Not Sure What To Say
As some of you may know a PCV in Lesotho was shot and killed on Friday night. It was in the middle of my ED 09’s Close of Service Banquet. This terrible incident shook PC Lesotho to the core, but we are continuing on.
To Tom’s family and friends, I am so very sorry for your loss. Even though I didn’t know Tom so well, I did have the pleasure to meet him and see his passion for life.
On Monday, a memorial service was held. It was an amazing tribute to a truly inspiring volunteer and human being. The impact of Tom’s time in Lesotho was so evident, not only by the memories told by PCVs, but also Tom’s Basotho counterparts and friends who came from TT.
Now the training centre is a refuge and Peace Corps volunteers are holding tightly to one another, while PC staff takes care of our needs the best that they can. A counselor from PC Washington is here right now; she has been speaking individually and with specific groups to discuss this all and to help us process it. PC Safety and Security staff is also helping to work with local authorities to follow the criminal case to the end.
All things considered, I’m more certain than ever that my decision to become a PCV was the best decision I could ever make. The support that PC has given us is amazing; they truly are trying to do everything in their power to make us feel comfortable and cared about. I really feel that if I had gone with any other volunteer organization, I wouldn’t have had the same assistance in such a time of crisis.
To the PCV & RPCV Lesotho community and the global PC community, we are such a strong family! The way that volunteers have come together to help one another has been so powerful! The emails and bog postings with words of condolences helps us all to carry on.
As today becomes yesterday and PCVs here go back to their sites, travel to Washington for further support or perhaps even finish their services early, we all will continue on with the memory of Tom in our hearts and the beautiful experience of living in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.
Rest in Peace Tom Maresco
