The Peace Corps

Ann Moore was a pioneer Peace Corps Volunteer, a pediatric nurse who went to  Togo in 1962. She was a member of a Peace Corps medical group which included  doctors, nurses, lab techs, a pharmacist and others. Ann observed the traditional patterns of baby care in Togo. She saw that the babies were always carried by their mothers.  She noted “the outstanding emotional well being of the African infant, either sick or healthy”. Ann brought home what she learned and created the baby carrier, the Snugli.  Generations of happy babies and parents, the world over, was the result. But, read Ann’s powerful story in her own words. Clink on the statement to which says to “continue reading.” https://americannursetoday.com/blog/the-snugli-story/  

Last January I wrote about Alan Toth (South Africa 2010-12) and his video project, Posh Corps. He wrote me, “Three years ago, I started working on the Posh Corps project. The idea was simple: to discuss the modern Peace Corps experience honestly. I wanted to cut through the mythology and the marketing, and capture the experience of volunteering in a rapidly changing world.” He has been doing that but recently he started to produce a series of Peace Corps reform podcasts. He recorded the interview with Kellie Greene in Washington D.C. at the end of February 2016. As Alan wrote me, “I spent the last few months tracking down documents and editing the podcasts. I’ve wanted to do stories about internal agency problems for some time. I do support Peace Corps, but I don’t support institutional incompetence. It seems clear that the agency has not focused on improving management for . . .

“The President and Mrs. Obama announced today that their daughter Malia will attend Harvard University in the fall of 2017 as a member of the Class of 2021,” the office of the first lady announced on Sunday. “Malia will take a gap year before beginning school.” Suddenly, the Gap Year is Hot! Those of us old enough to remember when there were No iphones  and  No Internet, will remember Peace Corps’ ATPs? No, an ATP wasn’t some sort of pain medication; it stood for Advance Training Programs and juniors in college applied early to the Peace Corps and spent the summer between their junior and senior high school year on a college campus somewhere in the States listening to boring lectures on their Country of Assignment before returning home for their senior year, and then off again the next summer to Peace Corps Training for real, often at the same . . .

Peace Corps Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28, 2016 – The Peace Corps will be retiring its Master’s International (MI) graduate school program after nearly three decades of fruitful partnerships with 96 graduate universities across the country. While students beginning an MI program by or before the fall of 2016 will still be able to apply to Peace Corps and serve as an MI student if selected, the Peace Corps will end its memoranda of agreement with MI university partners in September to focus resources on the agency’s Peace Corps Prep undergraduate program and Paul D. Coverdell Fellows graduate program. “We are incredibly grateful that this program laid the foundation for strong relationships with so many universities,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Although the Peace Corps has outgrown the goals of the Master’s International program, we’re looking forward to continuing our collaboration with our valued university partners knowing there are . . .

The Peace Corps is always seeking RPCVs (and non-RPCVs) for Peace Corps Response. These are the basic requirements: An experienced professional A returned Peace Corps Volunteer A licensed physician or nurse Go to the Peace Corps Response Search openings View current opportunities or search on specific criteria to find opportunities that match your experience. Submit resume This is not an application, but HQ may reach out to you if they have a position that fits your skills and experience. If  you would like to be considered for a specific assignment, you must apply directly to a posted position. The email is: pcresponse@peacecorps.gov Positions range from three months to one year in length and are designed to address development needs as identified by the host country. Volunteers provide targeted assistance in diverse assignments covering a range of projects, including food security, civil engineering, information systems, library science, and university level teaching. . . .

Tragically, Meghan Wolf’s ordeal is not the only story of Peace Corps Volunteers receiving indifferent and/or inadequate care. The illness and death of a Volunteer in Morocco prompted an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General of the Peace Corps. The OIG  followed up with  that 2009 report with  this examination not only of the situation in Morocco but the overall status of Health Services within the Peace Corps. The final report was issued in March of this year, 2016. It is the most current evaluation of Peace Corps Health Services. From that report: “In 2009, the Office of Inspector General conducted an independent inquiry into the facts and circumstances related to the illness and death of a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. As part of its inquiry, OIG reviewed the organization and care provided to Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco…….This follow- up evaluation seeks to understand to what extent . . .

 Third Goal of the Peace Corps To promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.   There’s something about the process of crafting personal stories to be told in front of an audience that brings you closer to yourself and to others. – Zach Matheson, Northern California Peace Corps Association This year we are proud to launch Peace Corps’ first-ever Storytelling Contest. Storytelling usually evokes images of huddling around a campfire or childhood bedtimes, but in recent years it has developed an exciting new image. The expansion of “Story Slams” is revitalizing the ancient tradition of storytelling to spread culture, ideas, and thought provoking experiences through spoken word. This summer, returned Peace Corps Volunteers will be invited to submit their stories in video form. Contest Theme: Building Bridges to Intercultural Understanding Humanize your host country by letting us get to know a special community member Share the moment . . .

This is a long, heartbreaking and true story of the experiences of a PCV who served in Malawi, became ill overseas as a Volunteer, and had the Peace Corps turn their back on her plight while overseas and when she was home again. Why the Peace Corps didn’t help Meghan Wolf receive medical care is the fault of the Peace Corps Staff and the Peace Corps legislation. Why the legislation hasn’t been changed is the fault of the agency, the US Department of Labor (the agency responsible for managing medical claims and loss of wages for Peace Corps service-related health issues) and Congress, which sets the budget and determines laws governing the care PCVs and RPCVs.  RPCVs, the NPCA, and those who support the Peace Corps are also at fault for not having successful argued all these years to have the laws changed so sick and injured RPCVs are properly cared for . . .

Joanie Laurer, who overcame a troubled home life in Rochester, N.Y., to win an international following as the pro wrestler Chyna, has died at age 45, according to her official website and World Wrestling Entertainment. Police found her body at her home in Redondo Beach, Calif., on Wednesday, according to local media. After college, and after 1992, she writes in her book that she joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to Guatemala. More at the Washington Post.  

Peace Corps reported that all Volunteers in Ecuador were safe. I could not find any notice of  organized plans to help survivors of the Earthquake on the official Peace Corps site. However, RPCVs want to help. Bob Arias, (RPCV Colombia 1964-1966Response Volunteer:Panamá 2009-2010, Paraguay 2010-2011Colombia 2011-2013, Panamá 2013-2014 CD Uruguay, Argentina) emailed from Panama that RPCV’s want to get involved, it is part of the Third Goal. Bob also said  “we offered our services to Director Carrie as former Volunteers and Response Volunteers.” The RPCV group, Friends of Ecuador, has both a website and a Facebook page.  Both offer ways on how you can help.  Go to the website for further information on how to help and where to send donations. Here is the link to the  website: http://www.friendsofecuador.org/2016/04/ecuador-earthquake-how-you-can-help/      From the website: “Current Peace Corps volunteers have expressed an interest in helping and many of them who live along the coast . . .

Rachel Mannino is a new novelist and at the Peace Corps she is also Grants Writer in the Office of Gift and Grants Management. (And you thought writing grants had nothing to do with fiction. Ha!) This what they have this to say about Rachel: Rachel Mannino is a passionate writer who creates characters and settings that allow readers to explore power dynamics in relationships, the empowerment of women, and the ethical and moral dilemmas love can create in our lives. Rachel also uses her writing skills to raise thousands of dollars for entities that enrich our lives and create community change around the world.  She has worked for the Peace Corps; the Humanities Council of Washington, DC; Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; and the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events in Boston, MA. Her first novel, Love or Justice, was published by Limitless Press in November, 2015. Her second novel, Fractal, . . .

  From the Peace Corps Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/PeaceCorps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Peace Corps ‏@PeaceCorps 52m52 minutes ago All Peace Corps Ecuador Volunteers are safe & accounted for. Staff in Ecuador are in close contact w/ Volunteers regarding safety & security

The first Peace Corps film was done by RPCVs from Nigeria, David Schickele and Roger Landrum, both Nigeria 1 (1962-64) PCVs. The film Give Me A Riddle was shot in 1966. The producer and director, the late David Schickele, said about making the film, Nigeria became an independent country in 1960. In 1967 it was torn apart by civil war. Between these two events Nigeria enjoyed a kind of golden age, full of cultural ferment and cross-tribal fertilization. Every kid out of the village was writing the great Nigerian novel. A spirit of great hope prevailed through the land. Give Me A Riddle is about this golden age, seen through the eyes of ex-Peace Corps Volunteer — Roger Landrum — returning to his host country a couple of years after his Peace Corps service as a teacher at the University of Nigeria. The film follows Roger as he looks up his former students . . .

Check the Peace Corps Third Goal for more details. thirdgoal@peacecorps.gov Peace Corps Recruiment * CA, Berkeley – 04/26 – Send-Off Party * CA, Hayward – 04/28 – CSUEB Career Fair * CA, Sacramento – 04/26 – Working in Women’s Empowerment Abroad * CA, Sacramento – 04/27 – Peace Corps Service in Latin America * CO, Denver – 05/01 – Make Your Encore Years Count * CO, Denver – 05/210 – Invitee Send-Off Brunch * DE, Newark, – 04/14 – Service Panel: Opportunities at Home and Abroad * FL, Gainesville – 04/19 – Success in Service: Hear from Returned Volunteers * FL, Tampa – 04/16 – Peace Corps Send-Off Party * GA, Brunswick – 04/22 – International Festival at Coastal College of Georgia * ID, Boise – 04/15 – Boise Send-Off * KY, Morehead – 04/26 – Morehead State University’s Networking Dinner * MD, Baltimore – 04/28 – Special Event: Peace Corps Send-Off Party * MN, Minneapolis – 04/15 – Peace Corps Social * NJ, Mahwah – 04/20 – Peace Corps at Ramapo . . .

FROM USA TODAY BY GREGORY KORTE APRIL 11, 2016 WASHINGTON — President Obama, often criticized by Republicans for constitutional overreach for his use of executive orders to get around Congress, signed the 254th executive order of his presidency Friday — allowing the Peace Corps to change its logo. In his seven years in office, he’s also used executive orders to change the name of the National Security Staff to the National Security Council staff, to allow the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to also consider the role of nutrition, and to prohibit government employees from texting while driving. And, showing that executive orders can attend to even the smallest details, Obama signed an executive order in 2014 to correct a typographical error in a previous executive order — which governed the format of executive orders. Executive orders are often thought of as the most muscular form of presidential . . .