The Peace Corps

  Have you ever struggled to communicate with a limited-English speaker? Have you been frustrated by unsuccessful interactions with non-native English speakers? Did you know there is a simple solution to improve cross-cultural communication in English? What most of us native speakers overlook in these situations is that the problem here may not be the limited English of the other person; it could be our English. And while we certainly can’t do anything about the former, we can do a great deal about the latter. This short book gives 50 practical tools to help you become aware of and adapt your own language to completely transform exchanges with limited-English speakers and greatly increase the chances of a satisfying outcome for both you and the limited-English speaker you’re trying to help or serve. And the good news is: it is not that difficult and it is entirely in the hands of . . .

  A well-written, informative history of a groundbreaking 20th-century volunteer organization. Kirkus Reviews • Former International Voluntary Services workers provide insights into their organization in this detailed historical anthology.   A nonprofit organization founded in 1953, International Voluntary Services, according to former IVS volunteer and United States Ambassador to Pakistan Wendy J. Chamberlin, “occupies a special place as a pioneer for fielding volunteers” that served as a model for the Peace Corps and a host of subsequent NGOs. The anthology, divided into four sections, is a historical overview of IVS’s endeavors from the 1950s through the 2000s. While IVS was an officially nonsectarian organization, the anthology explains that many IVS members came from Mennonite, Quaker, and Christian pacifist backgrounds, and the organization offered an alternative approach to international relations in the wake of World War II and the start of the Cold War. In its half-century of activism, IVS sent . . .

  This information is from FOIA 23-0021: “A search conducted by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer provided the following information: there are 506 Peace Corps Volunteer Trainees, 345 Peace Corps Volunteers; and 53 Peace Corps Response Volunteers. In total, there are 904 Volunteers in service as of October 31, 2022. I am closing this case in our Office. There are no fees associated with this response.” I made this FOIA request on November 13, asking for the number of Serving Peace Corps Volunteers, the number of Peace Corps Trainees and the number of Peace Corps Response Volunteers, as of October 31, 2022.  I received a response today.  It is, of course, not a current count.  I received no explaination for the long delay in responding,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Peace Corps today celebrated the ceremonial swearing of Carol Spahn (Romania 1994-96) as the 21st Director of the agency, following her unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate in December 2022. She was joined by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA), (Ethiopia 1966-68) who administered the oath of office and other invited guests, including Jody Olsen, Director of the Peace Corps (2018-2021); Carrie Hessler Radelet, Director of the Peace Corps (2012-2017); Aaron Williams, Director of the Peace Corps (2009-2012); Mark Schneider, Director of the Peace Corps (1999-2001); and Former Transportation and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Director of the Peace Corps (1991-1992). “It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 21st Director of the Peace Corps, an agency with a mission I believe in deeply,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “At this pivotal moment in history, we all have the responsibility to be intentional in both . . .

RPCVs have been there, done that. What’s your travel story? To start, here are the countries I have visited over the years (A lot fewer in recent years). Total up all the places you have been before, during, and after your Peace Corps tour. What’s your next country? Coyne’s List Code Lived There *** Only Toured ** Brief Visit * African Countries (21) Morocco ** Gambia ** Senegal * Sierra Leone * Liberia ** Nigeria ** Cote D’Ivoire * Ghana * Congo * Botswana ** South Africa ** Lesotho * Zimbabwe * Mozambique * Tanzania ** Kenya ** Uganda ** Malawi * Addis Ababa, Ethiopia *** Eritrea** Egypt* European Countries (10) Dublin, Ireland*** England ** Scotland** Denmark* Sweden* France ** Germany * Menorca, Spain*** Italy ** Greece * Caribbean (6) Bahamas * Barbados * Haiti * Cuba ** Puerto Rico ** Mexico ** Asia (1) China **  Next Place Turks . . .

Overview Returned Peace Corps Volunteers first joined forces for post-service environmental action in 1991 with an NPCA affiliate called RPCVs for Environmental and Sustainable Development. For 15 years they built a record of achievement in biodiversity, advocacy, education and energy. In June 2015 at the NPCAs Peace Corps Connect-Berkeley conference, significant interest was expressed in bringing focus to the debate about climate change. With the help of NPCA Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson, a worldwide conference call was setup in August 2015 to help a new group establish the RPCVs for Environmental Action (RPCVs4EA). Since then we have formally affiliated with NPCA, and setup a Facebook group, Google listserv, and e-newsletter. Up to a dozen individuals meet on monthly conference calls to identify and implement strategies to rebuild the greater Peace Corps community’s promise to remain part of the global environmental solution. To find out more about RPCVs4EA, please continue check out our mission, our team, and our official documents . . .

Here is our January 2023 list of RPCV & staff authors we know of who have published two or more books of any type. Currently, the count is 474. If you know of someone who has and their name is not on this list, then please email: jcoyneone@gmail.com. We know we don’t have all such writers who have served over these past 60 years. Thank you.’ Jerome R. Adams (Colombia 1963–65) Tom Adams (Togo 1974-76) Thomas “Taj” Ainlay, Jr. (Malaysia 1973–75) Elizabeth (Letts) Alalou (Morocco 1983–86) Jane Albritton (India 1967-69) Robert Albritton (Ethiopia 1962-65) Usha Alexander (Vanuatu 1996–97) James G. Alinder (Somalia 1964-66) Richard Alleman (Morocco 1968-70) Hayward Allen (Ethiopia 1962-64) Diane Demuth Allensworth (Panama 1964–66) Paul E. Allaire (Ethiopia 1964–66) Allman (Nepal 1966-68) Nancy Amidei (Nigeria 1964–65) Gary Amo (Malawi 1962–64) David C. Anderson (Costa Rica 1964-66) Lauri Anderson (Nigeria 1963-65) Peggy Anderson (Togo 1962-64) James Archambeault (Philippines 1965-67) Ron Arias . . .

  Another batch of American Peace Corps volunteers arrives at Phnom Penh International Airport.  Thirty-three US Peace Corps volunteers have been sworn in to offer their services in Cambodia for two years. They have been tasked with teaching English at primary and secondary schools, as well as teacher training institutes, nationwide. The swearing-in ceremony took place last week. They arrived in Cambodia two months ago and have been spending time in the community, learning the Khmer language. “Since 1962, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages and backgrounds have served in the Peace Corps in 142 countries,” said Aleksandra P Zittle, deputy chief of mission of the US embassy in Phnom Penh. “The Peace Corps is proud to work with its Cambodian partners to assist in the teaching of English as well as to work with local communities to help build and supply materials to school libraries, computer classes, school . . .

First-ever cohort of Peace Corps volunteers in Việt Nam sworn in 30 December 2022 The Peace Corps’ English education program in Việt Nam, officially established with the signing of an implementing agreement in July 2020, is a collaborative partnership between the Peace Corps and Việt Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training. HÀ NỘI — As part of her first official tour, Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn on Friday swore in the inaugural group of Peace Corps volunteers to serve in Việt Nam during a ceremony in Hà Nội. “As we approach the New Year, this swearing-in offers us the opportunity to take a moment from our busy lives to appreciate and recognise the power of human connection,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “As the 143rd partner country of the Peace Corps, Việt Nam is a welcome addition to our global community, and I look forward to seeing how volunteers and . . .

  This is a poetic and prose praise song to Mr. Reginald E. Petty. He was from a small town in Southern Illinois called East St. Louis. It is now considered an economically deprived city, but it never stopped his drive and passion to make it better, as well as himself. The book speaks to his upbringing and what makes him a legend to not only the citizens of his hometown, but throughout the world – particularly in Africa. Mr. Petty was one of the first African American Peace Corps Country Directors. He served in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Seychelles from 1966-1983 and went on to receive presidential appointments from three additional U.S. Presidents. He was instrumental in the voter registration efforts in the American South in the late 1950’s, early 1960’s and was a friend and confidante to major civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., . . .

Harris Wofford always had high expectations for young people. He believed in their potential, he admired their passion, and he supported the institutions that gave them opportunities to make their mark. For that reason, I hope you will support The Wofford Awards. Youth Service America, where Harris served on the Board for two decades, is celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026 with a new campaign to double the percentage of young people volunteering, voting, leading, and participating in the public square. 2026 also happens to be Harris’ 100th birthday year. With your help, we are determined to expand the opportunities for young people to make our communities cleaner, greener, safer, smarter, healthier, and stronger. We recently did a prevalence study that shows youth participation in volunteering and voting hovers around 25%, meaning that we are leaving out three out of four young people. And they are missing the opportunity to practice the skills they . . .