At the age of 71, Marie Hammond, a retired American teacher, has embarked on a journey she first dreamt of six decades ago to volunteer as a Peace Corps teacher in Kenya. The determination in her voice as she takes her oath reflects the fulfillment of a long-held aspiration. Her mission? To inspire Kenyan students to find joy in learning and to approach subjects like math and reading with a renewed sense of curiosity and excitement.
Hammond’s Peace Corps assignment has brought her to Kakamega, where she plans to share her passion for mathematics, seeing it not as a daunting subject, but as a beautiful, logical, and life-connected skill. “I want them to see math, not as something they’re forced to memorise, but as something beautiful logical, yes, but also part of the world, part of life,” she explains. Drawing an analogy to crochet, Hammond encourages students to view solving math problems step by step, crafting something meaningful along the way.
Her path to this mission, however, was not straightforward. As a young girl, Hammond was inspired by the Peace Corps’ mission to bring global assistance, and she dreamed of serving overseas, particularly in teaching mathematics. However, her dreams had to wait as life unfolded. Raising two children and establishing herself as a dedicated math teacher kept her grounded in the US. Yet, the dream of spreading her love for education never dimmed.
The Peace Corps’ structure is designed to immerse volunteers like Hammond in their host communities for a period of three months, during which they undergo language, cultural, and ethical training before integrating into the local educational landscape. Hammond has expressed her hopes of introducing a more diverse reading culture to Kakamega, where the local library mostly contains textbooks. She wants to bring in more books that can spark students’ imaginations, providing them with the opportunity to experience the world beyond the classroom.
Despite her age, Hammond is determined to leave a lasting impact. Her gentle yet firm resolve reflects the commitment of someone who has spent a lifetime in education, eager to make a difference in the lives of Kenyan students. Her experience, which spans decades of personal and professional growth, is now being passed on to a new generation eager to learn and grow, just as she once did.
Marie Hammond’s Peace Corps mission in Kenya serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to follow one’s passion for teaching, proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful contribution.
