January 30, 2003 - Virginia Pilot: Returned Volunteers in Virginia continue to share their skills

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: 01 January 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: January 30, 2003 - Virginia Pilot: Returned Volunteers in Virginia continue to share their skills

By Admin1 (admin) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 4:14 pm: Edit Post

Returned Volunteers in Virginia continue to share their skills





Read and comment on this story from the Virginia Pilot on Sierra Leone RPCV Clay Drees who continues to use his Peace Corps experiences experiences to educate others about other cultures and international service opportunities. Clay is president of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hampton Roads. Looking to share his multicultural learnings with others, he tracked down 95 other Peace Corps volunteers who served in 35 countries and established the group in 1998. An affiliate of the National Peace Corps Association, the group presents workshops for teachers and shares their experiences with the community. Read the story at:

EX-PEACE CORPS WORKERS CONTINUE TO SHARE THEIR SKILLS*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



EX-PEACE CORPS WORKERS CONTINUE TO SHARE THEIR SKILLS

Jan 30, 2003 - Virginian-Pilot

Author(s): Sandra Jill Pennecke Correspondent

KEMPSVILLE - Clay Drees served in the Peace Corps in the 1970s, and he continues to use those experiences to educate others about other cultures and international service opportunities.

The Brigadoon resident is president of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hampton Roads. Looking to share his multicultural learnings with others, he tracked down 95 other Peace Corps volunteers who served in 35 countries and established the group in 1998. An affiliate of the National Peace Corps Association, the group presents workshops for teachers and shares their experiences with the community.

"I had a great experience in the Peace Corps and I wanted to open it up for my students," said Drees, a history professor at Virginia Wesleyan College.

Since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, its goals have been to lend assistance overseas and develop an understanding between Americans and other countries.

"And the third goal is for former volunteers to bring the world back to the United States," said Drees, 47, who taught economics in Sierra Leone for two years.

Board members meet twice a year to discuss activities in which they can participate. One example is last year's World Wise Teachers program at the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College. The program told teachers about the resources that can to help them teach about other cultures.

Deborah Davis, a fifth-grade teacher at Norfolk's Camp Allen Elementary School, jumped at the prospect of bringing the Peace Corps volunteers to her school.

"It's something that everyone benefits from because you can tie it in with the Standards of Learning, geography, reading, writing, communication skills and just in general, the world," Davis said.

In June, former Peace Corps volunteers brought faraway places into her classroom through native foods, clothing, songs, maps, languages and reading activities.

"Each volunteer put their own personal signature on what they taught. I think it's a great opportunity to open the world up to the kids," said Davis, who will invite the volunteers to her new school at Poplar Halls Elementary.

George Little, an education coordinator for the chapter, served in Morocco from 1964 to 1966 and said Camp Allen students gained a lot from the volunteers.

"We'd like to do this for any of the schools," he said.

Socializing is another aspect for the chapter. Each year, members gather to discuss their experiences and taste dishes from their country of service.

"It doesn't matter where we served," Drees said. "We're all Peace Corps volunteers."

Jim Brown, chapter vice president, served in Nigeria from 1962 to 1964.

The Norfolk resident said the gatherings are a nice outlet because it gives them contact with people who had similar experiences.

"It's like war veterans getting together to share their stories," Brown said.

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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Sierra Leone; Special Interests - Local RPCV Groups

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