I would be inundated by the village experience. Little did I know, how much the Beninese would learn about American through me. As an environmental volunteer, I helped women' s groups find money and supplies to start tree nurseries as both reforestation and money earning ventures. I taught school children the importance of planting trees and wood conservation. In Benin, the Sahara desert slowly encroaches from the north because of severe deforestation in that part of the country.
Trees hold the topsoil from washing away, so wood conservation becomes a vital.
During my last eight months I began an environmental education program which educated students and teachers important environmental issues and techniques. I was amazed to realize the little I knew could be so useful to and appreciated by the communities I served. My community worked hard to implement my suggestions. The subtle things made the most difference. Like the way that women and girls would sit for hours and watch me write letters home or read a novel.