This photo was taken during the 610th anniversary of the town of Perechyn, Ukraine, I served for 3 years. About five feet away, 14 members of the community and I had just finished selling 700 raffle tickets. The money, in-kind donations and...
Each year the Perechyn orphanage, like most orphanages, holds a Fall Festival. Tanya and Ivan play the role of nature and earth. These kids grew up in front of my eyes the three years I spent with them. Just before I left, Ivan ran away from the...
No one believed these young people could start a foundation by themselves. Maybe they didn't themselves in the beginning, but they believed in their ability to create fun, alternative things for young people to do besides drinking and doing...
What a rush - to perform on the stage of the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps. I was humbled by the talent of the group with whom I performed. Everyone of these young people, despite their...
It was as if I became an instant part of every family in my town. I first met this lady when the owner of the local veterinary pharmacy took me home with her to try the fat they had rendered from their hog, which she spread on a big piece of...