Read and comment on this story from The Daily Barometer on College Graduates who are looking to the Peace Corps during the poor economy. "We've seen an increase in applicants in the past year, partially related to problems in the economy," said Peace Corps Recruiter Peter Giampaoli who served in a Ugandan National Park.
"If the upward trend continues, Peace Corps will be well on its way to fulfilling its goal of doubling the number of volunteers by the year 2007," Gaddi H. Vasquez, Peace Corps Director, said last month in Washington, D.C. Read the story at:
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Grads look to Peace Corps during poor economy
Some hope the 27-month volunteer trip will let them outsmart the economy
By Katie Gill Barometer Staff Writer
Worried about what to do after graduation? Ever consider the Peace Corps?
Since 1961, more than 168,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in fields encompassing education, health, business and agriculture.
"Our basic mission is to provide U.S. citizens with a chance to learn about other countries," said Peter Giampaoli, OSU's Peace Corps Campus Representative. "It allows people to serve in host countries for two years, and helps other people to learn about the U.S. through contact with volunteers." Giampaoli served in a Ugandan National Park prior to working at OSU.
Peace Corps volunteers, numbering around 6,900, serve in more than 69 countries. "Volunteers may specify a preference for a certain region, but I want to stress that we hope people are interested in joining for the overseas experience, not the location," Giampaoli said.
To qualify, a volunteer must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, meet legal and medical requirements and be willing to live and work overseas for 27 months.
"We are interested in anyone who wants to apply, and I want to encourage graduates to contact me. Right now our largest placement areas are in education and health," Giampaoli said.
"We've seen an increase in applicants in the past year, partially related to problems in the economy," he said.
Due to a lack of available positions in the job market, graduating students are turning more and more to traveling and volunteering following graduation, rather than immediate job placement.
"The main motivation for students to join has been their desire to live and work outside of the U.S., and Peace Corps provides one of the better support systems for those who want to do so," Giampaoli said.
"If the upward trend continues, Peace Corps will be well on its way to fulfilling its goal of doubling the number of volunteers by the year 2007," Gaddi H. Vasquez, Peace Corps Director, said last month in Washington, D.C.
Emily Larkin, a graduate student in geography, has personal experience with this. She entered the Peace Corps in 1999, and was assigned to Samoa, an island chain in the South Pacific. While there, she taught physics, math and general science to local high school students.
"The hardest and most rewarding part was learning the language," she said. "My host family didn't speak English. It's either a sink or swim situation for anyone who goes, and most people swim."
Larkin spent her weekdays getting up before the rest of the village so that she could run in shorts, even though women were supposed to wear only skirts. Then she would teach school, snorkel in the afternoon and read.
"It becomes normal, everyday life. You have good and bad days, just like everywhere else," she said.
The Peace Corps supplies each person with a living allowance, medical and dental coverage, travel expenses, 48 days of vacation leave and deferment of college loans.
"The Peace Corps has extensive training procedures," Giampaoli said. "Volunteers are given intense exposure to the cross-cultural, technical and linguistic aspects of the host country to ensure their safety."
General qualities that Peace Corps representatives look for in potential volunteers include maturity, flexibility, a sense of commitment and a desire to serve.
"We are looking for volunteers who have energy, creativity and ingenuity," Giampaoli said.
Anyone interested in joining may contact Mr. Giampaoli at 737-0525 or Peace. Corps@orst.edu.
Katie Gill covers news for The Daily Barometer. She can be reached at 737-2232, or at baro.news@studentmedia.orst.edu. Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Recruitment; COS - Uganda; COS - Samoa
