Within the Peace Corps framework it is expected that volunteers work in collaboration with village leadership as it is culturally appropriate for guests to work in cooperation with key stakeholders and people in power. It is difficult, however, for the practitioner to gain the participation of the poor when they are positioned closely with powerful figures of authority as the poor encompass feelings of shame and fear. How can community development workers create a balance that allows them to be culturally appropriate and effective in their work with all members of the community including the marginalized populations? As an outsider, how do one's relationships with community members affect the processes and outcomes of projects? I used participant observation and semi-structured interviews with community members and Peace Corps volunteers to tell the story of our struggles and accomplishments. While the general conclusions are specific to my experience, the learning process I went through applies to others beginning to contemplate the processes they might go through to enter a community, assess its needs, and do work. While the work volunteers do is not transformative, many have positive impacts on their villages. Building close relationships with community members from different populations was essential to my experience. I needed to take time to be a part of the community, love it, and redefine my understanding of development before joining in and marching on.
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