November 12, 2003 - Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor: Many points overlooked by Togo RPCV Jennifer Clarke
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November 12, 2003 - Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor: Many points overlooked by Togo RPCV Jennifer Clarke
Many points overlooked by Togo RPCV Jennifer Clarke
Many points overlooked by Togo RPCV Jennifer Clarke
Many points overlooked
I was a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in Togo (1999- 2002) and I feel that the Dayton Daily News articles have overlooked many important points.
Most volunteers are women, so the statistics citing that 70 percent of assaults involve female volunteers should be re- examined.
The word "volunteer" seems to have not been taken into consideration. Peace Corps volunteers are free to leave service at any time.
I am interested in seeing comparison statistics of how many young men and women are assaulted in the United States each year.
When addressing the supposed negligent care and lax support of volunteers by their supervisors, as well as mediocre administrative support in the United States, perhaps it should be taken into consideration that the Peace Corps' budget has been cut every year by Congress.
If Congress is so concerned about volunteer safety, why doesn't it provide the means to achieve that safety by having more security officers and more field offices accessible to remote volunteers?
Finally, I feel that the articles do not acknowledge any of the amazing and wonderful things volunteers experience during service. The acceptance into another culture is absolutely indescribable, and Peace Corps volunteers experience that every day.
To limit information in the media to only violence and danger is a misrepresentation of the Peace Corps.
Jennifer Clarke Wayne, Pa.
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Story Source: Dayton Daily News: Letters to the Editor
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Investigative Journalism
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By daniel (0-1pool136-7.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.7) on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 6:24 am: Edit Post |
Take into consideration we are not volunteering our life away too.
Media attention is going to these volunteers because volunteers like yourself are not outraged and want change at Peace Corps for the people you served with.
The limited amount of funds generally go to Peace Corps administrators who aren't doing their job on the safety front, health care, support in the field and job development after service. Why should I waste my tax dollar on a hurtful program that is reluctant to change their attitude while people perish, are assaulted, terrorized and hurt. Why?
Overlooking your colleagues and the facts that these people were your colleagues and need your support for change is the first step in the right direction for you jennifer.
By the way, if the problem is Congress, why aren't you calling the hill for more change each day. Because tommorrow it could be another colleague and probably will be with the numbers the Peace Corps is pumping out.
You will continue to hear from us.