For Immediate Release
From: Alison Darby, 864-958-5264
Date: May 20, 2019
Subject: Hometown boy hosts US Peace Corps Third Goal event at depot
Belton: From Belton all the way to Senegal, a country in West Africa, hometown boy Cason Kirby has been serving the people there as part of the US Peace Corps.
After graduating from Clemson University with a degree in language and international trade, Cason has been stationed in West Africa since February of 2017.
“Part of my job as a volunteer, stated as the third goal in the mission statement of the Peace Corps, is to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans,” he stated.
While visiting with family during the spring, he approached the Belton Area Museum Association to determine if a time and date could be set for him to meet that requirement.
“Since I was a teenager, I’ve dreamed of being in the Peace Corps. After teaching English in France for a year, the opportunity came about to live and work abroad and make a difference in the lives of the people of Africa,” Cason stated.
On Thursday, May 30, at 7 PM, everyone is invited to hear about the Republic of Senegal, its people, customs, culture and challenges. Kirby will share his experiences and give a vivid account of service in a foreign country. Visitors will also learn about the Peace Corps volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved.
The event is free to attend and will be a lead in to the next BAMA exhibit entitled Epidemics: Diseases Gone Wild, which opens with a health fair on Sunday, June 23, from 3 – 5 PM.
“Come join us for this informative and interesting presentation at the Historic Belton train depot,” stated BAMA executive director Abigail Burden.
Caption: Cason Kirby poses with middle school students in Senegal who are the recipients of tuition scholarships. Families of girls, typically, have a hard time paying for school, so many women aren’t educated in Senegal. One of Cason’s projects has been to support young women in their pursuit of education through scholarship fundraising.