I was physically assaulted (machete attack) as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras. I found the Peace Corps staff in Honduras to be extreemly helpful to the full extent that they could be. What I found most disconcerting was the response by the Honduran police - They filed a report and did nothing despite the fact that I later gave them the names of my assaultants.

I think that it would be wrong to characterize all PC in-country opporations as unconcerned or negligent of Peace Corps volunteers safety. My group was required to attend special training sessions on safety and culture and we were fully appraised of the resources that would be made available to us and the response Peace Corps Honduras would give. In my case the medical staff in Honduras was very helpful and concerned for my physical and mental health.

By Jen OBrien (lucy.childrenshc.org - 208.42.129.30) on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 2:17 pm: Edit Post

As a peace corps volunteer in Honduras that served after this insident (1997-1999), I'd like to say that we received a lot of information during training about safety issues. Medical staff were trustworthy allies. Administration moved volunteers that were in unsafe sites on a few occassions.

I also lived through Hurricane Mitch as a PCV. Peace Corps evacuated all 200 volunteers from their sites after the hurricane took place, even those trapped behind swollen water and washed out roads. They did an amazing job. Were there things they could have done better to ensure our safety (like evacuating one PCV who unfortunately never got the message about the impending hurricane before it hit his small village on the Carribbean)? Definately. Did they do a good job over all? Definately.

I feel that there is room for improvement. In fact, I find the lack of streamlining of policies and practices around safety from one PC country to another to be appalling.

As Peace Corps volunteers, we sign up for the adventure and challenge of this job because it is different from the U.S. where everything is regulated. We look forward to our first ride in a "chicken bus" with no seat belts and three people per seat and "plenty of room" to squish in more riders. I personally cherish my memories of arriving to my site in the back of a pick up truck down a dusty dirty road with all of my belongings, not knowing anyone at all. But at the same time, the lack of consistency from one country to another, the relative indifference of some PC staff to listen to volunteers concerns, is unacceptable.

Safety and security must be discussed further. I don't agree that pairing volunteers would necessarily prevent violent assaults. For example, bus assaults are fairly common in Honduras, and that affects everyone, even Honduran locals. In fact, a rape of a PCV took place during a bus jacking in 1999. Not just the volunteer was raped, but Honduran women as well. While this volunteer was moved from her site, other volunteers were NOT summarily removed from sites where bus jackings had taken place. In this case, having a site mate would not have helped. And while I had a site mate, he did not necessarily provide me with added safety since we lived apart and did different jobs.

As others have written, a balance must be struck between "fitting in" while also receiving some of the protection of peace corps. Showing up to your village with a new cell phone for safety reasons would set you apart, damaging relationships and setting you up for burglary or worse. Yet when bus rides to the capital are down long deserted roads, and no communication system is in place, safety issues will come up.

This is a complicated issue with no easy answers. Peace Corps does need to address this and make some needed changes. But some countries are doing a good job. Perhaps those countries that do have safety procedures in place that volunteers feel are working could provide feedback/ training to other countries where these procedures need to be improved.

By Jen OBrien (lucy.childrenshc.org - 208.42.129.30) on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 2:19 pm: Edit Post

As a peace corps volunteer in Honduras that served after this insident (1997-1999), I'd like to say that we received a lot of information during training about safety issues. Medical staff were trustworthy allies. Administration moved volunteers that were in unsafe sites on a few occassions.

I also lived through Hurricane Mitch as a PCV. Peace Corps evacuated all 200 volunteers from their sites after the hurricane took place, even those trapped behind swollen water and washed out roads. They did an amazing job. Were there things they could have done better to ensure our safety (like evacuating one PCV who unfortunately never got the message about the impending hurricane before it hit his small village on the Carribbean)? Definately. Did they do a good job over all? Definately.

I feel that there is room for improvement. In fact, I find the lack of streamlining of policies and practices around safety from one PC country to another to be appalling.

As Peace Corps volunteers, we sign up for the adventure and challenge of this job because it is different from the U.S. where everything is regulated. We look forward to our first ride in a "chicken bus" with no seat belts and three people per seat and "plenty of room" to squish in more riders. I personally cherish my memories of arriving to my site in the back of a pick up truck down a dusty dirty road with all of my belongings, not knowing anyone at all. But at the same time, the lack of consistency from one country to another, the relative indifference of some PC staff to listen to volunteers concerns, is unacceptable.

Safety and security must be discussed further. I don't agree that pairing volunteers would necessarily prevent violent assaults. For example, bus assaults are fairly common in Honduras, and that affects everyone, even Honduran locals. In fact, an insident with a female PCV took place during a bus jacking in 1999. While this volunteer was moved from her site, other volunteers were NOT summarily removed from sites where bus jackings had taken place. In this case, having a site mate would not have helped. And while I had a site mate, he did not necessarily provide me with added safety since we lived apart and did different jobs.

As others have written, a balance must be struck between "fitting in" while also receiving some of the protection of peace corps. Showing up to your village with a new cell phone for safety reasons would set you apart, damaging relationships and setting you up for burglary or worse. Yet when bus rides to the capital are down long deserted roads, and no communication system is in place, safety issues will come up.

This is a complicated issue with no easy answers. Peace Corps does need to address this and make some needed changes. But some countries are doing a good job. Perhaps those countries that do have safety procedures in place that volunteers feel are working could provide feedback/ training to other countries where these procedures need to be improved.

By bankass.com (0-1pool136-2.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.2) on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 9:42 am: Edit Post

Wow, Steven thanks for sharing this experience.


You got that training because we helped in nagging them almost everyday during that period for safety concerns. I believe they were responsive because we were right down there backs after Nancy Coutu passed away.

To Jen,

I stand firm in the two volunteers at every site. It will reduce violence. Violence is not country specific. It doesn't mean you have to have a chaperone, but it provides support in case of an incident.

You are right about reporting incidents to local police. In some cases violence has increased after reporting an incident. Many RPCV's have written in and said that would help. No, Peace Corps is responsible in these cases.

Two Volunteers at every site will reduce violence against volunteers.