Peace Corps Polyglot

NPCA Honors Senate Peace Corps Champions

The annual Capitol Hill gathering of NPCA's Director's Circle provided an opportunity to recognize two retiring Senators who have been strong voices for the importance of the Peace Corps.

NPCA recognized Missouri Senator Kit Bond (above, standing) for his strong support for increased Peace Corps funding as an important element of "smart power" in our outreach to the world. During the program, we read a letter of congratulations sent by the St. Louis Peace Corps Association which said in part, "We thank Senator Bond for his persistence in calling for an expansion of the Peace Corps to put greater numbers of Americans into vitally important countries around the world, changing minds about America one small village at a time."

 We also recognized Connecticut Senator and Dominican Republic RPCV Chris Dodd (above, center) for his lifetime commitment to service and his many contributions to the Peace Corps community. In presenting an award to Senator Dodd, former  Senator Harris Wofford (above, left) said "We have been made richer for the so many things you have done. The loss to the Senate will be a gain to the whole citizen sector of this republic." 

Romance and politics – Director’s Circle Weekend 2010

Earlier this month, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, former staff staff and other members of the Peace Corps community arrived in Washington, DC from across the country to participate in NPCA’s annual Director’s Circle Weekend.

The weekend included events such as special recognition of Senators Kit Bond and Christopher Dodd for their great support of the Peace Corps community, remarks from Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams and former Peace Corps Director Kevin O’Donnell, a special tour of the African Art Museum given by RPCV docent, Bonnie Gottlieb (Cote D’Ivoire 72-74) and many opportunities to share stories about how the community continues to serve after Peace Corps. The weekend will be remembered for the stories of Peace Corps romances (!), African dancing and the lively session on Peace Corps’ role in U.S. foreign policy.

Among the attendees, NPCA was happy to welcome its newest members Peter Laugharn (Morocco 82-84), David Lockshin (Costa Rica 81-84) and Kathleen Harnig (Bulgaria 98-00) as well as many members of the NPCA Board of Directors and Advisory Council. Special thanks to Frances Holliday Alford (Republic of Korea 78-80), Chair of the Director’s Circle, Tom Scanlon (Chile 61-63) our host for Friday evening’s reception and everyone who helped to make this a fantastic weekend. 

To learn more about the Director's Circle, and how you can join, click here.

[Top photo:  Tom Scanlon, NPCA board member David Magnani and Sen. Harris Wofford.  Bottom photo:  Kevin O'Donnell, NPCA Advisory Council member Ginny Kirkwood and Helen Lowman.]

NPCA Press Conference in Nairobi

On the Friday before Christmas, the National Peace Corps Association held a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya to announce formally the winner of the Africa Rural Connect $20,000 Grand Prize. Present along with me were the Prize Winner himself, Jacky Foo, who flew there from Sweden, and Ernesto Gluecksmann, who has helped to build the Africa Rural Connect (ARC) website for NPCA. We invited press from all over the city and 25 of them attended to hear about the winner and ARC’s online community for African agricultural development.

Ernesto and I first spoke about the goals of the website, the technology behind it and how we spent the last 9 months building it and trying to reach out to as many relevant groups as possible to be involved. Then, Jacky spoke about his winning project idea.  His project is located in Meru, a village only a 4-hour drive outside of Nairobi and some of the project leaders from the sisters of Nazareth were able to attend the conference. I was delighted to meet Jacky in person and hear about his experience on the ARC website, and also to meet the sisters who are helping to put his plan into action. Many of the reporters had questions about his idea and how it could be replicated in other villages.

Later that day, we had dinner with Crystal Kigoni, an American woman who works with Voices of Africa.  Crystal’s mission is to put a solar-powered internet kiosk in every rural village in Kenya.  For a setup cost of $4,000-$5,000, hundreds of people can have access to the internet, which would provide monumental communications and educational opportunities for them.  We think that it would be a great way for people in rural areas to post their ideas on Africa Rural Connect, too.

 

Niger RPCV Helps Create Dedicated Fund for Microfinance Investments in Peace Corps Countries

As we noted in the Summer issue of WorldView magazine, microcredit/microfinance is a “hot” field of interest for many returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Among them, Jason Hahn (Niger 99-01), who recently spent time as a marketing intern at MicroPlace. Hahn writes:

As a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, I was struck by the way a little bit of money went such a long way in changing the lives of the people who lived in my village, Senago Kwara. (Though I was also often struck by how quickly my monthly stipend ran out – it was probably due though to my taste in orange Fanta – an addiction for many West African PCVs) I quickly discovered the power that access to credit for the women of Senago Kwara when I worked with them to set-up a group led savings bank. These aspiring bankers contributed equally to their bank, decided on loans and investment projects, collected interest, and earned a return. They did this all with a weekly contribution of 50 CFA or 11 cents. They were economically empowered!

I didn’t know at the time that what we were doing was called microfinance. In the intervening 9 years I learned more about microfinance, and when I started my MBA at the University of Washington my thoughts returned to these women and how I could get involved in empowering them.

I had the good fortune to meet Tracy Turner, the founder of MicroPlace, part of the eBay family. MicroPlace allows people to invest in microfinance institutions in amounts much smaller (as little as $20) than the big funders require. As I began working as a marketing intern at MicroPlace, and saw the number of different funds that they offer, I thought that surely there was a place for a fund dedicated to funding microfinance institutions (and micro-entrepreneurs) in Peace Corps countries.

Hahn worked with the MicroPlace team and approached the NPCA to create an “NPCA Investment” on MicroPlace. He explains:

The Calvert Foundation, a well-known institutional investor in microfinance institutions, manages the NPCA Investment. When you make an investment, MicroPlace transfers that money to Calvert, which then invests it in microfinance institutions in countries with a current or past Peace Corps presence. People can invest directly in the fund by following this link.  People can also give gift certificates for other MicroPlace investments to friends or family by following this link. 

I think this is a fantastic gift for this holiday season as it allows us to give something unique and meaningful that empowers people like those we worked with when we were Peace Corps volunteers.

National Peace Corps Association Closes an Historic Year

Dear Peace Corps Community Members,

2009 was a remarkable year for NPCA and the Peace Corps Community.  Memorable bookends include an historic role marching in the inaugural parade and helping secure the highest appropriation in the history of the Peace Corps.  The $400 million appropriation was $60 million more than last year, and nearly $30 million more than the President requested.  This success directly results from the work of thousands in the community who mobilized to secure congressional support. 

In 2009, we lost two dedicated RPCVs in the House of Representatives—Jim Walsh and Chris Shays, but gained two new outstanding members—Steve Driehaus and John Garamendi.  In Congress, Sam Farr was a remarkably energetic and effective champion. 

Aaron Williams was named as the 18th Director and Carrie Hessler-Radelet the deputy director nominee. Both Aaron and Carrie are RPCVS and former NPCA Board members, who have extensive experience in international development and management and bring a bold new vision for re-invigorating the Peace Corps. 

We launched two new websites:  Peace Corps Connect (www.peacecorpsconnect.org) and Africa Rural Connect (www.arc.peacecorpsconnect.org). More than 17,000 community members have posted their profiles on Peace Corps Connect since January. 

NPCA also helped launch the Service World campaign to significantly expand opportunities for Americans to volunteer overseas and increase the impact they have.  And despite the global financial crisis, NPCA had the strongest financial success in its 30-year history.  All of these successes could not have been possible without your support and engagement.  Thank you.  2010, the start of the 50th Anniversary celebrations, promises to be another remarkable year. 

With gratitude and very best wishes for a joyous holidays and a more peaceful 2010.
 
Kevin F. F. Quigley

President

National Peace Corps Association

NPCA Visits Nairobi

Peace Corps Connect and Africa Rural Connect (ARC) Manager, Molly Mattessich gives us an update from Nairobi, Kenya, where she is representing NPCA and the ARC project.

Stepping off the plane after a long ride from Washington, DC, it felt like summer - the hot wind was blowing and bats were flying overhead on the tarmac in the night; we were happy finally to arrive at Nairobi’s international airport.

Since I served in the Peace Corps in Mali, I was somewhat prepared for Nairobi, Kenya - and what a great city.  The people are friendly and the food is great.  I wasn’t prepared for the traffic jams, but when worst comes to worst, hey, we just get out and walk.

Today we had lunch with Ben Bellows, Group Leaders Forum Coordinator for NPCA.  Ben gave us the inside scoop on expat life in Nairobi, and we discussed the technological needs of group leaders and how we can better build out the Peace Corps Connect website based on those membership and administrative needs.  One of the ideas that popped up during our discussion was to organize the member groups to negotiate better rates for their respective online transactions.

Then we paid a visit to Steven Wisecarver, Country Director of Peace Corps Kenya, and told him about Africa Rural Connect, Peace Corps Connect, and NPCA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of Peace Corps.  He was happy to learn about NPCA’s offer of free membership to every RPCV during their first year after COS, and of the NPCA Mentoring Program, and will make sure that those materials are included in COS packets.  We chatted further about the connections between NPCA and Peace Corps and how we can improve our communication. 

Steve told us all about the Kenya program and the projects that they hope to build out.  It was news to us that they have a large group of deaf volunteers serving the deaf community here in Kenya, and many of those volunteers graduated from Gallaudet University, a connection to our hometown, Washington, DC.

At HQ, we witnessed a happy COS-ing volunteer receive her final signatures on papers needed for departure and, of course, a Peace Corps pin as a token of appreciation for her service.

Like every day that I remember from Peace Corps, a day in Africa can feel like a week...there is so much to do and each day feels productive.  It’s great to be back on the continent, this time representing the National Peace Corps Association.

Molly Mattessich

 (Mali 2002-2004)

Africa Rural Connect Announces Grand Prize Winner of Ideas Contest to Strengthen Rural Agriculture

The National Peace Corps Association is proud to announce that "The Ndekero Challenge: A Systems Approach for Rabbit Keeping by a Rural Community in Partnership with a Commercial Rabbit Farm" is the Grand Prize winning idea of the Africa Rural Connect 2009 Contest. [Click here for NPCA press release.]

This idea will be awarded $20,000 towards implementation of the Kenya-based project. Our four judges selected this plan out of the hundreds posted on the site based on feasibility, sustainability, and local impact among other key criterion. Congratulations to Jacky Foo and all the ARC members who took part in the debates and discussions that added insight to this idea.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in Africa Rural Connect this year, browsing and posting ideas, leaving comments and taking part in discussions, as well as endorsing the ideas you support. There have been over 600 posts in less than 4 months and over 10,000 participants.

Also, we would like to invite all ARC supporters to attend Africa Gathering in Nairobi, Kenya from December 21st – 22nd 2009 which the Grand Prize winner will be attending with ARC Manager, Molly Mattessich, and ARC Web Consultant, Ernesto Gluecksmann, from Infamia. Africa Gathering is a conference which, much like ARC, provides a space where thinkers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and others interested in sustainable development in Africa can come together to share and learn about each others projects and efforts.

To learn more and find a list of speakers here. We encourage those of you who are available to attend the conference and join the discussions. Tickets can be purchased here. For those who can not attend, you can follow us on Twitter @IdeasforAfrica to stay informed of the Conference, as it happens.

 

GlobalEd Goes to Atlanta!

I've worn many hats over the years at NPCA, but the one that I've had on since Day One back in October of 1996 is that of the director of the Global TeachNet program.  I treasure my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer fulfilling Goals One and Two, but the Third Goal is at the heart of my current work and one key reason why I traveled to Atlanta this past weekend.  (That’s me in the photo, but my co-presenter Deb Hutton is the one literally wearing all of the hats.)

International Alley – Here We Come…

Why Atlanta?  This year, that city hosted the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Annual Conference – a highlight of which was the International Alley, with NPCA at its entrance!  For two days, educators collected resources to bring global perspectives into classrooms and communities through our Global TeachNet exhibit.  Atlanta Area RPCVs (AARPCV) joined in to sell calendars and “We All” poster sets from the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison.

I loved seeing familiar faces (including Merry Merryfield, RPCV Sierra Leone 1977-1979 - shown in the middle here with Kathy Parker and Susan Neyer - who won not just one, but TWO awards from NCSS this year!) and connecting faces with emails.  It just makes my day when I hear a teacher say “You’re the Anne Baker that sends me those great emails each week!”  (You, too, can get those great GlobalEdNews emails.  Learn more or subscribe.)

 We’ve been working with NCSS since 2002 to put together the International Alley in the exhibit hall – growing from just ten exhibitors in its initial year to 30 now.  I understand there will be even more of a “global” focus next year in Denver.  That’s just one of NPCA’s Third Goal efforts!

… Plus a Happy Hour with RPCVs!

To top off a great weekend, I joined the AARPCVs for their Happy Hour on Friday evening.  While enjoying the local brew (always go with the local brew!), I had a chance to brainstorm about the 50^th anniversary with RPCVs working for Habitat for Humanity, catch up with current and potential AARPCV board members, and meet a very recent RPCV, back just four days from Kazakhstan.  He isn’t even from Atlanta, but he came to town to talk with his buddy’s middle school class about Peace Corps.  (The teacher-buddy was there, too, and he isn’t even an RPCV.)  That’s dedication to the Third Goal.

Thanks, AARPCV, for a great weekend and for your help promoting the Third Goal.

Missouri RPCVs Host Successful Film Festival

Small groups can do great things! Case in point: the Central Missouri Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Earlier this month this NPCA member group hosted the “Third Goal” International Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri. The festival featured films made by or about the work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Afghanistan, Mali, Latin America and Vietnam. The headliner film was "I Bring What I Love," about the international recording artist, Youssou N'Dour. 

So, why a "Third Goal" International Film Festival? Because it fulfills Goal Three of the Peace Corps: "Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans."

After the event, group leader Karen Davis wrote us:

We had a great turn out… RPCVs, PC recruits and community members. We had two articles in newspapers and lots of PR on radio stations. RPCVs from our group did a great job speaking following the films to add a direct link between the film and our group. And, best of all, it took over 25 RPCVs to pull off the event, which is fantastic for our little group! I loved that so many RPCVs were willing to come together to get the event off the ground. This is truly our strongest film schedule yet!

Well done!

Click here for a story about the film festival that appeared in The Missourian.

NPCA Welcomes Intention to Return Peace Corps to Indonesia

The National Peace Corps Association welcomes the announcement that the United States intends to send Peace Corps Volunteers to Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country and the country with the world's largest population of Muslims. Peace Corps Volunteers last served in Indonesia from 1963 to 1965. 

As in the case of Sierra Leone, many people and organizations--including the National Peace Corps Corps Association and Alexander Shakow, the last Peace Corps Country Director in Indonesia--spent many years working behind the scenes to help pave the way for the resumption of a Peace Corps program in Indonesia.  One example:  In March 2006 NPCA hosted a Director’s Circle reception at the Indonesian Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.  There an introduction was made between Indonesian officials and the then-Peace Corps Director. 

Mr. Shakow writes:

"When I closed the Peace Corps Office in Jakarta over 44 years ago, I had no idea that it would take so long before Peace Corps Volunteers would return to Indonesia.  Today's news is very exciting and most welcome—and long overdue.  In spite of the political tensions between our two countries in 1965 that prompted our decision to withdraw, the nearly fifty Volunteers located throughout this vast archipelago were able to establish warm and productive relationships with their Indonesian hosts.  During the tumultuous two years or so we were there not a single Volunteer chose to leave early - a tribute to their resilience and good humor as well as to traditional Indonesian hospitality.  
 
I am delighted that Volunteers will once again work together with Indonesian colleagues, and I am sure they too will have a very rewarding stay in this fascinating and beautiful country.  I also hope that over time it will be possible to turn this program into a model of service reciprocity, with Indonesian Volunteers coming to the United States to help in our schools just as our Volunteers work with theirs.  
 
In short, my warmest congratulations to the Indonesian Government, the Peace Corps and all who had a hand in making this announcement possible - and to the future Volunteers who will have a wonderful and stimulating experience ahead of them."

The National Peace Corps Association joins in his congratulations.