Peace Corps Worldwide

Ex-Peace Corps Volunteers plead with US for help on Tigray BY CARA ANNA ASSOCIATED PRESS NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 350 former Peace Corps volunteers and a trio of former U.S. ambassadors have written to U.S. congressmen urging them to condemn the violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, warning that “as the fighting ostensibly winds down, we are quite sure that the war will continue on a much more pernicious level.” The letter seen by The Associated Press also asks lawmakers to press for humanitarian aid to all parts of Tigray, urge the United Nations to investigate and advocate for media access to the region “to document human rights abuses.” Communications links remain difficult to parts of the Tigray region of some 6 million people, and only a small number of former volunteers have reached friends there. But “we have avoided explicit discussions on what is occurring due to safety concerns and . . .

The new batch of Peace Corps volunteers POLITICS 18 new Peace Corps volunteers sworn in  On Wednesday, December 8, 2022 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Georgetown, United States Peace Corps Guyana hosted the Swearing In ceremony for its 33rd group of Volunteers; the first to return after the global evacuation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of evacuation in March 2020, 54 Volunteers were serving in 9 of the 10 regions. These 18 Volunteers who arrived in Guyana on September 29, 2022 underwent an intensive ten-week pre-service training. They will now live and work in local communities along the coast, partnering to address early childhood literacy, adolescent health, and environmental stewardship. U.S. Ambassador to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer herself, administered the oath of service and Peace Corps pledge to the group on behalf of the Peace Corps. Ambassador Lynch remarked . . .

J.P. Gairhan, a 2019 U of A honors graduate, was recently named a Schwarzman Scholar, making him one of only 151 students out of nearly 3,000 candidates worldwide who will receive a full scholarship for graduate study in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s premiere universities.  Originally from Cabot, Gairhan graduated cum laude in 2019 with a degree in history, political science, and African and African American studies from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to further my education at Tsinghua University. My admission into the Schwarzman Scholars program is only possible through the mentorship and guidance of many University of Arkansas faculty and staff. Specifically, I want to thank Dr. Noah Pittman, Dr. Todd Cleveland, Dr. Mary Skinner, Jonathan Langley and Dr. Suzanne McCray.” Gairhan is a member of the eighth class of Schwarzman Scholars. The master’s . . .

Illustration by Anson Chan Do you personally know anybody who has been infected with covid-19? In most parts of the world, the question is absurd—it makes more sense to ask, “Do you know anybody who has not been infected?” But, recently, on a survey that I sent to former students in China, this was one of my questions. I taught these students from 1996 to 1998, when I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in southwestern China, and since then we’ve stayed in close touch. For nearly a decade, I’ve sent them annual surveys, and this year I was curious to know more about their pandemic experiences. Of forty respondents, none had been infected. Nobody had had a case in his or her household, and there were also no infections among close relatives—parents, spouses, children, or siblings. Only six personally knew anybody who had tested positive for covid. For three of these respondents, the . . .

The Winter Line: A Memoir and Observation of Asia by Ken Winkler (India 1964-66) Author House 304 pages March 2010 $4.99 (Kindle); $15.49 (Paperback); Imagine a book born from the tendrils of a cloudy monsoon afternoon on a sheer drop overlooking the northern plains of India. Ken Winkler watched the “winter line” develop below him from the Kumaon Himalaya and knew that the book of his life was presenting itself. The author has spent over 40 years writing and studying about, traveling to or working in Asia, or listening to teachers, lamas, soldiers and travelers present their versions of what they saw. Not everything was as it appeared, and many of his experiences reflected a direct spiritual lesson. All of this started on a bird farm in San Diego—or was it from the stories of a smooth-talking Irishman, or an Oxford Don, or a collection of Buddhist masters passing through? . . .

    U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Puneet Talwar led  swearing-in ceremony today for 49 Peace Corps Volunteers in Beni Mellal, marking the completion of the Volunteers’ 11 weeks of intensive language and cultural training.  The Volunteers will now move to host towns and villages across the country where they will perform service to promote peace, friendship, and support the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication’s youth development strategy.  “Thank you to all 49 of you, who have made the bold decision to volunteer the next two years of your lives, immersing yourselves in a local community in Morocco and deepening the already strong people-to-people ties between our two countries,” Ambassador Talwar said during his remarks. “Many of you have waited two years through the pandemic to come here and begin your service. Thank you for your patience and dedication.”  Ambassador Talwar also thanked the Wali of Beni Mellal- Khenifra region, . . .

Remembering Gary Strieker who helped establish CNN’s presence in Africa By PAPA LINC December 3, 2022 Gary Strieker (Swaziland 1968-70) had every reason to be a pessimist. People dying of hunger, brutal killings and many other horrific events that he covered as an international reporter unfolded right before his eyes. Yet Strieker never lost his optimistic spirit or his passion to shed light on critically important but often underreported stories on the environment and global health. Strieker — who passed away in July of this year at age 78 — was CNN’s first Nairobi bureau chief, helping the network open its reporting hub in the Kenyan capital in 1985. Colleagues say he covered the entire African continent — sometimes as a one-man band — during the network’s early years when news gathering budgets were lean. Strieker won an Emmy award in 1992 for his role in CNN’s coverage of Somalia’s civil war . . .

Two Visits to the Daejeon Theater Richard Wiley (Korea 1967-69) In 1968, when I was living in Daejeon, Korea, the movie My Fair Lady had a one-week run in at the Daejeon Theater, and I, being a sometimes-homesick Peace Corps volunteer, went to see it. I had seen My Fair Lady in 1964, when it came out.  Like half of the other nineteen-year-old boys in America, I loved Audrey Hepburn, whose matchless face launched a lot more than 1000 ships, I’m sure.   Helen of Troy had nothing on Audrey. I also remember wondering, in 1964, how Rex Harrison, debonaire though he was, got away with not singing, but talking his way through all those songs.  I mean, he made, “I’ve grown accustomed to the tune, That she whistles night and noon, Her smiles, her frowns, Her ups, her downs…” sound like the musings of a lone old man going up and down by in an elevator.  He . . .

Thomas Peng Chief Executive Officer Peace Corps Thomas Peng is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Peace Corps. He brings more than 20 years of public and private sector experience and has led, managed, and supported teams in the technology and non-profit sectors. Most recently, Thomas served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Peace Corps where he oversaw internal operations, human resources, and strategic information, research, and planning. Previously, he served the Peace Corps as Chief Information Officer, where he strengthened operations and promoted a culture of transparency and inclusion. Thomas’ Peace Corps roots extend back to his service as a Volunteer in the Philippines from 2006-2008, where he trained teachers to use technology in the classroom. Throughout his career, Thomas has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by sponsoring employee resource groups and facilitating safe spaces for all employees to have brave conversations. Thomas holds a bachelor’s . . .

By Oumie Mendy Peace Corps – The Gambia has Wednesday sworn in 22 agriculture and health volunteers from America in a ceremony held in the Lower River Region settlement of Massembeh training center. The oath taking followed an 8 weeks pre-service training in languages, cross-culture, medical, safety and security professionals. Kelleah B. Young, Peace Corps Country Director said Peace Corps’ founding mission of promoting world peace and friendship among all counties remains relevant, even after 55 years of service in the Gambia under the global COVID-19 pandemic. “Peace Corps have returned to the Gambia in a big  way this year, adding to global total today, over 950 volunteers are back in 41 countries and we are still aiming to return to our pre evacuation number of 7000 volunteers worldwide, even adding a few new counties to the mix. Our strength is to build on individual relationships, one connection and one . . .