Promoting Health and Friendship in South Africa

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I just never got the chance,” said George Nishikawa, an environmental health specialist with DEH.

Now, he does. George leaves shortly for a 27-month Peace Corps assignment in South Africa where he will apply his degree in microbiology, knowledge of public health and skills he honed working at the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health.

“Health promotion is really important over there,” said George. “Everything from water-borne diseases to HIV AIDS. I’ll translate my technical skills in terms of being able to connect with people, offering solutions to specific problems.”

He will be assigned to a small, remote village that may or may not have electricity or running water where he will teach English, math, and science to elementary aged-children He also expects to promote one of DEH’s primary mantras– proper hand washing, which can be a simple fix in itself.

“You take a large soda bottle with a cap, punch a small hole in the top, invert the bottle, then unscrew the cap, and you have running water when you need it,” he said.

George started with the San Diego County more than five years ago, working first as a student worker inspecting swimming pools then moving into a temporary position and ultimately into his current - or soon-to-be former - position as an environmental health specialist.

“George is very good about finding solutions – then communicating those solutions,” said Gloria Estolano, DEH Chief of the Food and Housing Division and George’s supervisor.

In addition to his background in science, his work experience, and problem-solving skills, George has also taken university-level teaching courses. He has volunteered at James Madison High School in Clairemont and at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park where he served as “sort of a docent and gallery facilitator,” he said.

So why the Peace Corps?

“There are so many reasons,” he said. “I always wanted to see other parts of the world; how other people live. I’ve always wanted to live in another culture, and hopefully share my skills to promote friendships between our country and other countries. It’s also a family tradition, maybe even a rite of passage for me.”

Three of George’s uncles have served in the Peace Corps, in countries ranging from El Salvador and Paraguay to the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu.

“It was all they ever talked about during Thanksgiving dinner. Now I’ll be the first member of my family to serve in Africa,” he said.

South Africa has 11 official languages, so George will undergo three months of intensive language immersion and other training in South Africa upon arrival in July.  Then he will be assigned to his village post, where he “will have to hit the ground running.”

And after his cross-cultural assignment of service and promoting friendship?

“I plan to come back. I love what I do here - my co-workers, my chief. She has allowed me to do so many other things outside the scope of my normal work assignments.”

This is one venture that is undoubtedly well outside any of those previous assignments – but certainly one that will also pay immeasurable rewards.

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George intends to have an internet blog and will post weekly messages.