The North Carolina Peace Corps Association (NCPCA) is proud to announce its recent support of a transformative health project led by Peace Corps Volunteer Ben Plato through the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) grant.
From Spruce Pine to Guinea
Ben Plato has deep roots in the Tar Heel State, having grown up in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. He is now finishing up his Peace Corps Service in Guinea within the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health sector. When Ben reached out to the NCPCA, he was seeking support for a critical infrastructure need in his community of Lafou. His goal was ambitious but vital: bringing reliable electricity to rural health clinics to modernize patient care.
The Project: Lighting the Way for Healthcare
In many parts of rural Guinea, healthcare workers provide life-saving services in the dark or without the use of electronic tools. Ben’s project addressed this head-on by:
- Installing high-capacity solar electricity in all seven health posts across the Lafou Sub-prefecture.
- Replacing aging infrastructure, including the solar battery in the central health center.
- Bridging the digital divide by providing training to clinic chiefs on using technology for patient documentation and operational data.
Mission Accomplished
We are excited to share that Ben’s project is now complete! Because of the collective generosity of donors like the NCPCA, these seven clinics now have the power necessary to support laptops, diagnostic equipment, and consistent lighting. Reflecting on the impact, Ben shared:
“The chief in one of the districts we worked in said this was the first time anyone from outside the community had come to help build something! I am humbled by and eternally grateful for the generous contributions… I made sure each village we worked in understood the project was possible due to all your goodwill. A jaraama!”
Why Your Support Matters
The North Carolina Peace Corps Association uses your membership dues and financial contributions to help support Peace Corps volunteers connected to North Carolina out in the field. Small grants like these empower volunteers to execute high-impact projects that are identified and led by the local community. By supporting Ben, the NCPCA continues its mission of fostering global connections and supporting our North Carolina RPCV/PCV family. We are incredibly proud of Ben’s work and grateful to our members whose dues and donations make these contributions possible.