PEACE Volunteer Program in Mexico

Interview with Amy Clinton, volunteer alum

GO: Tell us a little about yourself and your trip.

Amy: My trip was from January to July of 2011. I graduated from Hope College with a degree in International Studies and Business Managment in December of 2010. I currently live in Chicago and work as the Marketing and Community Outreach Coordinator for Accion Chicago, a local microfinance institution.

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with PEACE in Mexico?

Amy: By the time I reached my final semester in college, I knew that I wanted to work in microfinance and was hoping to find a position in a Spanish-speaking country after graduating. A family friend told me about PEACE's microfinance arm, Sé Más Microfinanzas, and introduced me to the director. She and I set up a phone interview, and I quickly gathered that because Sé Más was still such a small organization (at the time there were three full time employees), I would have ample opportunity to fully understand every aspect of their work. It was the "perfect storm" of immersion and experiential learning!

Amy and a colleague outside of the PEACE office in Mexico

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Amy: No two days as a volunteer at PEACE were alike, and that's what I loved about it! I was given three major projects to work on during my six months there. My boss gave me the guidance I needed to succeed but the independence to work at my own pace and in a way that made sense to me. My day to day activities included the following types of tasks: researching best practices and industry standards, visiting and interacting with loan groups, contacting suppliers for loan products, meeting and interviewing key organizational players, administering surveys, analyzing loan applications, planning and outlining future loan products, and of course, visiting my favorite taco stand for lunch.

GO: What made this volunteer experience unique and special?

Amy: My internship with PEACE Mexico was special in so many ways. I was a trusted member of the team at PEACE, not just an intern given unimportant or simple tasks. It's also notable that I lived three blocks from the beach and was able to spend my down time paddleboarding, surfing, and soaking up the vibrant Mexican culture.

GO: How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?

Amy: I believe my time in Mexico has everything to do with my position at my current job. The experience I gained through PEACE got me through the door of the interview, and the things I learned proved to my interviewers that I was capable and confident enough to do a great job. Living abroad is a great way to develop life skills that will be helpful no matter what you do afterwards.