Okemos native Abuzar Alishanov, 24, departed earlier this month to work for the Peace Corps in Tanzania. He will train to be secondary science education volunteer.

 

Alishanov will live and work at the community level to teach general science, biology, chemistryand physics to secondary students in under-resourced schools. In addition, he will work on secondary projects related to HIV/AIDS, malaria, food security and technology. 

 

Alishanov graduated from Okemos High School in 2009 and then earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology in 2014 from Michigan State University. 

 

During the first three months of his service, Alishanov will live with a host family in Tanzania to learn the local language and integrate into the local culture. After acquiring the language and cultural skills that will help him make a lasting difference, Alishanov will be sworn into service and assigned to a community in Tanzania where he will serve for two years.

 

Alishanov will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in Tanzania and help Alishanov develop leadership, technical and cross-cultural skills that will give him a competitive edge when he returns home. Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens well-positioned for professional opportunities in today’s global job market.

 

Alishanov joins the 233 Michigan residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. More than 7,107 Michigan residents have served as volunteers since the agency was created in 1961.