This year the Loret Miller Ruppe Award for Outstanding Community Service goes to Friends of Malaysia’s Project Wizard of the World (WOW).
The Ruppe Award is presented by the NPCA to an outstanding member group for a project or projects that promote the Third Goal of Peace Corps or continue to serve host countries, build group spirit and cooperation, and promote service. Eligible projects either have been completed within the past two years or have been on-going for at least three years. The award not only to recognizes the great work that NPCA's groups are doing, but also generates ideas that other groups may emulate in their communities.
Friends of Malaysia's Project WOW brings Malaysia RPCVs to grade school classrooms around the country in an effort to fulfill the Third Goal of Peace Corps - bringing the world back home - by promoting global awareness and cross-cultural understanding among young Americans.
The 42 RPCVs use Malaysian folktales as a gateway for children to gain broader cultural understanding of Malaysia. In 30 states, over 3,300 elementary school students have gained some familiarity with Malaysia via these folktales, multi-media presentations, flashcards, show-and-tell, discussion, and Malaysian memorabilia - all provided by Tourism Malaysia and corporate donors such as Tuttle Publishing, G2, Inc., with support from DHL, Malaysia. Project WOW has been has been remarkably successful in organizing the project, engaging RPCVs, and reaching out to their communities nationwide.
Congratulations to Friends of Malaysia!
(At right, May Maniam accepts the Loret Miller Ruppe Award for Outstanding Community Service on behalf of Friends of Malaysia. May was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the Wizards of the World project. Photo courtesy of Juliet Dervin.)
Recent Comments