Paso Robles woman is off to Africa with the Peace Corps
Linda Binns hopes to put her photography skills to work in Botswana, Africa.
Linda Binns is one of only seven percent of volunteers over 50-years-old
-Sometime in late July, Linda Binns is boarding a flight for a 27-month assignment in Botswana, Africa with the Peace Corp. One woman from Paso Robles joining the more than 7,000 current volunteers in the Peace Corp might not seem like such a big deal, except that Binns is over 60 years old. The average age for a Peace Corp volunteer is 28. Only seven percent of volunteers are over the age of 50.
Binns was inspired to join when she learned that the Peace Corp was accepting older people, “I jumped at the chance.” Binns said she has gained so much personal satisfaction being of service at different times of her life. “Now I can travel the world, be of service applying the knowledge I have gained over the years and have the satisfaction of knowing I have made a difference.” Initially applying in 2015, the application process hit some rare glitches along the way, which delayed her departure until this year.
Binns spent most of her life in Southern California and after many years of corporate and nonprofit work in Los Angeles, Binns came to Paso Robles and has worked in the wine and hospitality industry. A graduate of the University of Phoenix earning her BSBA, Binns decided to also follow her passion for food and wine and attended the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.
Believing that “public service improves the lives world around us,” Binns said her greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning service brings to her own life. Inspired by one of her childhood heroes, anthropologist Margaret Mead, Binns said, “I have wanted to visit Africa for most of my life.” When the opportunity to join the Peace Corp came up, Binns said she knew her professional experience would apply to the work.
Once in Botswana, Binns will said, “I will be placed in a non-governmental organization (NGO) engaged in the HIV response and providing services to orphans, vulnerable children and their caregivers, at-risk youth, people living with HIV or people affected by gender-based violence, which includes women, girls and boys.”
When asked about the most challenging aspect of going off to Africa, Binns said, “I have to put my entire life into storage! I have moved quite a bit through the United States over the last six years but never had to prepare for leaving the country with only two 50-pound suitcases and my carry on! I am taking the concept of minimalism to a whole new level.”
Also an accomplished photographer and master gardener, Binns is hoping to put both skills to work in service in the Peace Corps.
Binns sees this new adventure as an opportunity to “remind older men and women that there are still options for them to remain active, vibrant and involved.”
The Peace Corp was officially established in 1961. Since then, according to Peace Corp reports, 255,000 volunteers have served in 141 host countries. For more information about volunteering for the Peace Corp can be found here.
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