Brett interned in our office during 2000, primarily helping with the Diaper Bank. Brett takes pride in the fact that he was there when a brainstorming session that included the idea of “jello wrestling” actually created the “Poster Babies Contest”; that he worked the project from idea to actuality, including staffing the Poster Babies booth months later; and that he was present for Diaper Drive kick-off when the winning babies were announced. He often told us how much it meant to witness the nuts and bolts of how a project can go from hair-brained idea to immediately becoming an institution.

Brett’s home before his time in Tucson was rural Southern Illinois. And so it made sense for him to take the farm skills he grew up with, mix them with his obvious gift for writing and communicating, and to throw in an amazing social conscience - and end up in the Peace Corps. His passion has been to help teach AIDS prevention (a critical need in Africa - see our “About Niger” page). Even in the beginning of his stay in Koré Hausa, Brett’s letters address this critical subject so close to his heart.

Brett’s letters are special, and we know you will enjoy them. More than a simple overview of the culture and the land, they are often an introspective look at the very questions we would all be asking ourselves. How did I get myself into this? What do I do now? How can I help when there is simultaneously so much and so little to do? And how can I make this amazing dream go on forever?

We are honored that Brett is so willing to share his soul with all of us. But rather than keep telling you ABOUT him, here are Brett’s own words about what you are about to read:

These letters describe the author’s experience while living in Niger, West Africa, and reflect his opinions and emotions while enduring such hardships as going without food, water, electricity, a common language, toilet, current Chicago Cubs updates, etc. The contents of this journal-in-progress are biased and should be taken with a grain of salt, and maybe a shot of tequila. Because there is no one here to check my sources, the low times will no doubt be made out to be a piece of cake, and during the high times, I will become larger than life. This is mostly because I would hate to worry my folks, and besides, real men don’t cry, or at least they don’t write about it when they do. Some names and identifying details of individuals should probably be changed, but because it’s all so new to me, I will no doubt butcher those names anyway. And besides, no one within 15k of me understands what the heck I’m saying at any rate, so there is really no need. And if by some small chance these letters generate any revenue in the form of care packages, I would be more than happy to share the contents with those mentioned herein. Enjoy! Koré Hausa, Niger, West Africa - 2001