Oral history
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection
RPCV-ACC-2016-019
Sandra Wilcox served as a Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador from 1971 to 1974. She began her service by providing nutrition education for women in Chimborazo Province in conjunction with a food distribution program operated by Caritas, a Catholic non-governmental organization. After about a year and the departure of her mentor, Wilcox continued this work with a variety of community development groups in scattered rural communities. She returned to the United States on medical leave and then went back to Ecuador in 1975 under a six month extension, working as an in-country trainer for new Peace Corps Volunteers. Wilcox discusses the role of the Catholic Church, especially the role of the Bishop of Riobamba as a proponent of Liberation Theology, in educating peasants about their rights under land reform. She also discusses differences in working with the Catholic communities versus the Evangelical Christian communities. Note: This interview ends abruptly and appears to be incomplete. Interviewed and recorded by Evelyn Ganzglass, December 13, 2015. 1 digital audio file.