- Name: Wyatt Clay
- Age: 24
- Current location: Quito, Ecuador
- Home town: Lovettsville, Virginia, USA
- Education: Political Science, Business, Greensboro College, USA
- Current position: Urban Youth Development Volunteer, US Peace Corps
- Organization description: The United States Peace Corps has sent volunteers to more than 140 countries over the last 50 years. It partners motivated and service-minded youth, with local leaders in foreign countries to help tackle problems as varied as access to education and technology, the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the creation of economic opportunities.
- Bio: Wyatt Clay knew he wanted to volunteer with the Peace Corps from the age of 15, after hearing about the experience on career day. After completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Business, he applied to Peace Corps hoping to make his dream a reality. He is currently stationed in Quito, Ecuador, a year-and-a-half into his two-year contract. He is partnered up with a local agency called CENIT, helping creating and implement economic growth and skill development opportunities for urban youth and their families.
- Years in the field: 1.5
- Countries I've worked in: USA, Ecuador
- Sector / subsectors: International Development, Youth Worker, Economic Development
- Areas of expertise: Economic development, youth counselling, business, marketing
- Country: Ecuador
- Region: South America
- Sector: Business, International development
- Degree subject: Business & commerce, Political science
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Who are you and what do you do?
Meet Wyatt Clay, from rural Virginia, who is now stationed in Quito, Ecuador as a Peace Corps volunteer.
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So you're placed at a local organization, Centro Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (CENIT). What are some of your responsibilities?
Wyatt tells us about some of his work, and how a pair of scissors can empower a mother to provide a better life for her children.
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What are some other projects you undertake?
Find out how recycled magazines from Ecuador end up in boutique stores in Japan, while empowering women in the process.
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Those sound like amazing projects. What else do you do?
What doesn't Wyatt do? On top of the amazing skills-based projects, he also works on the communications team and the health team at his partner organization CENIT.
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Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you get here?
Not too many people can say they've known what they've wanted to do since they were 15 years old.
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Wow, a year is a long time to wait after being accepted. Can you tell us more about the Peace Corps application process?
Don't worry - you won't have to wait a year like Wyatt did. He shines light on changes to the application process.
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Once you're in the Peace Corps, how long is the commitment?
What are you doing for the next 27 months of your life?
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What are some of the challenges of working cross-culturally in this environment?
Wyatt is the only Peace Corps volunteer at his counterpart organization, CENIT. Every year CENIT deals with 50-60 international volunteers from all over the world, along with local Ecuadoreans.
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Can you give us an example of the cultural differences/challenges you mentioned?
Wyatt explains why someone telling you 'ya mismo' should always be taken with a grain of salt.
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Do you have tips for anyone who will be moving to Ecuador?
Before Wyatt landed in a bustling South American capital city, he lived in rural Virginia and had never taken a taxi or a public bus before. If he can do it, you can do it.
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What's the lifestyle like Ecuador, working for the Peace Corps?
Why despite what you think, your lifestyle might not be that different in Quito, but the culture is.
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What are the misconceptions about what you do in the Peace Corps?
Wyatt isn't writing letters by candlelight and fetching water by bucket.
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How does education factor into this? Do you need a degree?
Wyatt talks about learning on the job.
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What are the different streams and fields within the international volunteering sector?
Wyatt works with youth development, but there's several other ways you can go.
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What's your best advice, as far as tangible steps, that someone can take to get a start in international volunteering?
Wyatt's three steps to get your start in international volunteering.
