The Peace Corps lives on in name only — in Mali
Thanks, Mark. I can well imagine how nostalgic you must feel seeing these signs. Kind of nice that they left…
Thanks for the ‘heads up’ from Mark Wentling (Honduras 1967–69, Togo 1970–73; PC Staff: Togo, Gabon, Niger 1973–77)
“Near where I now live in Bamako is where the old Peace Corps/Mali office was. The sign still hangs on the front wall of this office. Security concerns forced Peace Corps Mali to close its operations in late 2015. For the same reasons, Peace Corps Niger closed in 2011, and last month Peace Corps Burkina Faso closed. There are now no Peace Corps Volunteers in the inland Sahel Region in Africa. Really sad for me as these are some of my favorite Peace Corps countries. These three countries were among the oldest Peace Corps programs, having existed 45 years or more ”
Sad indeed, and with the rise of Islamic Mediaevalism all across that part of the world, it isn’t safe even for Nigerian schoolgirls, much less PCVs. I think we’re seeing just the beginning of world upset and probably genocide, far more than what UN peacekeeping efforts can begin to address. John Turnbull Ghana-3 Geology + Nyasaland/Malawi-2 Geology Assignment
Thanks, Mark. I can well imagine how nostalgic you must feel seeing these signs. Kind of nice that they left them up, though. Are you going to write a book about this experience?
Leita Kaldi Davis