Peace Corps Polyglot

Ten Years...$165,000!

Peace Corps volunteers don’t end their community service efforts with the end of their time abroad. As we know, many volunteers bring that spirit of service back to their own communities, and groups of returned Peace Corps volunteers often continue to serve their communities in various ways.

One such group is the Inland-Northwest Peace Corps Association. The group’s recent activities included volunteering with the local public television station, KSPS Public Television/Friends of Seven, which serves the Inland Northwest and Canada. According to longtime group member Sue Bracken, group members (pictured here at KSPS) have answered phones at the television station’s pledge drives for the past ten years.

The group’s support is very much appreciated by the television station. Dawn Bayman, the Membership Director at KSPS, says that members of the group come one or two times a year to volunteer and that “over the years they’ve answered almost 1,300 phone calls with pledge contributions totaling more than $165,000!” Bayman says that what she appreciates most about these volunteers “is the sense of service and integrity that they bring to their work. That always shines through in their conversations with our members – they go out of their way to be helpful and represent KSPS very well.”

Congratulations to the Inland-Northwest Peace Corps Association for ten years of service to KSPS as part of serving their community in the spirit that the Peace Corps seeks to foster.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in Washington Raise $1,000 for Haiti

(l to r: RPCVs Bryan Schaaf of Haiti Innovation and Lenny Teh, President of Friends of Haiti, speak at last night's RPCV Happy Hour/Haiti Fundraiser in Washington DC)

In his remarks to an overflow crowd at the monthly Happy Hour hosted by the RPCVs of Washington DC, Bryan Schaaf (Haiti 00-02) referred to a proverb he learned as a volunteer: “Haiti has teeth.  It bites onto you.  It doesn’t let you go.”

That connection and commitment to the country was in evidence as numerous Haiti RPCVs, including Leslie Koo (00-02), Josh Kunin-Goldsmith (01-04), Christine Fontecchio (03-04) and Lenny Teh (97-00) turned out as the Happy Hour was quickly transformed into a Haiti relief fundraiser that collected $1,023 for the Red Cross.

Teh, who serves as President of the Friends of Haiti RPCV Group, fought back tears as he told the audience one-third of the country’s population was impacted by the massive earthquake that struck on Tuesday.  Those affected included Teh's sponsor family in Port-au-Prince.  While all are safe, children in Teh's family were in a house that collapsed during the quake.  “They are now living in the street, and they are scared.”

The Haiti RPCVs we spoke with shared common thoughts and reactions to the crisis.  There is worry as they seek to learn the fate of friends.  There is frustration over the distance and limits they face in responding to the crisis.   There is unanimity in the need for an infusion of cash donations to support established organizations moving in to offer relief.  And they say there will be the need over the long term for skilled RPCVs to stay engaged and volunteer for Haiti after the immediate crisis has stabilized.

There is also a belief in the resilience of the Haitian people. Schaaf is one of the founders of Haiti Innovation, an organization created by RPCVs to bring attention to the many positive initiatives and developments in Haiti.  Saddened because the earthquake is a massive setback after a year of positive economic and social development, Schaaf noted there is tremendous suffering.  But, he added, “I worry that the (media) footage makes Haitians look helpless.  They are not.”  As is the case with citizens elsewhere, “It is the local communities and local people that are first in responding to the crisis.”

"I Bring What I Love" Opening In Los Angeles with Director Q&A

In June the new Youssou N'Dour documentary,"Youssou N'Dour I Bring What I Love," opened on three screens in New York City--and was even held over.  (That's Youssou (center) and the  director, Chai (far right), with some New York-area RPCVs.) Now the film is coming to the West Coast!

The film Opens Friday, July 3 in Los Angeles and Orange County.  Director/Producer Chai Vasarhelyi will appear in person for Q&A on Opening Weekend!

Here's the schedule: 

Director/Producer CHAI VASARHELYI at Laemmle's Sunset 5 for Q&A on Opening Weekend
• Fri, July 3 following the 7:00 show; will intro the 9:45 show.
• Sat, July 4 following the 7:00 show; will intro the 9:45 show.
• Sun, July 5 following the 4:10 matinee.

Film opens on Friday, July 3 (for minimum of one week) in Los Angeles and Orange County:

LAEMMLE'S SUNSET 5
8000 Sunset Blvd. • West Hollywood, CA   90046
323-848-3500 • www.laemmle.com
Showtimes July 3-July 9:   1:30, 4:10, 7:00, 9:45
Tickets On Sale:   $10.00 (General), $8.50 (Students w/ID), $7.00 (Seniors 62+/Children under 12)
Group Rate: $8.50 (Fri-Sat)/$6.00(Sun-Thur) for 25 or more, details at http://www.laemmle.com/group_sales.php

EDWARDS UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER 6
4245 Campus Drive • Irvine, CA   92612
949-854-8818 • www.regmovies.com
Showtimes and Tickets available on Monday, June 29

YOUSSOU N'DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE has won multiple awards worldwide including the Circle Audience Award - Film Fest DC, Impact of Music Award - Nashville Film Festival, Special Jury Prize - Middle East International Film Festival, Audience Award and Spirit of Freedom Award - Bahamas International Film Festival.

What have the critics said?

"A singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it." - Rolling Stone

"A stirring story of an artist and a hero." - NBC/Reel Talk

"A beautiful meditation on faith, Islam and music." - The Huffington Post

YOUSSOU N'DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE, is a music-infused cinematic journey about the power of one man's voice to inspire change. The film chronicles Africa's pop sensation Youssou N'dour, a devout Muslim, as he releases a deeply personal and religious album called Egypt in the hope of promoting a tolerant face of Islam. While the record received international acclaim and a Grammy, it was denounced as blasphemy in his native Senegal. Director Chai Vasarhelyi followed Youssou N'dour for over two years - filming in Africa, Europe, and America - to tell the story of how he faced these challenges and eventually won over audiences both at home and abroad.

For more information about NPCA's partnership with the film, click here.

For more information about the film contact Karen O'Hara at [email protected] or 520-326-0813.  

"Bay"-by it's Cold Outside?

RPCVs in Northern New England, the Midwest and other locations know all too well that winter still packs a powerful punch.  The phrase “global warming” gets a little confounding this time of year and is somewhat of a misnomer.  But taken as a whole, the scientific community has confirmed our planet is warming, leading to dangerously disruptive shifts in our climate patterns.

With that well in mind, five members of the Shriver Peaceworker affiliate group of the NPCA (pictured above) braved the cold on January 10 to participate in the annual “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge into the Chesapeake Bay.  They raised nearly $1,000 to support the ongoing work of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, led by Zaire RPCV Mike Tidwell.

“Wow, it's cold in the Bay!"  That was the reaction from Joby Taylor, a Gabon RPCV and Shriver Peaceworker Fellow from 1999 – 2001.  So why did he plunge?  "As RPCVs we have seen first hand many places and communities around the world that are disproportionately impacted by the effects of global climate change.  But much of the problem starts right here at home, so home is where we have to begin working for change.”

Everybody Wins when Burkina Faso Wins!

Friends of Burkina Faso just announced their participation in the Everybody Can Win! competition that can help them raise at least $2500 and up to $15,000 for their Noon Meal Improves Girls' Learning project.  The competition is sponsored by Global Giving and the Kellogg Foundation and promises $2500 to any organization participating that can raise at least $5000 from 50 unique donors by December 15. 

Burkina Faso's Noon Meal Project provides a lunchtime meal for girls who attend middle school.  This meal is essential to students' learning, particularly as they have little or no breakfast and walk 6 km to and from school and have no other source of food during the day.  For the 2008-09 school year, Friends of Burkina Faso is supporting noon meals for about 500 students at the College Modern de l'Amitie, at a cost of $.41per day per student.  In the 2007-08 school year, the noon meal contributed to an impressive 81% of students completing coursework successfully. 

In addition to potentially winning $2500, there are bonuses Friends of Burkina Faso could win.  If they generate the most unique number of donors, they can win $15,000 and if they generate the greatest amount of donations, $10,000!  

So don't delay--donate now and help students have the food they need to concentrate on their studies.
 

Jackson Hole, WY Gathers its RPCVs

We recently got news that Jackson Hole, WY is getting its RPCVs together to form a new NPCA member group.  Thanks to the efforts of Willie Richardson (Kazakhstan, '97-'99), the first Teton County, WY meeting of this RPCV group took place on Nov. 21.  We love to see this initiative and can't wait to provide assistance as they grow!

If you're interested in starting an NPCA member group in your area, visit our website for a packet with useful tips and instructions. 

High Atlas Foundation: Moroccan Arts and Excitement

The High Atlas Foundation, a nonprofit organized by RPCVs that works on locally designed and managed development projects in Morocco, is hosting its Fourth Annual NYC Reception October 15.

The event, which will include an art exhibit, sale, and silent auction, will feature Moroccan artists working with photography and mixed techniques and a book signing by Elizabeth Letts Alalou and Ali Alalou, the authors of the children's book The Butter Man. 

Event chairs include an impressive list of leaders from nonprofit, academic, and governmental organizations.  The list includes both the current and a former ambassador to Morocco, the director of Fordham University's Middle East Studies Program, and several nonprofit heavyweights, including Carol Bellamy, President and CEO of World Learning.  The Peace Corps has its fair share of representation as honorary chairs including Darcy Neill, the former Director of Peace Corps Morocco, Tim Resch, President of Friends of Morocco, and our own NPCA President, Kevin Quigley. 

The event will help The High Atlas Foundation reach its fundraising goals and give it the support it needs to continue its work in the field.  It will be held at The Urban Center at the New York Palace Hotel.  To register in advance visit http://www.events.org/cpage.aspx?e=16087 or for more information, contact Kate McLetchie at [email protected]

National Peace Corps Association Announces Awards for Member Groups

We are very pleased to announce the winners for the 2008 NPCA Awards for member groups.  With so many high quality submissions this year, our reviewers had quite a challenge in picking the top groups for each award.  Thank you to all nominees for your outstanding work. 

And the winners are….

Loret Miller Ruppe Award for Outstanding Community Service

• Friends of Malaysia and their “Wizard of the World” project

NPCA Print Media Awards

• First place:   Amigos de Bolivia y Peru
• Second place:  Friends of Nigeria
• Third place:  Central Missouri RPCVs
• Fourth place:  San Diego Peace Corps Association

NPCA Electronic Media Awards

• First place:  Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association
• Second place:  Minnesota RPCVs
• Third place:  San Diego Peace Corps Association
• Fourth place:  Friends of Kyrgyzstan

Thank you to all groups who submitted materials for consideration for these awards!  To learn more about the awards and to link to the winning materials, visit the NPCA website. 

Congratulations!

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. Raise Funds for Solar Panel Project

Every year the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. (RPCVw) demonstrate their continuing commitment to the work of the Peace Corps by sponsoring a Peace Corps Partnership Project. The year they teamed up with Sarah Mendelsohn, a PCV from Ohio who is helping her village in Cape Verde build solar panels for a community center.

The community of Hortelao where Sarah is serving does not have access to electricity. This lack of electricity has, among other things, put serious limitations on the village's jam business. When the solar panels are up and running the jam business will be able to expand its product base by using refrigerators they already own. Expenses will decrease since there will no longer be a need for a generator to mix the fruit. Sarah commented on the powerful impact the solar panels and the RPCVw partnership will have, stating:

I cannot tell you how excited my community of Hortelao is for our solar panels. A couple of weeks ago a group of girls began forming a study group, which will take place in our Community Center once they have lights. The women involved in our jam-making income generating project are currently receiving a workshop from a Portuguese NGO. During this workshop the women asked for suggestion of new products that will be possible with refrigerators, this is the first time I have ever seen them speak in workshops; normally they are painfully shy. Also, this NGO looked over our proposal for the solar panels and is interested in pursuing the idea for the entire town of Hortelao. I thank each of you for your generosity and promise to keep you up-to-date, with pictures and messages from Hortelao.

RPCVw plans to donate $1,000 to the project and they need the support of members to reach that goal. They are holding their annual Partnership Reception on June 26, 2008 to raise funds for the project. The event will be held at Toro Mata - The Art of Peru, 2410 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. The suggested minimum donation is $20 for RPCVw members and $30 for non-members.

Click here to RSVP to the event and learn more about the Partnership Program.

"Making a Difference:" Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association Gives Mini-Grants

Through a regularly-changing feature on the homepage of our website the NPCA likes to take the time to highlight affiliated individuals and groups who are "Making a Difference." We look for projects that demonstrate service to others in domestic and/or international communities and can be replicated by inspired individuals.

We most recently acknowledged the difference-making work of the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association. The SBPCA is offering project mini-grants to currently serving Peace Corps volunteers who have either lived in Santa Barbara County or have been recommended by an active member of SBPCA, and through the Peace Corps Partnership program. Already in 2008 $500 grants have been given to PCV's Daniel Alejandro and Suzanne Hartley. Daniel's grant will go to a stove making project in Sibinal, San Marcos, Guatemala, while Suzanne will be using the money to support a bead making project in Abampe, Ghana (pictured on right). To download the SBPCA Mini-Grant Application click here. Applications are reviewed and grants awarded on a quarterly basis.

To send in a nomination for the NPCA's "Making a Difference" feature click here. Remember no suggestion is too big or too small!