CUTV News Radio spotlights Anna Louise Gaspar of the Peace Corps

Las Vegas, NV – CUTV News today announced that Anna Louise Gaspar will be featured in an exclusive, one-on-one conversation to discuss her experiences as a member of the Peace Corps.

Anna Louise Gaspar had been an elementary school teacher for more than 32 years in the Los Angeles area, when she retired. But unlike most retirees who find a hobby to pass the time, Anna joined the Peace Corps, where she helped to open a resource center for teachers in Swakopmund, Namibia.

“We were 35 people to start with,” recalls Anna. “You had to do your own laundry. You had to cook. You had to clean. We were interacting with children who didn’t speak English. They had different customs and different food.”

Namibia had recently transitioned from South African control, declaring its independence in 1994. Unfortunately, they had been dominated by South Africans for so long, they didn't have proper books. Some children in the villages had no education at all.

“The idea was to set up a resource center so the teachers could come together and to learn something new,” recalls Anna. “We taught them new concepts in math and in science so they could each take back what they had learned to their individual schools.”

Anna says the Peace Corps gave her an opportunity to interact with different people and different cultures, learning about their culture and how they live.

“You had to be able to flow with the tide and not say, ‘I'm an American. I do this this way,’ says Anna. “You had to have an open mind. it's a different environment and you have to adapt to it.”