Peace Corps mourns the loss of Volunteer Andrew Farr

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 25, 2016 – Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet is saddened to confirm the death of Peace Corps volunteer Andrew Jennings Farr. Andrew, 25, passed away in an automobile accident in Mozambique on March 25, 2016.

“Andrew was passionate about learning as much as possible from his Mozambican community members and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others,” Director Hessler-Radelet said. “He was respected by his fellow teachers and a wonderful role model for his students. We are devastated by this tragic loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Farr family during this difficult time.”

A native of Irmo, South Carolina, Andrew served as an education volunteer in Mozambique, where he taught secondary school physics in the village of Chitima, Tete Province. In his Peace Corps application, Andrew wrote that in order to adapt to the Mozambican culture, he planned to “simply listen, observe and understand their way of life.” He was excited to learn new teaching techniques from his Mozambican community members and looked forward to hearing their personal perspectives on “the geography of the country, history, demographics, and their future.”

Andrew received a bachelor’s degree in physics from The College of Charleston and was accomplished in the field of physics. He presented at the American Physical Society March Meeting in 2013, worked with the ExCitAtIon (Experiments at The Citadel on Atoms and Ions) group in the Department of Physics at The Citadel as an undergraduate student and received the Sigma Pi Sigma Society of Physics Students Undergraduate Research Award in 2012. He also received an undergraduate research award from the NASA Space Grant Consortium in May 2010.

Andrew’s commitment to service began prior to serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. He was a physics and math tutor at the Citadel in Charleston and an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America Troop 312. Andrew loved music and played the trumpet, guitar, drums, bass, and piano. He was also passionate about the outdoors, cooking, gardening, travel, and learning.

Andrew is survived by his parents, Mrs. Kim Hagwood and Mr. Steven Hagwood and Mr. Roy Farr and Mrs. Deborah Farr, and his step-sister Ms. Robbyn Young.