2009.07.21: July 21, 2009: Headlines: COS - Thailand: Older Volunteers: Libraries: Arizona Republic: Sharon Treasure and her husband, Bob, 73, were assigned to Thailand in 2000 to teach English
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Peace Corps Online : Directory : Thailand : Peace Corps Thailand : Peace Corps Thailand: Newest Stories : 2009.07.21: July 21, 2009: Headlines: COS - Thailand: Older Volunteers: Libraries: Arizona Republic: Sharon Treasure and her husband, Bob, 73, were assigned to Thailand in 2000 to teach English| By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Sunday, August 09, 2009 - 9:19 pm : Edit Post |
Sharon Treasure and her husband, Bob, 73, were assigned to Thailand in 2000 to teach English
When their assignment ended, the village threw them a going-away party. The retired principal rose
to speak. "He said he had a very negative attitude about Americans before we went there,"
Treasure said, "but after working with us and seeing what we had done, he felt totally
different." Treasure was moved that her work had changed the heart of one man. "We're
there representing our country," she said
Sharon Treasure and her husband, Bob, 73, were assigned to Thailand in 2000 to teach English
Older volunteers called to the Peace Corps
by Mary Beth Faller - Jul. 19, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
[Excerpt]
Giving back
Sharon Treasure, 67, a registered nurse from Scottsdale, always yearned to help others, but it
seemed no one needed her. Years ago she tried to do volunteer work with juvenile offenders, but the
paperwork was lost. She availed herself to the Red Cross, which asked her to pay for costly
out-of-state training. She offered her medical skills to a crisis center, but people there wanted
her to answer phones.
During a trip to South Africa in 1997, she read that the Peace Corps was sending volunteers there
for the first time, and she knew this was a group that needed her.
Sharon and her husband, Bob Treasure, 73, were assigned to Thailand in 2000 to teach English. Their
true legacy is the village library.
"They had no resources as far as English goes," Treasure said. "They had no resources
whatsoever."
The Treasures wrangled the use of a vacant building and asked the retired school principal, who also
was a furniture maker, to build shelves. Then they begged for books, asking everyone they knew in
Thailand as well as in the States.
"A school in Scottsdale sent us boxes and boxes of picture books," she said. "And even
the library in downtown Bangkok sent us books."
After each day of teaching and working on the library, they would return to a home they shared with
roaches, mice, and snakes. They were forced to be creative with meals because there was no stove.
Little did they know one of their greatest rewards awaited them, making the hardships worth it.
When their assignment ended, the village threw them a going-away party. The retired principal rose
to speak.
"He said he had a very negative attitude about Americans before we went there," Treasure
said, "but after working with us and seeing what we had done, he felt totally different."
Treasure was moved that her work had changed the heart of one man.
"We're there representing our country," she said
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: July, 2009 ; Peace Corps Thailand ; Directory of Thailand RPCVs ; Messages and Announcements for Thailand RPCVs ; Older Volunteers ; Libraries ; Arizona
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Story Source: Arizona Republic
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Thailand; Older Volunteers; Libraries
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