William Ruff served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru from 2010 to 2012, working in the area of community health. He underwent training in Spanish, Peruvian culture, and grassroots development issues. Assigned to Huamas, Peru, he trained health promoters and community members in nutrition, hygiene, cooking stoves, and more. He also led education initiatives in schools, including teaching English, health, and starting a chess club. In total, he helped over 100 families and 90 students through his community health work in Peru.

1. PEACE CORPS/PERU
DESCRIPTION OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SERVICE
William Ruff Peace Corps I.D. No. Peru
William Ruff was invited to be a member of the sixteenth group of Volunteers to serve in Peru since
Peace Corps’s return to the country in 2002. On September 17, 2010, William began a 10-week training
program at the Peace Corps training center near Lima. The training consisted of intensive Spanish
language instruction, an overview of Peruvian culture and society, and technical training in grassroots
development issues affecting community health in rural areas in Peru, and the interventions necessary to
remedy these issues.
On November 26, 2010, William was sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Community Health
program. He was assigned to work with a rural health center in the community of Huamas in the Andean
region of Ancash, Peru.
His primary responsibilities and activities included the following:
Rural and Environmental Health
Training Health Professionals in Rural and Environmental Health
• Trained a group of 4 regional health promoters, with help from the local health center, in how to
identify warning signs of dehydration, upper respiratory infections, and malnutrition in children
under the age of 3. The health promoters were also trained in early childhood stimulation
exercises.
• Trained the promoters with the help of the health center to promote family food production units
such as vegetable gardens, hand-washing, animal corrals, and improved cooking stoves using
non-formal education techniques.
Family Gardens and Small Guinea Pig Farms
• In conjunction with local help promoters, trained 72 community members in two rural
communities in the importance of a balanced diet and the preparation of a healthy meal.
• Trained 72 community members in the implementation of a family food production unit
consisting of an organic garden or a small guinea pig corral.
• Consequently 54 families know how to plant and maintain a family garden and 10 families know
how to build and maintain guinea pig corrals. In total 64 families are now aware of the
importance of protein and vitamins in their children’s diet and are augmenting their daily meals
with food from either their family gardens or guinea pig corrals.
Hand-Washing and Hygiene Promotion
• With the help of the health center and health promoters, coordinated and led a hand-washing
campaign with the local kindergarten and primary school to promote World Hand-Washing Day.

2. • Currently 50 children in primary school, 36 community members and 4 health promoters
understand the importance of hand washing and sanitation for a healthy life.
Improved Cook Stoves and Latrines
• Trained and assisted 36 families, with the help of the community health promoters, in the
importance of, construction and maintenance of improved cook stoves in order to reduce upper
respiratory infections, back pains, and vision problems and to burn less firewood.
• Applied for and received a $2,500 Peace Corps Partnerships Program Grant to assist the 36 other
families and 4 educational institutions in the construction of improved cooking stoves, family
gardens and small guinea pig corrals to improve family and community health.
• 36 families involved in cook stove project now know the importance of regular hand-washing,
cleanliness in the home, treatment of drinking water, preparing balanced meals, early childhood
stimulation, and knowing how to recognize and deal with respiratory infections and diarrheas.
Working with Youth
Youth Sexual Health Education
• Trained 15 high school students, with the help of the teachers in the local secondary school, in the
prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and the promotion of healthy
sexuality, self-esteem, and life skills.
• 2 of the adolescents trained in the course attended a leadership conference where they were able
to learn about how to lead student groups and plan and execute health projects in their own
communities.
• Accordingly 15 adolescents in the community know about the importance of self-esteem,
making good life choices, sexual education, and planning for the future.
• Applied and received a $300 PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) Grant to
assist in buying materials and supporting the activities of the aforementioned sexual education
class.
Healthy Schools Program
• Trained over 20 teachers at the local primary and secondary school on the subjects of self-esteem,
nutrition, sanitation, parasites, HIV and AIDs, environmental issues, trash management and
recycling. Teachers then implemented these themes into their classes with special projects.
English Classes
• Tutored high school students in English.
• Led a group of elementary school children in Basic English.
Health Classes
• Taught a group of 30 secondary school students in the areas of self-awareness, healthy decision
making, life skills and self-esteem.
Chess Club
• Started a club for children in the community in order for them to learn and play chess.
In closure, William also participated regularly in a great variety of community activities, including town
festivals and cultural events. He developed strong friendships with community leaders and his host
family. He continually shared and promoted cross-cultural exchanges and increased understanding
between the U.S. and Peru.
Pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Peace Corps Act, 22 USC 2504(f), as amended, any former Volunteer
employed by the United States Government following his/her Peace Corps Volunteer service is

3. entitled to have any period of satisfactory Peace Corps service credited for purposes of retirement,
seniority, reduction in force, leave, and other privileges based on length of Government Service. The
service shall not be credited toward the 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 William Ruff
served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His service ended on November 06, 2012. He is
therefore eligible to be appointed as a career-conditional employee in the competitive civil service on
a noncompetitive basis. This benefit under the Executive Order extends for a period of one year after
completion of Volunteer service, 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 which, in the view of the appointing
authority, warrant extension of the period.
_________________________ ______________________________
Sanjay Mathur Emilia Villanueva
Country Director Community Health Program Manager
Peace Corps/Peru Peace Corps/Peru
November 06, 2012