Peace Corps Polyglot

Oprah's Call to Action to Feature RPCV Group Project

Don't miss The Oprah Winfrey Show this Thursday, October 1, as Oprah delivers a call to action for all women--with a Peace Corps twist! 

Inspired by the New York Times best-selling book Half the Sky by Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas Kristof and his wife, Sheryl Wudunn, this eye-opening hour will reveal powerful stories of women overcoming adversity to realize a better life for themselves.  Oprah herself calls one of the stories "the most incredible story of manifesting a dream I have ever heard." 

In conjunction with the show, Oprah will launch a new registry online at www.oprah.com/forallwomen, where the Noon Meal for Girls Project (supported by Friends of Burkina Faso) will be featured.  Tune-in to the "Oprah" show this Thursday to hear Oprah's call to action.  (Check local listings for time and channel.)

New Mexico Peace Corps Association Camps Out and Cleans Up

Earlier this month, 21 members of the New Mexico Peace Corps Association--plus four youngsters and five dogs-- participated in camp-out and public service effort in the Santa Fe National Forest.  Writes organizer John Turnbull,

"Many people, including some who could not attend, commented on the attractiveness of the public service dimension. It was an impressive pile of trash we carried out of there. And while doing it, it provided us a hike through some really marvelous canyon scenery, where the native cutthroat trout have been reintroduced. Sunday was another hike, to the Jemez Falls and hot springs.  RPCVs rose to the food challenge, and everything tasted twice as good out in the woods."  

Forest Ranger Kristin Sanderson, one of the participants, is the Education Coordinator for the Respect the Rio program, a part of a larger national program aimed at educating people about the ecology of rivers in the national forests.  Besides hosting groups, she also talks to school classes.  RPCV teachers are encouraged to contact her about a program in their schools. (Ph. 575 829-3535, in Jemez Springs).

Ms. Sanderson wrote to group:

"Dear RPCVs and Friends of PC,

On behalf of the Santa Fe National Forest, the Jemez Ranger District, and the Respect the Rio program, I would like to thank you for sharing your time and energy to help make our forest a cleaner, more beautiful, and more enjoyable place to visit.  Your work along the East Fork of the Jemez River is very much appreciated and will hopefully encourage visitors to take pride in and responsibility for their public lands. It was such a joy meeting and working with each and every one of you, and I look forward to future projects and outings both here in the Santa Fe National Forest and in your neighborhoods. 

Thank you!”

Wanted: RPCV Climate Testimonies

For the Peace Corps community, concerns about climate change extend far beyond our national borders. Nicaragua RPCV Jenny Lowe (pictured above) thinks often of the students and friends she worked with as an environmental education volunteer in San Juan de Limay between 2000-2002 - not long after Hurricane Mitch.

RPCV Hannah Danto says "unlike large, ecologically diverse countries, Kiribati (the island nation where she served from 2006-08) will no longer exist" if the threat of climate change is not curtailed.  "Many elders tell tales of the change and destruction of their homeland, areas of the island which were once lush with trees and are now underwater...What will happen to the 90,000 natives?" 

The devastating impacts go beyond climate to culture as well.  So notes Peru RPCV Gregory Hochstetter who says global warming is impacting water supplies in the high plains of the Andes, where accelerated snowmelt from the mountains is impacting water supplies.  "With less water these communities cannot grow and people end up moving to cities, which means a loss of their cultural identity."

Send us your climate testimonies.  We are seeking 350 testimonies in advance of the October 24th International Day of Climate Action.  Send us a photo of impacted people around the world, or a brief commentary on communities impacted by or taking action to combat climate change.

This is your opportunity to take a simple action to share your voice with the world.  Follow this link to share your testimony today.

Update on Planning for the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps

Today, September 22, marks the 48th anniversary of the enactment of the Peace Corps Act.  And two years from today we hope you'll be with us on the National Mall in Washington, DC as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Peace Corps. 

That's right.  It's only two years away!

It's going to be a big deal.

As you can imagine, a lot of planning for this significant milestone has taken place in the past four years...and much remains.  You can find information and resources concerning the 50th anniversary on National Peace Corps Association's regularly updated 50th Anniversary page.  Access the latest outline and brief description of events planned for the anniversary year.  Learn how to donate materials to the Peace Corps Collection at Kennedy Library or to the Peace Corps's Digital Library. And much more.

The most recent addition to the page is a letter from the NPCA Board Chair, Jan Guifarro, providing an important update on NPCA's activities around the 50th, including plans for a commemorative space near the National Mall.  We encourage you to read it.

Jan writes:

This modest but powerful space would commemorate the founding of the Peace Corps and its place in American history and speak to the values of service and empathy embodied in the Peace Corps. It would not be a memorial to the individuals who died in Peace Corps service, nor a monument honoring the Peace Corps. Rather, this space would commemorate the Peace Corps’s ideals and values. It would honor and celebrate the American values of service, empathy and peace, emphasizing their lasting significance in the American experience, and remind Americans and the world, of our continuing commitment to these values. Like all such proposals, the commemorative would have to be authorized by the Congress, agreed to by the President and the specific plans would have to be approved by the relevant governmental agencies. This review process ensures adherence to the laws and regulations related to use of public space in the heart of our nation’s capital.

As we develop our 50th Anniversary plans, including the commemorative, we will continue to reach out to the Peace Corps community. We recognize that not every community member agrees with every aspect of what the Peace Corps or NPCA does, nor will everyone support every aspect of the 50th Anniversary plans and activities. We do, however, firmly believe that based on extensive consultation there is broad consensus that now is the time for the establishment of a commemorative near the National Mall that honors the founding of the Peace Corps, its place in American history, and the values it represents.

[You can read Executive Order 10924: Establishment of the Peace Corps here, at the National Archive's website.  And this morning Garrison Keillor did a nice little piece as part of his daily Writer's Almanac show on National Public Radio.  You can read it or listen to it here.]

RPCVs of Madison Calendar Photos Now Available as Posters

Over the last decade, classroom teachers have asked Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin for poster-size versions of the beautiful photos from the RPCV International Calendar.  The group has now produced a set of five posters ready for purchase, with plans to create two more sets of five by 2011, the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps.  The first set of WE ALL International Posters illustrates basic common needs that people share across the globe:  the needs for food, water, housing, work, and clothing.  Like the calendar, they have the dual purposes of sharing what volunteers have learned with the people back home, as well as raising money for grassroots projects in the countries where Volunteers served.  The posters, measuring 24" x 36", are packaged in a mailing tube and sell for $30 per set, plus shipping and can be ordered at www.rpcvmadison.org.

Legislation Would Boost Peace Corps Voter Accessibility

Legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress aims to strengthen oversight of the overseas voting process in order to alleviate numerous obstacles facing U.S. military personnel and civilians who are living overseas.

The "Fixing the Federal Voting Assistance Program Act of 2009" was introduced earlier this year by RPCV Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) who stated in a press release "It's troubling that Americans abroad, from the men and women in our armed forces to business professionals to Peace Corps volunteers cannot exercise their right to vote."

While there have been attempts to reform overseas voting in the past, citizens not residing in the United States continue to face obstacles when trying to cast their ballot. 

According to the Pew Center on the States, nearly 28% of overseas ballots from the 2008 election were returned, lost or rejected.  Citizens residing overseas must surpass many hurdles in order to have their ballot counted including battling with mediocre ballot delivery methods and dealing with overly stringent and outdated state voting laws.

The legislation would create an oversight board, the Federal Voting Assistance Office, which would monitor the overseas voting process.  This board would report annually to Congress on improvements to the process.  Congressman Honda notes "As a former Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, I know how difficult it is for overseas Americans to cast a meaningful ballot.  The statistics are daunting and unforgivable."

NPCA Welcomes New Staff Member, Khalisa Jacobs

The National Peace Corps Association is pleased to welcome Khalisa Jacobs as NPCA’s new Director of Development.

Khalisa joins us from Population Services International (PSI), where she served as their manager of major gifts. Prior to her time with PSI she worked in a variety of capacities in development teams, building her capital campaign skills. At the University of Florida she focused on events and the annual fund. In her time at Georgetown University she learned to execute the logistics of large galas, manage regional campaigns and mentor regional clubs. Reunions, regional campaigns and school-based campaigns were her focus at the University of Virginia. She holds a BA from the University of Virginia in Psychology and a MBA from the University of Florida.

“With a wealth of campaign and development experience and highly professional approach, Khalisa will be a great addition to the NPCA team,” says NPCA President Kevin Quigley. She will be a great asset to the Peace Corps community as we work to us meet our 50th Anniversary campaign goals.”

Unlike the majority of the NPCA staff, Khalisa is not a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. However she sees this as an opportunity to inspire a community that believes in the NPCA’s mission. Says Khalisa,

Although I do not have a Peace Corps background I feel committed to NPCA’s mission of service, education and advocacy,” says Khalisa. “The majority of my life was spent in a rather predictable East Coast US upbringing; however, I’ve always stayed tied into my local communities through service and education. These principles took an international twist when I met my Senegalese husband. My connection to the Senegalese community broadened my perspective about global issues such as volunteerism, as well as what it means to be an American interacting abroad.

I will use this personal inspiration to talk to the Peace Corps community about reviving the energy the Peace Corps has successfully conveyed for the past 50 years. We have a real opportunity to use this anniversary to invigorate anyone who believes in helping people abroad, helping Americans understand other cultures and helping to promote a better understanding of Americans.

Round 2 of the Africa Rural Connect Competion Comes to a Close

At noon EST on September 15th, Round 2 of the Africa Rural Connect contest came to a close, and three round winners were awarded cash prizes to implement their plans for the development of rural Africa.

• $1,000 goes to 3rd place idea, Project Irrigation Initiative- Region Kedougou, Senegal
• $2,000 goes to the 2nd place idea: The Acceleration of Innovation
• And finally $3,000 goes to the 1st place idea: Self Supported Ghanaian Subsistent Farmers Consortium

Congratulations to our three winners! All three will be entered into the Grand Prize Pool in November, when our judges will select one project to receive $20,000 in funding.

To listen to the three winning contributors give detailed explanations of their award-winning ideas and inspiration check out the official ARC “Round 2 Winners” Update.

Want to know more about Africa Rural Connect? Listen to Project Manager, Molly Mattessich, discuss the project on a recent interview with Voice of America or check out the site yourself at www.AfricaRuralConnect.org.

Remember, Round 2 may be over, but Round 3 has just begun and will be running until October 15th. So, bring your insight, experiences, and ideas to help build viable plans towards the development of rural Africa!

Returned Volunteers Promote Department Careers

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers @ State hosted a job-shadowing day in June for 20 former Peace Corps volunteers interested in Department of State careers. Participants saw the work done in the bureaus of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Consular Affairs; and Education and Cultural Affairs, among others, and spent time with Department employees who are former Peace Corps volunteers.

“Until now, I’ve found it difficult to translate the job descriptions and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities statements required for USAJobs.opm.gov into real-life examples,” said participant Tina Terrill. “I also wasn’t certain that a Department career was a good match, but now feel much more confident in my career search.”

The group worked directly with the Peace Corps to organize the event, and the Department’s Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment gave a presentation on the Department’s careers and its need for management, consular and economic officers. The group plans to hold other events promoting Department careers for returned volunteers.

An official employee organization, the group was founded in September 2008 and has more than 375 members worldwide, including Foreign Service and Civil Service employees and ambassadors. Group member Jennifer Cole, a program coordinator in the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, said “I can see Peace Corps’ influence in my work on a daily basis as it gives me an instant connection to the visitors I work with on the International Visitor Leadership Program.”