Oral history
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection
RPCV-ACC-2019-120
Evelyn Kohl (now LaTorre) served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru from 1964 to 1966 in a RCA Tools community service project. She had previously done missionary work in Mexico through the Catholic Church and heard Sargent Shriver speak at a conference. She describes the extensive physical and language training at Cornell University and in Puerto Rico, as well as the winnowing down of her large class of trainees. After arriving in Peru, she recounts the difficulty in finding a town to serve in and a job that would help the poor. After settling in Abancay, LaTorre coached a soccer team and ran clubs with the young people in a nearby town. Her ability to sew and her experience in 4-H were heavily utilized. She also talks about her romance with her (now) husband, their wedding after completing service, and returning to the U.S. Interviewed and recorded by Candice Wiggum, July 11, 2019. 2 digital audio files (web streaming files combined into 1 file).