Peace Corps Worldwide – promoting Peace Corps writers since 1989

Before Before by Betsy Small (Sierra Leone)

Dec 23 2024

Before Before by Betsy Small (Sierra Leone 1984-87) University of Michigan Press 200 pages March 2025 $19.95 (Paperback); $70.00 (Hardback) ABOUT THIS BOOK Sierra Leone is often sensationalized as a place of extreme violence and suffering—of blood diamonds, child soldiers, war amputations, and Ebola and now the highly addictive drug Kush. Before Before captures daily life in a different country, one Betsy Small first encountered as a Peace Corps worker between 1984–1987, and then rediscovered when she returned decades later with her daughter. Living in Tokpombu, a remote community of forty rice-farming families, the author faced struggles that changed her forever and witnessed the growing tensions in this rainforest village—between the young and old, between the traditions of oral history and honoring the ancestors valued by the elders and the siren call of the illicit diamond mines faced by the youth. Before Before offers a rare portrait of everyday people, . . .

Musaphe Mbalame (Don’t kill the birds!), a jingle by Jack Allison (Malawi 1966-69)

Dec 23 2024

I have the good fortune to serve on the board of directors of Developing Radio Partners. Recently the Malawi government has been airing spots on the radio in an effort to combat an increasing incidence of malaria. The attached song has now become part of that campaign. I wrote/recorded this song 56 years ago during my three-year tour as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. Quite honestly, back in the day, the song was not only popular, it also had a modest positive effect on increasing awareness of the ways to fight malaria. The gist of the song: Don’t kill the birds in Malawi because the birds eat the mosquitoes that give people malaria. E. Jackson Allison, Jr. MD/MPH, FACEP, FACPM Asheville, North Carolina RPCV Malawi, 1966-69 Virtual Service Project Participant (VSPP), US Peace Corps/South Africa, 2022 Author: The Warm Heart of Africa: An Outrageous Adventure of Love, Music, and . . .

Leadership, Legacy, and Global Impact: A Conversation with Peace Corps Deputy Director David E. White Jr.

Dec 22 2024

“At [the] Peace Corps, we’re calling all Americans, including Gen Z, to turn their passion into meaningful, mission-driven service. And we know that folks can do that through the Peace Corps. If you want to be a diplomat, if you want to be an ambassador, if you want to be a member of Congress, then the Peace Corps is also a fantastic way to start your community, your opportunity, your journey down that path. For example, we look at ambassadors serving around the world. We know that Peace Corps volunteers are represented in the ranks [more] than folks from [any] other backgrounds. If you want to be a business CEO [or] run a business, we have Peace Corps volunteers who have done that. [The] Peace Corps can fit into your own journey, no matter what that path ends up looking like.” David E. White Jr. is the 14th Deputy Director . . .

Peace Corps Community in the News (ICYMI)

Dec 21 2024

International Volunteer Day—Implications for an accidental volunteer, By Dianne Hambrook in South Seas | December 16, 2024. “There are no Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands now. We’re not sure why exactly, some directive at a government level. But the Western Province holds particular significance for their organisation, it’s where JFK was marooned during World War II after his patrol torpedo boat was run over by a Japanese destroyer. If he hadn’t survived, the Peace Corps wouldn’t have come into existence.” NASA Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba shares life insights at BRAC, The Daily Star | December 16, 2024. “Without my teacher, I wouldn’t be an astronaut.” (Editor: Mr. Acaba served in the Dominican Republic, 1994-96, not the Bahamas, as the article states). Defendant Pleads Not Guilty in Connection to Murder of Peace Corps Worker, By Adriana Marroquin in DC Witness |December 16, 2024. Dearay Wilson, 29, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree . . .

A PEACE CORPS LAWYER IN PARADISE, by Donald T. Bliss (Micronesia 1966-68)

Dec 20 2024

A PEACE CORPS LAWYER IN PARADISE The Pacific Islands—Past, Present, and Future Donald Tiffany Bliss (Micronesia 1966-68) Self-Published, August 22, 2024; 275 pages Available on Amazon Paperback, Kindle, $14.99 ISBN 9798336456424 The book describes my Peace Corps experience as the first attorney to reside in Ponape (Pohnpei), Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and subsequent travels in the Pacific Islands. In the US-administered UN Trusteeship of the Pacific Islands, the author worked with Micronesians to establish a rule of law and learn democratic self-government, which led to the independence of the Federated States of Micronesia. The author illustrated how law evolves from local custom and tradition.

Ron Dube (Niger) Children’s book:The Small Dish

Dec 19 2024

The Small Dish by Ronald N. Dube (Niger 1964-66) Mindstir Media 20 pages Reading age: 4-12 years $17.18 (Hardcover); $2.99 (Kindle) Available on Amazon A small farm near the major city was once a teacher’s retreat. However, it remained neglected until a Vietnam veteran bought it as a refuge. After a few years, the veteran decided to sell the farm, but before the new owners could move in, he had to remove his possessions. During target practice, a small dish was lost. Massachusetts teacher and former Nashua native Ron Dube (Niger 1964-66) shows his granddaughter Penelope, 4, a copy of his first children’s book, ‘The Small Dish.’ The book describes the story as an allegory about “existence, usefulness, loss, oblivion, resurrection, and back to existence and usefulness again.” Ron is an octogenarian and always led with an adventurous spirit. Ron grew up in Nashua and earned an Eagle . . .

New Book: My African Anthology, by Robert Gribbin

Dec 18 2024

My African Anthology By Robert Gribbin (Kenya 1968-70)) Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (August 9, 2024) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 351 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8335491563 Available on Amazon.com ($17.00) My African Anthology is a compendium of anecdotes, articles and stories that mirror years of living and working in Africa. Beginning in the sixties with my first sojourn on the continent, the items both factual and fictional paint a compelling portrait of the Africa I knew. From the Peace Corps Kenya era are snippets of Luo tribal consternation regarding America’s moon landing, competing in the Safari road rally, trouble with noisy bees, and a shape shifting terror. From Bokassa’s Central African Republic – stories of a man lost in the forest, the president’s mistress, a search for gold, plus an eye-witness account of the lavish coronation. A later return to that beleaguered nation, . . .

Obituary for Peace Corps Writer Patricia Edmisten (Peru 1962-64)

Dec 15 2024

I first became acquainted with Patricia in 2019, when she reached out to me in my capacity as President & CEO of National Peace Corps Association, for help recruiting returned Peace Corps Volunteers to serve with the Annunciation House hospitality center in El Paso, where her nephew, Mark Seitz, is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese. I was so compelled by her plea that I journeyed to El Paso and served the refugee community there for two weeks, as did dozens of other returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Patricia also corresponded with John Coyne and Marian Beil, reviewing some books and posting her own books on Peace Corps Worldwide. She was a gifted writer, spiritualist, and kind humanitarian. She was a close friend to many people and will be greatly missed. — Glenn Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Patricia S. Taylor Edmisten lived in Pensacola since 1977 when she joined the . . .

Congressional Gold Medal to former Peace Corps Deputy Director

Dec 15 2024

Excerpt from War History Online December 12, 2024 Hundreds of US service members were taken by the North Vietnamese (NVA) and held prisoner during the Vietnam War. What makes Everett Alvarez, Jr. unique is that he was imprisoned for eight and a half years, making him the second-longest held prisoner of war (POW) in American history. Now, decades after his release, the US Navy veteran is slated to receive the highest honor the US Congress can bestow upon him: the Congressional Gold Medal. Speaking about his survival later in life, Alvarez credited his faith in God and the support he had from other POWs. “We had a philosophy that you didn’t ever let your fellows down,” he said. “If they couldn’t take care of themselves, you took care of them because you knew darned well they would do the same. Alvarez served for another 20 years, before leaving the Navy with . . .

New Book: HALF LIFE: A Collection of A.R.T., by Andrew R. Tadross

Dec 14 2024

HALF LIFE: A Collection of A.R.T. By Andrew R. Tadross (Ethiopia 2011-13) Independently Published, November 2024; 103 pages Available for $42.00 on Amazon HALF LIFE: A Collection of A.R.T., by Andrew R. Tadross, is an evocative anthology spanning two decades of creative exploration. This collection transcends genres, blending pop culture, expressionism, nature art, abstraction, and surrealism. Featuring over 100 works, it delivers a vivid mix of satire, nostalgia, melancholy, and tension. Highlights include a fishy homage to Jackson Pollock, a chimp playing Russian roulette with a banana, and landscapers at sunset. Fans of cinematic and cultural nostalgia will chuckle at scenes like Colonel Kurtz losing at Tetris, Cousin Eddie navigating Downton Abbey, and a chess match between Darth Vader and “The Dude.” Drawing from personal experiences and far-flung settings—Ethiopia, the Everglades, and beyond—Tadross’s work captures both the iconic and the everyday. Portraits range from Willie Nelson to Mr. T, while . . .

Peace Corps Unveils New Strategy to Combat Sexual Violence on Human Rights Day

Dec 11 2024

WASHINGTON – Aligned with Human Rights Day and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the Peace Corps today published its Sexual Assault Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan: Fiscal Years 2025-2029, a guide to the agency’s next phase of action in support of sexual assault prevention. Central to the strategy and plan are measures to further cement the agency’s public health approach to prevent sexual violence before it occurs. The strategy and plan underscore the Peace Corps’ commitment to global, societal-level action to prevent sexual violence for the safety and well-being of volunteers and members of communities where volunteers live and work. “Sexual violence directly threatens the Peace Corps’ mission of world peace and friendship,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “This new strategy adds a public health lens to more than a decade’s worth of sexual assault risk mitigation and response work. Today, we further dedicate ourselves to . . .

Book Review | Other Rivers: A Chinese Education, by Peter Hessler

Dec 10 2024

Other Rivers: A Chinese Education by Peter Hessler Penguin Press (July 9, 2024); 464 pages Available on Amazon – $19.21 (Hardcover) or $14.99 (Kindle) Reviewed by Clifford Garstang (Korea, 1976-77) I have been an admirer of Peter Hessler’s work since reading his first book, River Town, about his Peace Corps service at a Chinese university in the 1990s. I was particularly drawn to that book because of my own Peace Corps work in a Korean university twenty years earlier and also because my eventual professional life took me to China frequently. Hessler wrote eloquently about his Peace Corps experience in a way that I think any RPCV could relate to. Hessler’s subsequent books about China, Oracle Bones and Country Driving, written while he was a journalist in Beijing, were fascinating accounts of other aspects of life in China, in which Hessler himself was a prominent character. All three of the . . .

“Traveling Through Guatemala with Granddaughters,” by Mark D. Walker

Dec 09 2024

“Traveling Through Guatemala with Granddaughters,” by Mark D. Walker (Guatemala 1971-1973) is part of The Yin & Yang of Travel Series and was published by The Wanderlust Journal. Although Walker took his granddaughters to the Peace Corps site where he met his wife, this story is about more than what happened over fifty years before. According to Walker, “Over the last fifty years, the why and where I travel have changed radically. In 2013, my wife Ligia and I took two of our three children, along with their significant others, to Guatemala to reintroduce them to the country they were born in and to their extended family. We covered a lot of ground, as my children spoke fluent Spanish and were already global trekkers. But ten years later we had eight grandkids, some of whom only spoke English and had never traveled outside the continental U.S., so Ligia and I . . .

Rowland Scherman: A 17th Century Etching Becomes a Book

Dec 06 2024

A 17th Century Etching Becomes a Book The story of “Love Letters” Rowland Scherman (PC/W Staff photographer 1961-64) was like any other PCV as he traveled the world, photographing PCVs at work. I met him in 1962 in Ethiopia. He would go onto become a nationally known photographer, famous for many of his photographs. This gallery of photographs by Rowland includes images of iconic figures from the 1960s, from musicians Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan, to public figures Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. He has now created a website. Here is one of his first publications with a few of Rowland’s famous photographs.. John Coyne (Ethiopia 1962-64) The year was 1975. I had been living in London for five years, having abandoned any desire to travel to Pondicherry, India to meditate—which at one time, was the whole idea of leaving New York and the USA. I did, indeed, continue . . .

Glenn’s List for Giving Tuesday – Amplify the Peace Corps Community’s Global Impact

Dec 03 2024

Today is Giving Tuesday. I encourage you to participate by supporting your favorite charity. Below are those that I personally support in 2024 and to which I hope you will join me in making a generous donation. They are all (except NMCS) founded and led by returned Peace Corps Volunteers: Peace Corps Foundation* – It’s time to tell the rest of America’s story of our ongoing commitment to service and global citizenship by creating Peace Corps Park on a National Park Service site near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The long-term mission of the Foundation is to support Peace Corps community projects. Chijnaya Foundation – Working in partnership with rural communities in Southern Peru to design and implement self-sustaining projects in health, education, and economic development. CorpsAfrica* – Building the next generation of African leaders and changemakers, connecting rural communities, and nurturing entrepreneurs. Volunteers work in host communities to . . .