Matthew Skros
Matthew Skros, 24, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will depart for Albania in January to begin training as an education volunteer.
“I knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a life in public service, and the Peace Corps provided the opportunity to life that life! I loved the grassroots nature of the work and the idea of immersing myself in another culture. It’s a challenge that excites me and that I know will help me grow as a person,” said Skros of his desire to join the Peace Corps.
Skros is the son of Karen and Edward Skros of West Chester and a graduate of Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics in 2018. Prior to joining the Peace Corps, he interned for U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello and completed a term of service with AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps.
During the first three months of his service, Skros will live with a host family in Albania to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the necessary skills to assist his community, Skros will be sworn into service and assigned to a community in Albania, where he will live and work for two years with the local people.
“I hope to gain a better appreciation for Albanian culture and to make a concerted effort to learn the language. I also hope to develop my skills as a teacher and a project manager. Moreover, though, I hope to have a positive impact on my community that will last far beyond my close of service,” Skros said.
Skros will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in Albania and help Skros 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.
Skros joins the 291 Pennsylvania residents currently serving in the Peace Corps and more than 8,670 Pennsylvania residents who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. The Peace Corps currently has a high need for applicants to fill volunteer programs departing in 2020. Interested Americans can apply online by January 1 for hundreds of available openings in nearly 30 countries worldwide. Volunteers receive a living stipend, extensive language and technical training, and financial benefits including student loan deferment and graduate school fellowships after service. To learn more about how to get involved with Peace Corps and the benefits of service, connect with a recruiter online or register to attend an event.
