Vicksburg-native Kristen Killgore has known from a young age she wanted to volunteer overseas, and the 26 year old is taking the plunge April 19 as she begins her journey to Guyana, South America to serve as a United States Peace Corps volunteer.

“Since I was little, I wanted to be a humanitarian, and the Peace Corps was a good open door for me,” she said.

Kristen’s mother, Darlene Killgore said Kristen first told her she was interested in the Peace Corps when she was in the sixth grade.

“It blew me away,” she said. “I didn’t even know she knew what the Peace Corps was.”

Kristen’s father, Jack Killgore said Kristen’s desire for humanitarian work became more pronounced as she went on mission trips and organized a student group at Vicksburg High School to provide aid to people in Darfur.

Kristen, who has worked as an EMT and has experience teaching life skills to the disabled, will be a community health promoter in Guyana.

The 27-month trip will include three months of training and 24 months of service.

“I believe the Peace Corps is one of the greatest ambassador programs we have,” she said. “It’s one of the best defenses of war in general because you get to befriend people, and they actually get to know you long term. You become friends with people, and you work together.”

Kristen graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in archeology and anthropology, and she has spent the past two years working as an archeological tech in Arkansas.

“It’s funny, all off my college courses were about African history and African anthropology, and I ended up getting placed in South America,” she said. “I only had one class on South America, and I actually dropped out of it. I should have taken that class.”

Darlene said she has no doubt that Kristen will succeed in Guyana.

“She’s so independent and adventurous,” she said. “You want her to fulfill her dreams. I didn’t think she was going to be happy unless she did this, but it is hard on us.”

Jack said he and Darlene are very proud of their daughter.

“As parents we’re going to be a little worried,” he said. “We know she can take care of herself. The Peace Corps is a very professional organization that provides a high level of training.”

The family is already planning a trip to visit Kristen.

“We look forward to visiting her,” Jack said. “It is in the Caribbean.”

Facebook has helped Kristen talk to Peace Corps volunteers in Guyana and understand some things she needs to take, what the living quarters are like and what the people are like.

Jack said since Kristen will be living in a tropical rainforest there is some specialized gear she’ll need to take.

“That’s really been enlightening to listen to her conversations back and forth with the Peace Corps volunteers in Guyana,” he said. “Facebook has changed so many ways of communication now.”

Darlene said Kristen has also learned about some of the not-so-glamorous parts of living in a third-world country.

“She found out from another Peace Corps volunteer that’s there that to use a cell phone you have to climb a tree,” she said. “She said they told her they were climbing a tree to get reception. I can see her doing that.”