40 Years Later RPCV Learns He Really Did Make a Difference

It is always inspiring to hear how the positive work of Peace Corps Volunteers endures long after their service has ended. Christopher Barnhart, a volunteer stationed in Somalia from 1966 to 1968, recently got such affirmation about the work he did more than 40 years ago. Barnhart was a member of the Somali V - School Construction Program and spent five months in Ceel Bur, Somalia helping the town build a four classroom school building. He recently received the following e-mail from a 50 year old Somali man named Adam Egal who was a 10 year old student in Ceel Bur during his service:

Hello Mr Barnhart,

I just saw the information about your work as a peace corps volunteer in Somalia from the internet.

I was a 10 year old kid when you were in the town of El Bur in central Somalia building a school there. People in El Bur still talk about the great job you did in building the school.

I am happy to tell you that the building is still as good as the day you finished and is in use today. It was renovated several times but the structure is still the same. I will try to send you current pictures of it. Everyone in El Bur is very appreciative of what you did. I also remember, that you left El Bur soon after the assassination of Robert Kennedy.

Most Somali people old enough to remember still fondly talk about the peace corps, the Kennedys', and the much admired USA. Unfortunately now it is a different story.

Anyway,it is great to find you your contact information and I wish you and your family well. On behalf of all El-Burners I want to say THANKS.

Sincerely,

Adam Egal

Barnhardt attests that he was blown away "to read this e-mail and to realize that the school building is still there and still functioning even though Somalia has gone through so much destruction and chaos of the last 40 years." Such stories are incredible reminders about the ability of Peace Corps Volunteers to have a postive and long-lasting impact.

Above are photos of El Bur taken in 2005 including the school Christopher Barnhardt helped build.