1. The United States
Peace Corps / The Gambia
P.O. Box 582 Tel: (220) 485-2120
Banjul, The Gambia Fax: (220) 439-1803
Description of Peace Corps Volunteer Service
Kathryn Allyn Odom (Ally)
After a competitive application process stressing applicant skills, adaptability, and cross-cultural
understanding, Ally was invited to serve as an Education Volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa.
Pre- Service Training
On June 1, 2015, she began a comprehensive ten-week training program stressing language,
technical, and cross-cultural skills in preparation for her service as a primary teacher trainer. She
completed 140 hours of intensive language training, 91 hours of technical training, 40 hours of
cross-cultural training, 30 hours of medical training, and 10 hours of safety and security training.
Topics covered in the technical training included alternative discipline practices, teaching with
limited resources, working with Gambian counterparts, literacy instruction, strategies for
teaching English as a second language, and an introduction to the structure and practices of the
education system in The Gambia, among other things.
Assignment
Ally was successfully sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on August 12, 2015 at the U.S.
Ambassador’s residence.
Ally served from August to December 2015 in Yallal Ba, a small rural village with
approximately 500 residents in the North Bank Region of The Gambia. The village had no
electricity services, and residents received their water through pumps and donated taps. The
village was occupied by a minority ethnic group comparatively disconnected with western ideas
and education. Throughout her service, Ally dedicated herself not only to cultural integration but to
counterpart capacity building and working with village development groups

2. The following is a summary of her achievements during her service:
Teacher Development
• Supported and supervised seven classroom teachers in all subject areas through one-on-
one conferencing and classroom observations and feedback.
• Trained five teachers in classroom management techniques including positive feedback
and alternative methods of discipline.
• Increased teacher literacy by coordinating book lending, creating a culture of reading and
expanding access to enjoyable books.
• Hosted two teachers at the Banjul American Embassy School Best Practices in Teaching
Conference 2015. Supported teachers through sessions and facilitated the exchange of
newly gained skills back at the school.
School Development
• Developed and organized school administration and management procedures alongside
the school headmistress and deputy headmistress.
• Organized the school library. Created and implemented a catalog system appropriate for
English language learners.
• Trained seven teachers and headmistress on better practices for accurate and fair test
administration and grade analysis
Peace Corps
• Participated in Leadership Trek, a three day long bike trek aimed at choosing the
participants of Camp GLOW (Girls and Guys Leading Our World). Co-taught seven
writing lessons for grade ten students at two different schools.
• Chosen, after a competitive application process, to participate in the 2015 Media
Workshop for Peace Corps, The Gambia volunteers. Learned guidelines and skills behind
properly representing oneself and Peace Corps over various media platforms. Worked
with two other volunteers to create a multimedia project focusing on small business and
entrepreneurship in The Gambia.
Personal Achievements
• Successfully adapted to life in a rural village without electricity and running water.
• Established strong relations with his host family and neighboring families within the
community.
• Successfully navigated within a different country using local language and cultural
knowledge.
• Achieved Intermediate High in the Puular language based on the guidelines of the
American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
• Gained confidence and self-awareness by becoming a strategic member through projects
at the village level and country wide Peace Corps projects and workshops.

3. Pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Peace Corps Act,22 U.S.C. & 2504 (f) as amended, any former volunteer
employed by the United States Government following Peace Corps Volunteer service is entitled to have
any period of satisfactory Peace Corps Volunteer service credited for purposes of retirement, seniority,
reduction in force, leave and other privileges based on length of government service. That service shall
not be credited toward completion of the probationary or trial period of any service requirement for career
appointment.
This is to certify in accordance with Executive Order No. 11103 of April 10, 1963, that Ally served
satisfactorily as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Her service ended on December 17, 2015. His benefits under
the Executive Order entitlement extend for a period of one year, except that the employing agency may
extend the period for up to three years for a former volunteer who enters military service, pursues studies
at a recognized institution of higher learning, or engages in other activities that, in the view of the
appointing agency, warrant extension of the period.
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____________________
Jennifer Goette
Date
Country Director
Peace Corps The Gambia