have the consistency of tapioca.
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The typical meal is a sauce called “soup” or “gravy” poured over rice. They can be thick, spicy stews of 

vegetables (such as okra or greens) with meat and/or fish, or more of a broth with meat and vegetables. 

Frequently a combination of meats is used in the soup. The meat is not trimmed the way Americans are 

accustomed, so there are frequently bones or cartilage. The variety may be beef (“cow meat”), chicken, or 

“country meat” (which is usually game). Fish may be fresh, dried or smoked. If meat or fish is not 

available, peanuts are always a good source of protein. There are not a lot of vegetarians in Liberia, so 

most cooked dishes will have meat in them. If you have the ability to remove the meat and eat the rest of 

the dish, then you will have more dietary choices. Strict vegetarians and vegans will be challenged.

Liberians love hot peppers, so they can be cooked into the soup, added whole, or made into a pepper 

sauce or soup.

Liberia is graced with wonderful fruits. The pineapples are sweet and bananas are plentiful. Papaya, 

coconuts, and mangos are also grown locally. In season, fruits and vegetables are a good buy. Out of 

season, specific fruits may be unavailable and also unevenly distributed across the nation. It can be 

challenging to eat a well-balanced meal during some seasons and the variety of foods may be limited. 

Overall, you can maintain a balanced diet but it will be challenging and monotonous.

Volunteers may add more dietary variety by cooking for themselves or seeking food at local markets. The 

availability of foods depends on the region, the season, and the size of the town or village, but foods such 

as lentils, peanuts, bananas, pineapples, and oranges are common. Packaged and canned foods may also 

be available, especially in bigger towns. Most types of food are available in large grocery stores in the 

capital, Western-style foods will be rare additions to a Volunteer’s diet. 

Liberia is a country with chronic malnutrition associated with poverty. The worldwide food crisis has 

created higher prices for rice, but it is still available. There is local rice production and “country rice” is 

delicious. The country is fertile and there is a governmental program to promote farming to enhance food 

production that was interrupted by the war. 

Transportation

Transportation is a challenge in Liberia. Though the country is roughly the size of Tennessee, it can take 

more than two days to travel across the country. Most roads are not paved, so travel is slow, and some 

roads become impassible during the rainy season. 

Volunteers will most often travel around the country in shared-ride “bush taxis,” which are most often 

Nissan Sunny sedans packed with six passengers (four in the back, two in the front passenger seat). Taxi 

vans and buses are also occasional options. As most of these vehicles are old and beaten by rough 

conditions, breakdowns are very common. 

Vehicles from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations agencies (WFP, UNHCR, 

UNICEF) traverse the country and sometimes are good options, based on relationships and friendships 

you may cultivate. Volunteers should avoid using U.N. Peacekeeper military transportation, unless it is an 

extreme emergency, to avoid any appearance of an association between the military and the Peace Corps.

When coming to Monrovia, Volunteers should try to travel in pairs. Volunteers transiting around the 

capital will most often use shared-ride style taxis during the day. At night, however, this practice is 

discouraged in favor of chartering rides through a list of trusted taxi drivers that will be provided.

If Volunteers wish to purchase a bicycle, helmets will be provided and Volunteers will be instructed on 

the bicycle safety policy. Helmets must be worn when riding.
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When roads are impassible to taxis, certain sites have been approved for motorcycling riding. Volunteers 

living in those sites who have received training and wear Peace Corps-issued helmets are permitted to ride 

only as passengers on motorcycles. This is a heavily restricted practice due to inherent dangers in 

motorcycle riding.

Geography and Climate

From the lagoons and mangrove swamps of coastal plains, the Liberian topography rises evenly in belts 

parallel to the coast. Rolling hills transition to a broader region of plateaus and low mountain ranges, 

leading into the foothills of the Guinea Highlands. Half of Liberia is covered by tropical rain forest.

Temperatures average 81 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity averages 82 percent, with variation according 

to season and elevation. The coast is hot and humid and Volunteers will rarely wear more than one layer 

of clothing. Volunteers in the more mountainous interior may at times wear sweatshirts and sleep with 

blankets. Regardless of location, Volunteers should be aware that heat, humidity, and salt air can cause 

clothes to mildew and electronics to corrode.

Liberian climate is dominated by two seasons. The dry season lasts from November to April is 

characterized by hot, dry, and dusty winds that originate in the Sahara Desert. From May to October, the 

humid rainy season prevails, dropping as much as 200 inches of precipitation. These heavy rains make 

Monrovia the wettest capital in the world. 

You should bring a sweater, fleece, or other modest winter clothing in the event that you travel to another 

country during the winter months. Many Volunteers travel to the U.S., Europe, or other cold locations in 

during winter holidays.

Social Activities

In Liberian villages and towns, personal relationships are forged more by time spent with each other than 

by doing any particular activities. Friends, neighbors, and street sellers will invite you to sit with them as 

you walk by, and spending a few minutes with people goes a long way toward earning trust and respect. 

Ignoring people or not at least greeting them with a handshake is rude. This slower, more social pace of 

life can be a difficult adjustment for Westerners accustomed to reaching destinations quickly.

In Liberian society, people keep their friendships with members of the same sex; it is strange to have 

close friendships with members of the opposite sex. Volunteers seeking such friendships will find 

themselves inadvertently conveying unintended signals.

Male Volunteers will likely spend time with their male friends at street kiosks, local football games, or 

video clubs (which are small theaters for watching projected movies and video games). Female 

Volunteers will likely spend time with female friends in their homes or at the market. Religious functions, 

having a drink at a restaurant or bar, or going to night clubs are also common Liberian social activities. 

As most Volunteers are assigned to sites in pairs, most Volunteers interact regularly with other 

Americans. However, the next nearest Volunteer will likely be several-hour taxi ride away. 

All that said, Peace Corps/Liberia hopes to model non-traditional gender roles for both men and women, 

and staff can provide guidance on how this can be done without jeopardizing safety or treading upon local 

customs and morays.

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

While the heat and humidity might make casual attire preferable, there are certain dress standards that 

must be respected. Peace Corps Volunteers are professionals who bring their expertise to assist Liberian 
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institutions. As such, a professional demeanor and appearance is expected. This can be challenging to 

Americans, who often pride themselves on individuality, but appropriate dress, both on and off the job, is 

required. 

Being neat and cleanly dressed in a culturally appropriate manner is a sign of respect and pride. Worn, 

dirty, or ripped clothing is unacceptable. While clothes may have quite a bit of wear and tear due to rough 

washing, transportation, and manual labor, great care should be taken to be neat, clean, and presentable.

Long hair and long beards are not normal for men in this society. While there is no restriction in place, 

please be aware that a male Volunteer with long hair or a long beard will attract unwanted attention and 

might have to work harder to prove his professionalism. Shorts are normally worn by boys or students 

rather than men. It is appropriate to wear shorts for sporting events or around the house and yard; 

otherwise, pants or jeans are appropriate.

Short skirts (anything above the knee), tops that expose the stomach or lower back, low-rise jeans/pants, 

backless dresses, spaghetti-strap tops, and shorts (outside of sporting activities) are considered 

inappropriate for female Volunteers. If shorts are worn for exercise, they should be longer shorts—

preferably to the knee. Pants are acceptable for women, although most women will wear skirts or dresses. 

All dresses and skirts should cover the knees, even when sitting. For women, inappropriate dress could 

attract unwanted attention and even harassment. 

Visible tattoos and body piercing may attract unwanted attention and commentary. Earrings and nose 

rings on men may create concerns among supervisors and counterparts, or minimally, bring several 

questions and unwanted attention.

Going barefoot or wearing flip-flops outside of one’s home, especially while teaching, is not acceptable in 

Liberian society and is considered unprofessional or even disrespectful. Sandals and closed-toe shoes are 

best. In the rainy season, there is a lot of mud and in the dry season, there is a lot of dust. Shoes that can 

be washed are ideal.

Village attire and city attire might differ. If you are unsure about how to dress in a certain situation, it is 

better to be over-dressed rather than under-dressed. You may also ask Liberian friends, counterparts, or 

staff members for advice.

Ultimately, it is important to understand that your dress and every move are noticed by the community, 

and Volunteers must maintain a standard at or above those of other community members. To be effective 

in your service, it is essential to be perceived as a professional, and appearance and behavior directly 

influence that opinion.

Smoking

Smoking is highly frowned upon in Liberia. It is actually against the law to smoke in public, which 

includes in taxis, outside schools, shops, and basically outdoors anywhere. In one’s house seems to be the 

only place it’s legal. Cigarettes are sold in select stores of the capital, but they are uncommon and 

expensive. If you are unable to abstain from smoking during service, this will be a very challenging 

country for you.

Personal Safety

More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach to safety is contained in the Safety and 

Security section, 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, 
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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 Liberia Volunteers 

complete their two years of service without incident. The Peace Corps has established procedures and 

policies designed to help reduce the risks and enhance your safety and security. These procedures and 

policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once trainees arrive in Liberia. Using these tools, 

one can be empowered to take responsibility for his or her 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. Volunteers 

and families are encouraged to look at safety and security information on the Peace Corps website at

peacecorps.gov/safety.

Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer health and safety. There is a section titled Safety 

and Security in Depth. Among topics addressed are the risks of serving as a Volunteer, posts’ safety 

support systems, and emergency planning and communications.

Rewards and Frustrations

Your greatest reward will be basking in the wonderful reputation of Peace Corps Volunteers in Liberia. 

Your predecessors have created a legacy that will help you as you work, live, and travel in Liberia. 

Liberians genuinely love Peace Corps Volunteers. Anyone over age 30 likely had a PCV teacher. You 

will find that younger Liberians may not be as familiar with the Peace Corps as their parents, so you may 

have to explain it to them.

As a foreigner, there will be a perception that you are wealthy, and people may ask you for money and 

favors. These may range from small requests to borrow items up to paying for a college education. You 

should be honest and tell people you are not in a position to help someone financially. Gifting or loaning 

money misrepresents your purpose for being there and reinforces suspicions that you have money, which 

directly jeopardizes the safety of you and all other Volunteers.

The infrastructure of the country was destroyed by the war, so you will need patience. Simple tasks take 

longer, like getting a taxi to run a quick task—some take much longer than expected. Transportation is a 

huge challenge because of the difficult roads and shortage of public transportation. 

The daily life of a Peace Corps Volunteer is often compared to living in a “fishbowl”: Everyone will be 

curious and interested in all of your activities. You will need to manage all of the attention you receive, be 

it welcome or unwelcome. You will need to be sensitive to the fact that you represent the Peace Corps 24 

hours a day, seven days a week. You will need to consider your actions so the Volunteers who come after 

you will benefit from the same excellent Peace Corps reputation that you will enjoy.
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PEACE CORPS TRAINING

Training differs for Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps Response Volunteers. Please see the 

appropriate section below.

Overview of Pre-Service Training

The Peace Corps uses a competency-based training approach throughout the continuum of learning, 

supporting you from arrival in Liberia to your departure. Pre-service training (PST) is the first event 

within this continuum of learning and ensures that you are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and 

attitudes to effectively perform your job. Pre-service training is conducted in Liberia by Peace Corps 

staff, most of whom are locally hired trainers. Peace Corps staff measure achievement of learning and 

determine if you have successfully achieved competencies, including language standards, for swearing in 

as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Peace Corps training incorporates widely accepted principles of adult learning and is structured around 

the experiential learning cycle. Successful training results in competence in various technical, linguistic, 

cross-cultural, health, and safety and security areas.

Integrating into the community is one of the core competencies you will strive to achieve both in PST and 

during the first several months of service. Successful sustainable development work is based on the 

relationships you build by respectfully integrating into the host country community and culture. 

You will be prepared for this through a homestay experience, which often requires trainees to live with 

host families during PST. Integration into the community fosters language and cross-cultural learning and 

ensures your health, safety, and security.

Throughout service, Volunteers strive to achieve performance competencies. Initially, pre-service training 

affords the opportunity for trainees to develop and test their own resources. As a trainee, you will play an 

active role in self-education. You will be asked to decide how best to set and meet objectives and to find 

alternative solutions. You will be asked to prepare for an experience in which you will often have to take 

the initiative and accept responsibility for decisions. The success of your learning will be enhanced by 

your own effort to take responsibility for your learning and through sharing experiences with others.

The Peace Corps provides a training continuum throughout your two years of service to help build and 

improve your language and cross-cultural skills; ongoing language learning; develop and adapt your 

teaching and other technical skills; address issues concerning health and personal safety; and share 

experiences and lessons learned with other Peace Corps Volunteers, Peace Corps staff members, and 

Liberian colleagues.

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Liberia 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, Liberia 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 Liberia and 

strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your project’s goals and objectives and 

will meet with the Liberian agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You 

will be supported and evaluated throughout training to build the confidence and skills you need to 

undertake your project activities, report your progress, and serve as a productive member of your 
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community.

Technical training during PST will focus on teaching math and science in the host-country context. You 

will learn the communicative teaching methodology used by Peace Corps and how to use it in your 

teaching assignment in a Liberian school. During PST, you will have technical sessions and a teaching 

practicum experience. Technical topics may include the following: Liberian education system (formal and 

informal), teaching methodology; classroom management skills, training of trainers/teachers; lesson plan 

and curriculum development; and practical youth development and community entry skills. You will 

participate in demonstration lessons conducted by local teachers and/or currently serving Peace Corps 

Volunteers and some practice team teaching in classes with local students. 

Language Training

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills are key to personal and professional 

satisfaction during your service. These skills are critical to your job performance, help you integrate into 

your community, and can ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings. 

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 you can practice and develop language skills 

further once you are at your site. Prior to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will develop strategies to 

continue studying language during your service.

English is spoken in Liberia, but most Liberians communicate in the dialect of Liberian English. There 

are also several local languages. Volunteers will learn Liberian English and the basics of a local language 

based on the location of their site. 

Cross-Cultural Training

Cross-cultural training will provide opportunities for you to reflect on your own cultural values and how 

they influence your behavior in Liberia. You will also discuss the questions you have about the behaviors 

and practices you observe in Liberia, exploring the underlying reasons for these behaviors and practices. 

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your communication skills 

and understand your role as a facilitator of development. Training will cover topics such as the concept of 

time, power and hierarchy, gender roles, communication styles, and the concept of self and relationships. 

Because adjusting to a new culture can be very challenging, you will participate in resiliency training 

which provides a framework and tools to help with adjustment issues. 

The host family experience provides a unique context for cross-cultural learning, and 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 PST and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Liberia. Many Volunteers 

form strong and lasting friendships with their host families.

Successful sustainable development work is based on the local trust and confidence Volunteers build by 

living in, and respectfully integrating into, the Liberian community and culture. Trainees are prepared for 

this through a “home-stay” experience, which requires trainees to live with host families during preservice training. Integration into the community not only facilitates good working relationships, but it 

fosters language learning and cross-cultural acceptance and trust, which help ensure your health, safety, 

and security.

The PST host family will be invaluable as you learn to navigate within a new culture. Cultural knowledge 

will be infused into all components of PST, but there will also be stand-alone cultural sessions to help you 
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learn about Liberia, your host country.

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be trained in health prevention, basic first aid, and treatment of 

medical illnesses found in Liberia. You will be expected to practice preventive health and to take 

responsibility for your own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to attend all 

medical sessions. Health education topics will nutrition, food and water preparation, emotional health, 

dealing with alcohol, prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and common 

illnesses in Liberia.

Additional training will be provided to help manage your mental health while living in a post-conflict 

country that is now rebuilding every aspect of the country as a result of the conflict. 

Safety and Security Training

During the safety and security 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, how to identify safety risks in-country and about Peace Corps’

emergency response and support systems.

Additional topics will include transportation options, safe travel, the Emergency Action Plan, and safety 

and security issues in Monrovia, including mandated curfews, no-go zones, and clubs.

Volunteers who wish to ride a bicycle will also receive safety training and helmets, per the bicycle policy.

Evaluating Learning and Qualifying for Service

The pre-service training experience provides an opportunity not only for the Peace Corps to assess a 

trainee’s competence, but for trainees to re-evaluate their commitment to serve for 27 months to improve 

the quality of life of the people with whom Volunteers live and work and, in doing so, develop new 

knowledge, skills, and attitudes while adapting existing ones. 

Progress in one’s own learning is a dialogue between you and the training staff. All of the training staff—

including the training manager, and the language, technical, medical, safety and security, and crosscultural trainers—will work with you toward the highest possible competencies by providing you with 

feedback on learning objective performance throughout training. After reviewing and observing your 

performance, the country director is responsible for making the final decision on whether you have 

qualified to serve as a Volunteer in the host country.

Upon successful completion of training, trainees who qualify for Peace Corps service are required by law 

to swear or affirm an oath of loyalty to the United States; it cannot be waived under any circumstances. 

The text of the oath is provided below. If you have any questions about the wording or meaning of the 

oath, consult a staff member during training.

I, (your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution 

of the United States of America against all enemies, domestic or foreign, that I take this 

obligation freely, and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will 

well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps (so help me God).

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service

The Peace Corps’ training system provides Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their 

commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their technical and cross-cultural skills. After PST, 
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Volunteers utilize their community integration skills to start becoming part of the community, perform a 

community and/or workplace study, and start learning how best to do their job. 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.

 Midservice training (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 their 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 predeparture orientation through the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and evaluated 

cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps staff, and Volunteers.

You are expected to improve your knowledge 

and skills in the areas of technical, language, 

cross-cultural, diversity, health, and safety 

throughout your service as a Volunteer. 

Training staff provide learning objectives 

during the 27-month continuum to help guide 

Volunteers throughout service. The manner in 

which you do this may be formal, through 

tutoring or workshops organized by the host 

government or in-country staff, or informally, 

through conversations and reading. Your 

learning will continue after you become a 

Volunteer, formally and through in-service 

training opportunities, specialized language or 

technical workshops, and a close-of-service 

workshop to help you evaluate your service 

and prepare for your return to the United 

States. 

Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) Training

Overview of Orientation

As a Peace Corps Response Volunteer, you will have an orientation upon arrival in Liberia. During the 

sessions, you will learn about project information concerning your site, administration, health, safety and 

security, and reporting. You will be sworn in during this time and will then travel to the location where 

you will serve.

Technical Training

Upon arrival at site, you will receive an orientation from your counterpart. Given the short-term nature of 

your assignment with Peace Corps Response, you have been recruited for your technical skills, so there 

will be no additional training. If you find you need some training, please inform your counterpart or the 

Peace Corps office to discuss it. 
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Language Training

You will use English as your working language. There are local languages within Liberia, but English is 

used throughout. If you need assistance in working with any community group, you should discuss the 

need for, and availability of, a translator with your counterpart.

Cross-Cultural Training

There will be a cross-cultural session during your orientation. Should you have additional questions or 

should new situations arise, your counterpart and colleagues will be the best source of information. The 

Peace Corps staff is also available to assist you.

Health Training

During orientation, you will be given abbreviated 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. Topics include preventive health measures and minor and major medical issues that you may 

encounter while in Liberia. Additional training will be provided to help manage your mental health while 

living in a post-conflict country. Nutrition, setting up a safe living compound, and how to avoid 

HIV/AIDS and other STIs 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 topics will include transportation options, safe travel, the Emergency Action Plan, and safety 

and security issues in Monrovia, including mandated curfews, no-go zones, and clubs.

Volunteers wishing to ride a bicycle will also receive safety training and helmets, per the bicycle policy.

Additional Trainings during Volunteer Service

Additional training is not planned for Peace Corps Response Volunteers, given the brief duration of 

assignments.
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YOUR HEALTH CARE IN LIBERIA

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 Liberia maintains a clinic with a full-time medical officer who takes care of Volunteers’

primary health-care needs, including evaluation and treatment of most medical conditions. Additional 

medical services are also available in Liberia at local hospitals. If you become seriously ill and cannot 

receive the care you need in Liberia, you will be transported to a Peace Corps-approved regional medical 

facility. If the Office of Health Services (OHS) determines that the care is not optimal for your condition 

at the regional facility, you will be transported to the United States. 

Dental care is not to the level of American standards in Liberia. Emergency dental care will be managed 

in-country until you can be transported regionally for further care. Routine dental care can be found in 

Monrovia and will be available if needed.

Health Issues in Liberia

Liberia is a country with scant to nonexistent health-care resources outside the capital, and extremely 

limited resources in Monrovia. This requires a strong emphasis on preventive care.

Both plasmodium falciparum malaria and plasmodium vivax malaria are rampant in Liberia. Volunteers 

are required to take weekly mefloquine or daily doxycycline or malarone prophylaxis to lessen the risk of 

contracting this potentially deadly disease. Other recommended prevention strategies include mosquito 

nets and insect repellent containing DEET. The medical officer will provide all necessary items for 

prevention and treatment.

Additional vector-borne diseases are filariasis, typhus, leishmaniasis, and Lassa fever. Tuberculosis, 

meningitis, typhoid, and cholera, as well as a variety of bacterial and parasitic diarrheal diseases, are also 

endemic, mandating that proper water and food safety measures be taken on a daily basis. A water filter 

will be provided to ensure safe drinking water. Bacterial and fungal skin diseases are easily contracted in 

a tropical climate, and heatstroke and sunburn are also of concern. 

A health manual specific for Liberia will be provided with up-to-date information on each disease and 

how to prevent it, but it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with these diseases before your arrival.

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 Liberia, you will receive a country-specific medical handbook. By 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 section. 

During pre-service training, you will have access to basic medical supplies through the medical officer. 

However, during this time, 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 Liberia will consult with the Office of Health Services 

in Washington, D.C., or a regional medical officer. If it is determined that your condition cannot be 

treated in Liberia, you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation and care.
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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 is worth a 

pound of cure” 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 Liberia is to take the 

following preventive measures:

 Take your prescribed malaria prophylaxis

 Use your mosquito net

 Follow proper food preparation and water decontamination recommendations

 Follow all other avoidance techniques for malaria, food/water borne diseases, and other health 

ailments that will be discussed with you soon after your arrival 

Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are 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 Liberia during pre-service training.

Abstinence is the most effective way to prevent infection with HIV and other STIs. 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 STIs. 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

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps 

medical officer in Liberia will provide them. If you require a specific product, please bring a three-month 

supply with you. Many female Volunteers take menstrual cups (The Diva Cup, The Keeper, The Moon 

Cup, etc.) to avoid potential problems with availability or disposal of feminine hygiene products.

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health conditions that require medical 

attention. The Peace Corps is responsible for determining the medical risk and the availability of 

appropriate medical care if the Volunteer chooses to remain in-country. Given the circumstances under 

which Volunteers live and work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ medical 

standards for continued service during pregnancy can be met. 

The Peace Corps follows the 2012 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for screening PAP 

smears, which recommend women aged 21–29 receive screening PAPs every three years and women 

aged 30–65 receive screening PAPs every five years. As such, most Volunteers will not receive a PAP 

during their service, but can use Peace Corps supplied health insurance after service to have an exam. 
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Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit containing basic items to prevent and treat 

illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be periodically restocked at the medical office.

Medical Kit Contents

First Aid Handbook

Ace bandages

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Adhesive tape

Antacid tablets 

Anti-diarrheal (Imodium)

Antibiotic ointment 

Antifungal cream

Antihistamine

Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner 

Band-Aids

Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)

Butterfly closures

Calagel anti-itch gel 

Condoms 

Cough lozenges 

Decongestant

Dental floss

Gloves

Hydrocortisone cream

Ibuprofen 

Insect repellent 

Iodine tablets (for water purification)

Lip balm 

Oral rehydration salts

Scissors 

Sore throat lozenges

Sterile eye drops

Sterile gauze pads 

Sunscreen 

Thermometer (Temp-a-dots)

Tweezers

Take note, a multivitamin may be provided during service if you feel unable to maintain a nutritious diet. 

It will not be provided during training. Other than calcium, supplements will not be provided during 

service. If you have a preferred multivitamin or over-the-counter brand medication, you should bring it 

along or make arrangements to have it sent in care packages as generics are used and may change during 

your service.

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 Health Services 

(OHS). 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 OHS 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 Health 

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 

(other than yellow fever vaccination as directed by OHS) 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 during your first six months in Liberia. 

Volunteers must be willing to get all required vaccinations unless there is a documented medical 

contraindication. Failure to accept required vaccination is grounds for administrative separation from the 

Peace Corps. 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, 
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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. 

Medications supplied may be generic or equivalent to your current medications (including birth control 

pills). 

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 (of the current prescription) with you. If a pair breaks, the Peace 

Corps will replace them, using the information your doctor in the United States provided on the 

eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace Corps Office of Health Services strongly 

discourages Volunteers from wearing contact lenses while overseas unless there is a true medical 

indication documented by your ophthalmologist. Contact lenses, particularly extended use soft contacts, 

are associated with a variety of eye infections and other inflammatory problems. One of the most serious 

of these problems is infectious keratitis which can lead to severe cornea damage which could result in 

permanent blindness requiring corneal transplantation. These risks of permanent eye damage are 

exacerbated in the Peace Corps environment where the Volunteer’s ability to properly clean the lenses is 

compromised due to limited access to sterile water as well as decreased effectiveness of cleaning 

solutions due to prolonged storage in unsatisfactory conditions. In addition, when bacterial eye infections 

occur, assessment and treatment within hours by a competent ophthalmologist is indicated. This is 

virtually impossible in the Peace Corps setting. If you feel that you simply must be able to use your 

contacts occasionally, please consider using single use, daily disposable lenses which do not require 

cleaning.

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 

pre-existing conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current plan when you return home.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DEPTH

Ensuring the safety and security of Volunteers is Peace Corps’ highest priority. 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 most Volunteers complete their two years of 

service without a serious safety and security incident. Together, the Peace Corps and Volunteers can 

reduce risk, but cannot truly eliminate all risk.

Beyond knowing that the Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with you, it might 

be helpful to see how this partnership works. The Peace Corps has policies, procedures, and training in 

place to promote your safety. The Peace Corps depends on you to follow those policies and to put into 

practice what you have learned. An example of how this works in practice—in this case to help manage 

the risk and impact of burglary—follows:

 The Peace Corps assesses the security environment where you will live and work.

 The Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live according to established security criteria.

 The Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country counterparts or other community 

leaders in your new community.

 The Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you raise.

 You lock your doors and windows.

 You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community where you live.

 You get to know your neighbors.

 You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is appropriate for you.

 You don’t change residences before being authorized by the Peace Corps.

 You communicate your concerns to Peace Corps staff.

This welcome book contains sections on Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle, Peace Corps 

Training, Your Health Care, and Safety and Security, all of which include important safety and security 

information to help you understand this partnership. The Peace Corps makes every effort to give 

Volunteers the training and tools they need to function in the safest way possible and prepare for the 

unexpected, teaching you to identify, reduce, 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 that Volunteers experience is theft. Thefts often occur when

Volunteers are away from their sites, in crowded locations (such as markets or on public transportation), 

and when leaving items unattended.

Before you depart for Liberia there are several measures you can take to reduce your risk: 

 Leave valuable objects in the United States, particularly those that are irreplaceable or have 

sentimental value

 Leave copies of important documents and account numbers with someone you trust in the States

 Purchase a hidden money pouch or “dummy” wallet as a decoy

 Purchase personal articles insurance

After you arrive in Liberia, you will receive more detailed information about common crimes, factors that 

contribute to Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For example, Volunteers in Liberia

learn to do the following:
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 Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with someone trusted by the community 

whenever possible

 Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of local customs

 Avoid high-crime areas

 Know the local language to get help in an emergency

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

 Be careful and conscientious about using electronics (phones, cameras, laptops, iPods, etc.) in 

public or leaving them unattended

 Limit alcohol consumption

As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the 

potential for being a target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime occurs in Liberia. You can 

reduce the risks by avoiding situations that place you at risk 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 worksites for 

pickpockets.

While whistles and verbal harassment based on race or gender may be fairly common on the street, this 

behavior may be reduced if you abide by local cultural norms, dress conservatively, and respond 

according to the training you will receive.

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

Because many Volunteer sites are in rural, isolated settings, you must be prepared to take on a large 

degree of responsibility for your own safety. To reduce the likelihood that you will become a victim of 

crime, you can take steps to make yourself less of a target such as ensuring your home is secure and 

developing relationships in your community. While the factors that contribute to your risk in Liberia may 

be different, in many ways you can do what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: 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, learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding by Peace Corps 

policies and procedures. Serving safely and effectively in Liberia will require that you accept some 

restrictions on your current lifestyle.

Support from Staff

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety and security 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 response may include 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 support and assist Volunteers who 

choose to make a formal complaint with local law enforcement. It is very important that a Volunteer 

reports an incident when it occurs. The reasons for this include obtaining medical care and emotional 

support, enabling Peace Corps staff to assess the situation to determine if there is an ongoing safety and 

security concern, protecting peer Volunteers and preserving the right to file a complaint. Should a 

Volunteer decide later in the process to file a complaint with law enforcement, this option may be 

compromised if evidence was not preserved at the time of the incident. 

Office of Victim Advocacy

The Office of Victim Advocacy (OVA) is a resource to Volunteers who are victims of crime, including 
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sexual assault and stalking. Victim advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help 

Volunteers understand their emotional, medical, and legal options so they may make informed decisions 

to meet their specific needs. The OVA provides a compassionate, coordinated, and supportive response to 

Volunteers who wish to access Peace Corps support services.

Contact information for the Office of Victim Advocacy

Direct phone number: 202.692.1753

Toll-free: 855.855.1961 ext. 1753

Duty phone: 202.409.2704 (available 24/7, call or text)

Email: victimadvocate@peacecorps.gov

Crime Data for Liberia

Crime data and statistics for Liberia, which are updated yearly, are available at the following link:

http://files.peacecorps.gov/manuals/countrydata/liberia.pdf. Please take the time to review this important 

information.

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes. Crimes that do occur abroad are investigated 

and prosecuted by local jurisdictional authorities. If you are the victim of a crime, you will decide if you 

wish to file a complaint with law enforcement, who will then determine whether to prosecute. If you 

decide to file a complaint, the Peace Corps will help through the process. The Peace Corps staff will 

ensure you are fully informed of your options and understand how the local legal process works. Further, 

the Peace Corps will help you exercise your rights to the fullest extent possible under the laws of your 

host country.

The Peace Corps will train you on how to respond if you are the victim of a serious crime, including how 

to get to a safe location quickly and contact your Peace Corps office. It’s important that you notify the 

Peace Corps as soon as you can so Peace Corps staff can provide assistance.

Volunteer Safety Support in Liberia

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help you stay safe during your service. The 

plan includes information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection criteria, a detailed emergency action 

plan, and protocols for addressing safety and security incidents. Liberia’s in-country safety program is 

outlined below.

The Peace Corps/Liberia office will keep you informed of any issues that may impact Volunteer safety 

through information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer 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 to ensure that Peace Corps staff members are kept apprised of your 

movements in-country so they are able to inform you.

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and security issues in Liberia. 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 
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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.

You will also learn about Peace Corps/Liberia’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 Liberia 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 safety and security incidents 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 current and future Volunteers.
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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OVERVIEW

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship and to improve people’s lives in the 

communities where Volunteers serve. Instituting policies and practices to support a diverse and inclusive 

work and Volunteer environment is essential to achieving this mission.

Through inclusive recruitment and retention of staff and Volunteers, the Peace Corps seeks to reflect the 

rich diversity of the United States and bring diverse perspectives and solutions to development issues. 

Additionally, ensuring diversity among staff and Volunteers enriches interpersonal relations and 

communications for the staff work environment, the Volunteer experience, and the communities in which 

Volunteers serve. 

The Peace Corps defines diversity as a “collection of individual attributes that together help agencies 

pursue organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. These include, but are not limited to, 

characteristics such as national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, 

sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Diversity 

also encompasses differences among people concerning where they are from and where they have lived 

and their differences of thought and life experiences.”

We define inclusion as a “culture that connects each [staff member and Volunteer] to the organization; 

encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so 

that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.” The Peace Corps promotes 

inclusion throughout the lifecycle of Volunteers and staff. When staff and Volunteers are able to share 

their rich diversity in an inclusive work environment, the Peace Corps mission is better fulfilled. More 

information about diversity and inclusion can be found in the Volunteer Handbook.

An inclusive agency is one that seeks input from everyone in an effort to find the best ideas and strategies 

possible to execute its objectives. When input is solicited, heard, and considered from a rich multitude of 

individuals the best course of action usually emerges. The Peace Corps seeks to improve its operations 

and effectiveness by ensuring that all voices and ideas are heard and that all Volunteers and staff feel 

welcome and appreciated. When each person’s voice is heard, the agency is stronger and the impact of 

Volunteers is strengthened.

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site

Once Volunteers arrive at their sites, diversity and inclusion principles remain the same but take on a 

different shape, in which your host community may share a common culture and you—the Volunteer—

are the outsider. You may be in the minority, if not the sole American like you, at your site. You will 

begin to notice diversity in perspectives, ethnicity, age, depth of conversation, and degree of support you 

may receive. For example, elders, youth, and middle-aged individuals all have unique points of views on 

topics you may discuss, from perspectives on work, new projects, and social engagements to the way 

community issues are addressed.

Peace Corps staff in your host country recognize the additional adjustment issues that come with living 

and working in new environments and will provide support and guidance to Volunteers. During preservice training, a session will be held to discuss diversity and inclusion and how you can serve as an ally 

for your peers, honoring diversity, seeking inclusion, challenging prejudice and exclusion, exploring your 

own biases, and learning mechanisms to cope with these adjustment issues. The Peace Corps looks 

forward to having Volunteers from varied backgrounds that include a variety of races, ethnic groups, 

ages, religions, sexual orientations and gender identities. The agency expects you to work collaboratively 

to create an inclusive environment that transcends differences and finds common ground.
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Cross-Cultural Considerations

Outside of Liberia’s capital, residents of rural communities might have had little direct exposure to other 

cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical U.S. 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 Liberia are known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the 

community where you will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present. 

As a Volunteer and representative of the United States, you are responsible not only for sharing the 

diversity of U.S. culture (to include your individual culture and the culture of other Americans) with your 

host country national counterparts, but also for learning from the diversity of your host country. An 

important aspect of this cultural exchange will be to demonstrate inclusiveness within your community in 

a sensitive manner. Additionally, you will share the responsibility of learning about the diversity of your 

fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and exploring how best to respect differences while serving as supportive 

allies as you go through this challenging new experience. 

To ease the transition and adapt to life in your host country, 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 they have in the 

United States; male Volunteers may be expected to not perform chores or other tasks ascribed to women; 

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 a diversity, inclusion, and sensitivity discussion 

during pre-service training and will be on call to provide support. This training covers how to adapt 

personal choices and behavior to be respectful of the host country culture, which can have a direct impact 

on how Volunteers are viewed and treated by their new communities. The Peace Corps emphasizes 

professional behavior and cross-cultural sensitivity among volunteers and within their communities to 

help integrate and be successful during service. 

An ideal way to view the pursuit of cross-cultural adaptation and/or cultural integration is to recognize 

that everything done in your host country has both a specific reason for why it is done and an expected 

outcome. Trust that your host country counterparts are acting with positive intentions and work to 

mutually seek understanding and commonality. Language differences may add a communication barrier 

and lead to misunderstandings. Listen more than you speak and seek clarity. Remember that having the 

ability to laugh at yourself and at life’s little surprises goes a long way—laughter is universal.

What Might a Volunteer Face?

Possible Gender Role Issues

Gender is a set of socially constructed roles, responsibilities, behaviors, and opportunities. Gender differs 

from sex, which refers specifically to biological and physiological characteristics of males and females. 

Gender roles and expectations are learned, change over time, and vary within and among cultures. 

Volunteers are trained in gender awareness as they approach their work in the host country. Gender roles 

in the United States may differ greatly from those in your country of service. It is important to absorb and 

to attempt to understand the cultural nuances of gender where you are. For example, in many cultures 

males are held in higher regard than females and females may manage the households. In some places, 

females are encouraged to attend school, while in other countries females are discouraged from engaging 

in such activities and instead work inside or outside of the home.

During the pre-service training, trainees receive an introduction to gender awareness in their country of 
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service, and examine their own thinking about gender roles and how this thinking has impacted them. 

They then learn how to analyze development projects using a gender lens to better understand gender 

roles in their host country and to understand how these gender roles can benefit or limit what females and 

males may or may not do. During their 27 months of service, Volunteers will further engage in gender 

trainings to understand better how their gender identity impacts who they are as females or males in the 

host country and how this perception influences their work and relationships.

Female Volunteers who are single are often considered an oddity because most women, particularly in 

rural areas, are married, some with children, by the time they are in their 20s. Single women also face 

what in the United States would be considered inappropriate advances from male colleagues, supervisors, 

and acquaintances. Gender roles have changed drastically over the years in the United States; it can be a 

challenge to adapt to a culture with more traditional roles and to know how to effectively set boundaries. 

Unwanted attention, and even harassment, can be one of the greatest frustrations as a female Volunteer. 

Above and beyond traditional gender roles and possible harassment, is the possibility of sexual violence. 

The rate of sexual violence against women is high in Liberia. Rape was used as a weapon of war, and the 

government has launched campaigns to address this problem with the hope of reducing its occurrence. 

Domestic violence also occurs in this post-conflict country. According to police, most acts of sexual 

violence occur between people who know each other. Female Volunteers must exercise caution with their 

consumption of alcohol and going out in the evening unaccompanied. Volunteers will learn what is and is 

not acceptable in the Liberian culture, such as when it is and is not advisable to invite men into their 

homes. Often, female Volunteers must take an even more conservative approach than their Liberian 

friends and colleagues. 

Strategies to deal with these issues are discussed in training, and the Peace Corps staff can offer help in 

resolving any problems.

Volunteers should report any concerns or incidents to the Peace Corps medical officer or country director 

immediately.

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color

Volunteers of color sometimes, but not always, have a different Peace Corps experience than white 

Volunteers. Because of limited exposure, some foreign nationals will expect to see U.S. citizens who are 

white. Cultures of the world do not typically envision the States as a place of rich diversity with various 

culturally acceptable perspectives, personalities, and characteristics. Thus, a Volunteer of color may be 

questioned as about their U.S. citizenship.

In places where American stereotypes and/or caste system dynamics influence perception, Volunteers of 

color should be mindful of the reasons for these views without creating contentious environments. All too 

often, host country nationals are simply unaware of the diversity of the United States and require 

additional information and dialogue. Direct interactions with someone new or something different can 

take time to get used to, but those who take the time tend to be better off. Although host country nationals 

may assert that the United States is made up of predominately one race, we know that is not true. If a 

member of your community knows of compatriots living in the United States or of notable U.S. citizens 

of color, you can build on this knowledge as a point of reference for discussing diversity within the 

States.

For Volunteers of color, the range of responses to their skin color may vary from the extremely kind to 

the very insensitive. In African and Latin American countries, host country nationals may say “welcome 

home” to African-Americans or Hispanic Americans. Sometimes Volunteers expect to be “welcomed 

home” but are disappointed when they are not. More commonly, if a Volunteer is mistaken for a host-
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country national citizen, he or she is expected to behave as a male or female in that culture behaves, and 

to speak the local language fluently. Host country nationals are sometimes frustrated when the Volunteer 

does not speak the local language with ease. Conversely, some in the same country may call you a “sell 

out” because they feel the United States has not done enough to help with social issues. These instances 

can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the host country national, in which the 

Volunteer can ask questions surrounding perception and collaborate with respect to issues and projects at 

hand, while engaging in cross-cultural exchanges. All Volunteers, to include white Volunteers and those 

of color, should be mindful of the issues of race that are embedded in U.S. culture and within the culture 

in your country of service. These issues may significantly affect how Volunteers interact with fellow 

Volunteers and host country nationals. Being open and inclusive to everyone will improve your 

experience in interacting with fellow Volunteers and members of your host community.

African-American Volunteers may be treated according to local norms because it is assumed they are 

African. However, once an American accent is detected, Liberians realize the Volunteer is American 

rather than Liberian. African-American Volunteers may have a different experience in Liberia than in 

other West African countries due to the history of America and Liberia, and because Liberians understand 

more about the history of African-Americans. 

Asian-American Volunteers have expressed frustration that some Liberians will call them “Chinese” no 

matter how they explain their ethnic origins or status as Asian Americans. They may be teased by 

children and asked if they know kung fu or karate. While in the capital, they might be confused with 

Chinese workers who are involved in different infrastructure projects.

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally 

(LGBTQA) Volunteers

For LGBTQ Volunteers: Given Liberia’s traditional values, sexual orientation and non-conforming 

gender identities might not be discussed openly. In some cases, the LGBTQ community may be 

stigmatized. Mindful of the cultural norms and country-specific laws, the decision to serve openly is left 

to each individual Peace Corps Volunteer. Many LGBTQ Volunteers have chosen to be discreet about 

their sexual orientation and/or gender identity within their host communities. Some LGBTQ Volunteers 

have chosen to come out to community members, with a result of positive and negative reactions, while 

some have come out only to select Peace Corps staff and Volunteers. Dealing with questions about 

boyfriends, girlfriends, marriage, and children may, at times, be stressful for LGBTQ Volunteers. You 

may find that Liberia is a less open and inclusive environment than you have previously experienced. 

Please know, however, that Peace Corps is supportive of you and Peace Corps staff welcomes dialogue 

about how to ensure your success as an LGBTQA Volunteer. More information about serving as an 

LGBTQ Volunteer is available at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Peace Corps Alumni 

website at lgbrpcv.org. Additionally, the Peace Corps’ LGBTQ employee resource group, Spectrum, can 

be reached at spectrum@peacecorps.gov.

For Ally Volunteers: Peace Corps staff intends to create open, inclusive, and accepting environments. As 

an agency, the Peace Corps encourages Volunteers to serve as allies to their LGBTQ colleagues in order 

to create a safe environment.

Many LGBTQ Volunteers have served successfully in Liberia and have very fond memories of their 

community and service. LGBTQA support groups may be available in your country of service, providing 

a network to support the needs of the Peace Corps LGBTQA community. Peace Corps staff will work 

with Volunteers to provide them with locally informed perspectives.

Homosexuality is considered taboo in Liberia, and homosexual sexual activity is illegal. Homosexuality 

certainly exists in Liberia, but there is no open homosexual community.
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Volunteers who are lesbian, along with female Volunteers who are heterosexual, will have to deal with 

constant questions about boyfriends, marriage, and sex. 

Volunteers should not expect to freely discuss their sexual orientation with new friends and family; this 

can obviously be very difficult. Peace Corps staff as well as the Peer Support Network is aware of this 

challenge and will offer support as you navigate through your new culture. 

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities

As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Health Services determined you were 

physically and emotionally capable, with or without additional medical support, to perform a full tour of 

Volunteer service in Liberia without a significant risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. The 

Peace Corps/Liberia staff will work with disabled Volunteers to support them in training, housing, 

jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. 

As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services determined you 

were physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform a full 

tour of Volunteer service in Liberia without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or interruption of 

service. The Peace Corps/Liberia 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. 

As a result of the protracted war, there are many amputees in Liberia, with a concentration in Monrovia. 

Many support themselves by begging, so a Volunteer with a disability may receive more requests for 

assistance, because of the perceived notion that they will have money received through begging.

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples

Before committing to Peace Corps service, couples should consider how different degrees of enthusiasm 

about Peace Corps service, adaptation to the physical and cultural environment, and homesickness will 

affect their lives. It can be helpful to recognize that your reactions to these issues will change throughout 

your service, and you may not always feel the same as your partner. You and your partner will have 

different jobs, different schedules, and difference societal pressures. One partner may learn the language 

faster than the other or have a more satisfying assignment. This can create competition and put different 

kinds of stress on each person. Anticipating how these pressures will affect you and your partner 

differently throughout your service can help you remain a source of support for each other. Making 

friends with other Volunteers is a critical part of fitting into the larger Volunteer culture and can also be a 

good way to expand your support network. 

While couples will live together during their service, they may live in separate towns during their preservice training. This is a stressful time for most Volunteers, and it can be helpful to discuss in advance 

how you will deal with this potential separation. Your partner can be an important source of stability but 

can also add stress to your training experience. You may feel torn between traveling to visit your partner 

and focusing on your training, your host family, and friends you have made at your training site.

Couples often face pressure from host country nationals to change their roles to conform better with 

traditional Liberian relationships. Liberian men and women alike will often not understand American 

relationship dynamics and may be outwardly critical of relationships that do not adhere to traditional 

gender roles. It is also helpful to think about how pressures to conform to Liberian culture can be 

challenging to men and women in very different ways. Considering how your partner is being affected 

and discussing what, if any, aspects of your relationship should be changed can help reduce stress for you 

both.
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Married Volunteers will receive a warm welcome in Liberia. Marriage is a respected institution. Even so, 

monogamy is rare in Liberian relationships. A married male Volunteer may receive pressure to find a 

Liberian girlfriend. This may come from men, who take pride in such pursuits, or women, who want to be 

the girlfriend. Married female Volunteers will be approached by men even after it is clear she is a married 

woman. Overall, as compared to single Volunteers, married Volunteers receive far fewer sexual advances 

and marriage proposals. 

Having children is a great source of pride in Liberian culture. For those who do not have children, it is a 

great source of shame. People will be surprised if Volunteers are married and do not have children. Some 

may assume the woman is barren. They will find it hard to believe that the couple does not want children 

or are waiting until later to have them. Couples should be prepared for many direct questions on the topic. 

If a Volunteer does have children, people will love to see photos and hear all about them.

Liberia has very clear gender roles. Men work and socialize outside the home and bring home the 

majority of the family’s money. Women tend to the home, raise the children, and may sell goods in the 

market. Peace Corps Volunteers, married or otherwise, tend to blur these lines. Male Volunteers may find 

themselves cooking or washing clothes frequently. Female Volunteers may engage in activities outside 

the house that are typically reserved for men (e.g., having a drink in public, riding a bicycle). These 

behaviors may be strange to Liberians, but they are met with amusement and appreciation for the 

Volunteers’ participation or hard work.

Public displays of affection are rare in Liberia. People only infrequently hold hands and never openly 

kiss. In fact, it is unusual to see a couple together outside the home. If you do choose to engage in PDA, 

you will not offend anyone but you will draw extra attention. Even a simple hug between Volunteers can 

be looked on with great curiosity.

Married Volunteers will have to work harder to be included in activities, both within their community and 

with other Volunteers. People will assume the married couple has plans or that they are not interested in 

socializing. Additionally, people are less likely to pay a visit or call to check in on married Volunteers. 

Married Volunteers can enjoy rich relationships the same as any Volunteer, but they will have to be 

proactive when developing and maintaining these new social ties.

As most Volunteers in Liberia are paired to share a single house, people in the community may feel less at 

ease inviting you to events. Those Volunteers have to make extra effort not to spend all of their time with 

their housemate, and should actively cultivate their own sets of friends and acquaintances. You should 

seek to have your own experience as a Volunteer.

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

Liberia is tolerant of diverse religions, therefore most Volunteers find Liberia welcoming of their 

religious preferences. Volunteers not accustomed to practicing a religion may be challenged to explain 

their reluctance and invited to attend local events. Most Volunteers find ways to address these issues and 

feel quite at home in the religious diversity and tolerance of Liberia.

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers

Senior Volunteers may find their age an asset in Liberia. They will often have access to individuals and 

insights that are not available to younger Volunteers. On the other hand, they will be in a distinct minority 

within the Volunteer population and could find themselves feeling isolated, looked up to, or ignored. 

Seniors are often accustomed to a greater degree of independence and freedom of movement than the 

Peace Corps’ program focus and safety and security practices allow. Pre-service training can be 
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particularly stressful for seniors, whose lifelong learning styles and habits may or may not lend 

themselves to the techniques used. A senior may be the only older person in a group of Volunteers and 

initially may not feel part of the group. Younger Volunteers may look to an older Volunteer for advice 

and support; some seniors find this to be an enjoyable experience, while others choose not to fill this role. 

Some seniors may find it difficult to adapt to a lack of structure and clarity in their role after having 

worked for many years in a very structured and demanding job.

More than younger Volunteers, older Volunteers may have challenges in maintaining lifelong friendships 

and dealing with financial matters from afar. They may want to consider assigning power of attorney to 

someone in the States.

In Liberian culture, people respect age as bringing wisdom and experience. Volunteers in their 20s 

sometimes find they have to make an extra effort to be accepted as professional colleagues. Older 

Volunteers, in contrast, are automatically accorded respect. In turn, older Volunteers might find that 

almost too much is expected of them because of their age; or conversely older Volunteers who are used to 

living independent lives may at first feel frustrated by the fact that younger Liberians want to do things 

for them.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Liberia?

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 100 

pounds total with a maximum weight of 50 pounds per 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 Liberia?

Liberia used to use 110 volt electricity, but that has changed and now 220 volt electricity is predominant. 

The wall sockets, however, have not changed, so the USA-style flat-pronged plugs are the norm. There 

are some European-style plugs with two pins, so Volunteers will see a variety. It may be useful to bring 

one plug adaptor set, or purchase them locally, if needed. Adapters are readily available in many shops in 

Liberia.

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. Volunteers 

often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. Traveler’s checks are not 

readily accepted in Liberia, but may be used in other countries should you plan to travel. Credit cards are 

not used in Liberia, but may be useful if you travel to other countries. You will need to exercise extra 

caution in safeguarding them should you choose to bring them, as identity theft and credit card fraud are a 

problem in West Africa. 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 preservice 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 you are encouraged to consider them 

carefully. Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items overseas. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, 

electronics, and expensive appliances are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and, in many places, 

satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available. 
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Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Liberia 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. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer 

may be asked to drive a sponsor’s vehicle, but this can occur only with prior written permission from the 

country director. Should this occur, the Volunteer may obtain a local driver’s license. A U.S. driver’s 

license will facilitate the process, so bring it with you just in case.

What should I bring as gifts for Liberia 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. Volunteers may share housing with a fellow Volunteer. Some sites require up to 

a two-day drive to the capital.

How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps Counseling and Outreach Unit provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting 

trainees and Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States, instruct your family to notify 

the Counseling and Outreach Unit immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious illness or death 

of a family member. The Counseling and Outreach Unit can be reached at 855.855.1961, select option 1, 

ext. 1470. After business hours, on weekends, and on holidays, the COU duty officer can be reached at 

the same number. For non-emergency questions, your family can contact your country desk staff through 

the main Peace Corps number: 855.855.1961. 

How easy is it to call home from Liberia? 

Cellphone service is widely available throughout Liberia. However, not all sites have great service. Calls 

to the U.S. are possible though some Volunteers will not have service in their houses. It is five cents a 

minute to call the U.S. from Liberia. Internet calls to the U.S. depend on the bandwidth available through 

the level of your Internet service, but may be difficult. You should not count on this being available.

Should I bring a cellphone with me?

There are multi-system cellphones available for purchase in the United States, but they are “locked” to the 

frequency of a particular provider. To use that phone in Liberia, you would need to have it “unlocked,”

but most likely this will not be possible in the U.S. and it may be difficult to find a service to perform that 

in Liberia. You are encouraged to purchase a cellphone in Liberia (+/- $40) and then to purchase the SIM 

card from a provider. Volunteers usually get a pre-paid scratch-card and then add to their account as 

needed. If you do decide to bring your own phone, make sure it is a minimum 3G phone and unlocked so 

a local SIM will work. Liberia cell providers operate on a GSM network.

Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?

If you have your own laptop, a solution that may be of interest is the use of a data card. Several cellphone 

companies offer Internet service through cellphone technology. You can purchase a data card and it dials 

a nearby cellphone tower for service. It is slow, but works in most towns (but not between communities). 
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The data card is currently available for $40 and there is no monthly fee. If you have a newer laptop that 

requires a “smartcard” then you will need to buy a compatible cellphone that can attach to your computer 

or bring a separate data card reading device. Be aware that electricity is almost 100 percent generatorbased and many generators are not compliant with electronic equipment. For this reason, you should 

consider power protection with your laptop.
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WELCOME LETTERS FROM LIBERIA VOLUNTEERS

Liberia Invitee,

Congratulations and welcome to the Peace Corps/Liberia family! Your next two years of service will be 

incredibly challenging, but also the most rewarding. Waiting for you when you get off the plane is a 

network of Volunteers, staff, a host family, and a community that will welcome you with open arms. 

Liberia, in my opinion, is the most inviting Peace Corps country. I can’t remember a day since my service 

began where I haven’t been thanked for something. 

In an average day of teaching, drawing water from the well, washing clothes, or cooking dinner on a coal 

pot, I’m thanked by students, neighbors, and community members I’ve come to know as friends for 

adopting their way of life. Even if I make mistakes and have not quite mastered the art of hand-washing 

clothes, the effort I put in seems more important the actual result. Before my plane landed in Monrovia 

and I experienced that welcome, I remember the anxiety and fear of the unknown that I was experiencing. 

“‘What will the food be like? Will I actually be able to teach chemistry? What if the rest of my group is 

crazy? What should I pack?’” As far as the food, rice and spicy soup are the order of the day, but that 

doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with your coal pot. If you are like me and had never taught a full class 

before the Peace Corps, try not to worry. Your pre-service training will teach you some techniques that 

Volunteers before you have found successful in Liberian classrooms, but also give you the opportunity to 

try your own ideas. And as far as if your group will be crazy, I’ll say that it takes a specific kind of person 

to agree to spend the next 27 months of their life living and working in an unknown country. The 

friendships and camaraderie you will find among the trainees and Volunteers will help you through the 

difficult days and help you celebrate on the days of great success. 

The best advice I can give you is relax and enjoy the time you have left at home. Savor the ice cream, 

time with friends and family, and paved roads before you depart for site. A great adventure is waiting for 

you when you arrive!

Take care and enjoy the remaining time at home,

Melissa Page

LR-4

Dear Liberia Invitee:

Let me add my voice to those welcoming you to Liberia! I am very excited that you have decided to 

embark on the adventure that is service in Liberia. From the moment you join Peace Corps/Liberia, you 

become part of the family—a family that includes the Volunteers that came before you, and those yet to 

come. We are all happy to have you here!

You’re going to be teaching students who haven’t had a lot of opportunities in their lives, who come to 

class burdened with a lot of troubles—and there will be frustrations. You will, however, have moments of 

great satisfaction when your students show that they understand a topic. And you’ll have the chance to 

profoundly touch the lives of your students and communities; one day, a former student of yours might 

tell a Peace Corps Volunteer about that teacher they had in high school all those years before. 

I thought I might share a few moments from my experience, the sort of memories that stick out to me. 

They’re intensely personal, and you’ll make your own in time—deeply meaningful memories that you’ll 

never forget.
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Your landlady greets you on your porch, where she’s taken refuge from the sun. And you, tired as you 

are, find the energy to smile and ask after her day. She says she’s fine, as she always does, but you 

suspect otherwise. “You sure?” you ask, and she smiles without saying anything. She’ll tell you when 

she’s ready.

The test papers are in, and the testing period is mercifully over—you’ve been bored, what with not 

teaching, and you know that you’re going to be depressed when you look at the tests and see where 

students struggled—and so you steal a glance at one paper. The answers are all wrong, and you close your 

eyes and sink wearily into a chair and, in that moment, you wonder what you’re doing and which teaching 

technique you’re going to have to try next time.

In the dead of the night, when you can’t sleep—frustrations from the day racing through your mind—and 

you walk outside to stare at the night sky because there’s nowhere to go and no one around to see. And 

the stars are different somehow, but you find Orion in the western sky and suddenly shiver because you’re 

no longer in Africa, but at home and there’s snow on the ground and for just a second you swear you can 

see your breath in the air.

You’re in front of the class, and there are all these tired faces looking back at you as you try to explain the 

math that one of your colleagues said he dreaded trying to teach, but you forge ahead anyway and see that 

a few students are grasping the material and, even though you don’t like math, you feel that you could 

take on any subject and win in that moment.

Your time here will be full of ups and downs, challenges and triumphs, and memories. The experience is 

worth it, and I encourage you to take time as you go through your experience to record your thoughts and 

feelings and see how they change in time. This service in Liberia will mark you—and you will make a 

difference. 

Best regards,

Dan Frechtling

Peace Corps Volunteer Leader (PCVL) – Southeast

Liberia 20’12–’14
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PACKING LIST

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Liberia and is based on their experience. Use it as an 

informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each 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 a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can 

get almost everything you need in Liberia.

All Volunteers will be working in conjunction with government ministries, nongovernmental 

organizations (NGOs), and/or schools. It is important to dress neatly, professionally, and appropriately. 

More importantly, it is hot and humid in Liberia; therefore, it is important to dress in light-colored 

clothing. Cotton and other natural fabrics will be most comfortable; breathable, lightweight, and loose 

fitting clothes that protect skin from the sun are best.

For bags, check two bags and bring a carry on: one that is a large suitcase, a second backpacking 

backpack or duffel bag, and a third backpack for school. Fill these three things and you can bring 

anything you need. In country, beautiful, smaller bags are made by organizations started by Volunteers 

that will fill in any gaps. 

Peace Corps/Liberia will reimburse you if you are charged for checking a second piece of luggage that 

conforms to Peace Corps luggage guidelines. Refer to the Volunteer Handbook for luggage specifics. 

Please get a receipt, and give it to your director of management and operations upon arrival in Liberia. If 

your bags are overweight or outside what’s detailed in the Volunteer Handbook, it will be your 

responsibility to pay.

You will be traveling a lot for two years, throwing bags in and out of taxis, and bouncing all around 

bumpy roads. Here are things to make life easier!

 Internal frame backpack 

 TSA approved locks for baggage

 Watch—cheap knock-off watches are available in-country

 Sleeping pad

 Two water bottles—consider one with a small mouth for bush taxi rides

 Money belt

Travel Options: Feel free to bring these if you have space or really need it, but they aren’t essentials.

 Pillow/stuffed animal, dream sack (indispensable)

 Sweater or jacket for the airport, rainy season, and vacations to cold places

 Sweatshirt (depending on your site you might sleep in it during dry season)

 Travel pillow

Electronics: These aren’t required, but are strongly recommended and might make your work easier.

 Smartphone—remember to unlock it. It’s the best way to get Internet at your site.

 iPod

 iHome speakers—charge quick, last forever, good sound, and cheap

 Laptop—things break here, so bring a cheap one

 External hard drive

 SD cards and USB sticks 

 Camera

 Headlamp 
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 Solar charger(s)—read reviews before you buy one

 Extra batteries or battery extenders for all your electronics

Toiletries: These are available in Liberia, but will be expensive. If you want a specific brand bring plenty 

of it, because you may not be able to find it in-country.

 Two pairs of prescription eyeglasses; consider prescription sunglasses as well

 Three-month supply of prescription drugs

 Baby wipes

 Tampons/pads/Diva Cup—tampons can be found in Monrovia but not anywhere else

 Razors/shaving cream—again, bring a lot; they are expensive

 Nail clippers and nail file

 Liquid hand sanitizer/hand wipes

 Facial soap or pampering items (e.g., tea tree oil)

 Pumice stone, if you use one now

 Deodorant—again, bring a lot

 Two tubes of toothpaste

 Soap dish

 Toothbrush holder

 Body wash

 Shampoo

 Conditioner

 Body scrub

 Lotion

 Brush/comb

 Hair ties, bobby pins, headbands, general things that help you put your hair up

Kitchenware/food: Food cravings will be the worst during your first few months in country, so you may 

want to bring some comfort foods to ease your transition into Liberian life. 

 Spices—you will use them every day. They’re hard to find here and expensive. Bring your 

favorites: cumin, coriander, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, curry 

powder, garlic powder, basil, oregano, spice mixes

 Seeds to plant (if you want to garden): basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, tomato, lettuce, bell 

pepper

 Packaged mixes: taco seasoning, ranch or other salad dressings, gravy, soups, curries

 Drink mixes: Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light

 Knives: chef, bread, paring

 Nonstick pan

 Spatulas

 Wooden spoons

 Tongs

 Energy or granola bars (great for breakfast or lunch)

 Snacks—candy bars, crackers, chips

 Meat packets (chicken, tuna, crab, salmon)

 Dried fruits and veggies (berries, tomatoes, mushrooms)

 Cheese powder and/or Parmesan cheese (note: pasta is readily available)

 Measuring cup and measuring spoons if you’re into cooking or baking

 Two to seven plastic containers to keep your goodies safe from the ants and mice

 Zip-top bags (of varying sizes)
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 French press and coffee 

 A thermos, so you can heat water at night and not use the coal pot in the morning for oatmeal, 

coffee, tea, etc.

School supplies: Schools in Liberia will not have many resources, so you may wish to bring some of the 

following.

 Math/science textbooks that you really like. They are good references. 

 World map, map of Africa, subject posters

 Office supplies: 

o Highlighters

o Markers

o Paper clips

o White out

o Folders (keep in mind that paper in Liberia is A4 size, so it is slightly longer)

o Stapler

o Five-subject notebook

o Ruler

o Solar calculator 

o Scientific calculator (the students will be fascinated by it)

o Tape—blue painter’s, masking, duct, clear, double-sided

o Scissors (good ones)

o Sticky notes

o Binders

o Spiral notebooks

o Stickers (grown students even love them on their papers!)

 American pens—red, blue, and black

 Pocket dictionary, consider an English as a second-language version

 Crayons 

 Coloring books

 Colored or sidewalk chalk

 Children’s books—everyone will read them here, including your students

 Flash cards (high-school students may not know addition, subtraction, multiplication, and 

division)

o Multiplication

o Division

o Addition

o Subtraction

o Science

o Sight words 

o Letters 

Other:

 Reusable shopping bag

 Mouse traps

 Ant traps

 Strong, fast-drying glue

 Woodwork or carpenter gloves for building, gardening, small projects, etc.

 Exercise equipment—yoga, Pilates band, exercise books/videos on your computer
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 Games—Frisbee, dominos, chess, checkers, playing cards, tennis balls, jump rope, Uno cards, 

board games, baseball gloves, football, soccer balls, basketball, volleyball, slackline, air pump to 

blow up balls

Clothing: You can find clothing all over Liberia, but it may be second-hand. Standards of dress in the 

capital, Monrovia, will be more relaxed than the standards of dress in smaller communities.

 Nice clothes, button downs, polos, nice shirts

 One presentable outfit for more formal events

 Two pairs of nicer pants (for men)

 Knee-length skirts (or longer) for teaching 

 One pair dress pants (for women)

 Jeans, more than one pair

 Shorts (for women, longer or capris, so that the knees are covered)

 Clothes to lounge around in and/or sleep in; athletic shorts, yoga pants, and leggings are great 

 Underwear and bras—these wear out very quickly, so bring more than you think you need

 Swimsuit

 Undershirts, tank tops, and lightweight T-shirts

 One pair of dress shoes that are comfortable to walk inDurable teaching sandals (Tevas, Keens, 

Chacos, etc.)

 Running shoes 

 One towel 

 One to two sets of twin sheets 

Many people arrive with only hiking clothes, hiking sandals, etc., and then realize they have no “normal 

clothes” for social gatherings. Bring clothes you like: It will make you feel good to look like your “old 

self.” Note: Most of your clothes will be well-worn by hand-washing. 

It is difficult to find a good haircut in Liberia, so you may want to bring hair-cutting scissors or batterypowered clippers. The rechargeable ones cannot handle the 220 volt current and are quickly ruined. Also, 

it is harder to get your hair cut if you want anything other than really short. It’s a do-it-yourself situation;

however, there is one place Volunteers get their hair cut in Monrovia.

What NOT to bring:

 Food

o Pasta

o Tomato paste

o Bouillon cubes

o Salt

o Rice

o Beans

o Powdered milk

o Flour

o Sugar

o Seeds for vegetables that grow here, i.e., pumpkin, onion, eggplant, okra, cucumber, or 

cabbage

 Miscellaneous

o White chalk 

o Toilet paper

o Ibuprofen, decongestant, antacid, hydrocortisone—please reference the contents of your 

medical kit under the Health section of this welcome book
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o Hangers

o Books—you get a Kindle, so you may wish to save the weight

o Vitamins

o Bars of soap—only bring if you are partial to a specific brand

o Tent—you get a bug hut

o Hand tools 

o Matches

 Clothes

o More than a few old T-shirts 

o More than one jacket or hoodie

Remember, at the end of the day, there is next to nothing that you might forget to pack that will affect you 

long-term. 
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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 are relevant to everyone, and the list is not comprehensive.

Family

 Notify family that they can call the Counseling and Outreach Unit at any time if there is a critical 

illness or death of a family member (24-hour phone number: 855.855.1961 ext. 1470).

 Give family and friends the Peace Corps On the Home Front handbook.

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 service; 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.

 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 abroad, 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. 

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 United States. 

 Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan service. (Information about loan 

deferment is online here: peacecorps.gov/learn/whyvol/finben/. Answers to frequently asked loan 

deferment questions are here: peacecorps.gov/learn/whyvol/finben/faq/.

 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 855.855.1961 ext. 1770.

 Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks, and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with 

an attorney or other caretaker.
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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: 855.855.1961, press 1, then extension number (see below)

Peace Corps mailing address:

Peace Corps

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters

1111 20th Street NW

Washington, DC 20526

For Questions About Staff Toll-free extension Direct/Local

Responding to an invitation Office of Placement ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Country information Nicole Williams ext. 2318 202.692.2318

Desk Officer liberia@peacecorps.gov

Plane tickets, passports, visas, or other travel matters

CWT SATO Travel ext. 1170 202.692.1170

Legal clearance: Office of Placement ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Medical clearance and forms processing (includes dental)

Screening Nurse ext. 1500 202.692.1500

Medical Applicant Portal questions amsadmin@peacecorps.gov

Medical reimbursements (handled by a subcontractor) 800.818.8772

Loan deferments, taxes, financial operations ext. 1770 202.692.1770

Readjustment allowance withdrawals, power of attorney, staging (pre-departure orientation), and 

reporting instructions

Office of Staging ext. 1865 202.692.1865

New Volunteer Portal questions staging@peacecorps.gov

Note: You will receive comprehensive information (hotel and flight arrangements) three to five weeks 

prior to departure. This information is not available sooner. 

Family emergencies (to get information to a Volunteer overseas) 24 hours

Counseling and Outreach Unit ext. 1470 202.692.1470

Office of Victim Advocacy ext. 1753 202.692.1753

24 hours (call or text) 202.409.2704