By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-13-23.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.13.23) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:55 pm: Edit Post |
Memo from Director Gaddi Vasquez on Peace Corps Week
Memo from Director Gaddi Vasquez on Peace Corps Week
Memo from Director Gaddi Vasquez on Peace Corps Week
The Peace Corps is celebrating its 43rd anniversary during the week of March 1 through March 7, 2004. I encourage Peace Corps staff both at home and abroad to participate in activities that advance our goals to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans and to promote a better understanding of Americans in the countries where we serve.
Peace Corps staff, Peace Corps Volunteers, and returned Volunteers have an unusual depth of cross-cultural understanding, having lived and worked among different cultures around the world, or having supported those who do. Sharing your experiences enriches the lives of students, neighbors, and colleagues and fosters cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Your Peace Corps stories also help raise awareness of the Volunteers' ongoing global contributions and plant the seeds of service in the minds of future recruits.
While the primary focus of the Peace Corps Week celebration is on the thousands of returned Volunteers "bringing the world home" by sharing their Peace Corps experiences in their communities-work places, community organizations, elementary schools, secondary schools, and colleges and universities--we all have something to contribute in a variety of ways. For example, currently serving Volunteers play an important role by sharing their stories about life in the United States with their host communities. I encourage overseas staff to create and participate in activities throughout your country of service in an effort to create a better understanding of Americans among the people whom Volunteers serve.
Peace Corps Week is also an excellent vehicle for overseas staff to raise local awareness of the Peace Corps and the role it has historically played in your country of service. This heightened awareness can have a positive impact on local community development initiatives, local NGO and government collaboration, Peace Corps partnerships, and other events such as International Women's Day <http://www0.un.org/cyberschoolbus/womensday/index.asp>, which celebrates women's rights and international peace.
As we celebrate the Peace Corps' 43rd anniversary, let us all renew our commitment to the mission and goals of the Peace Corps by taking part in Peace Corps Week activities. Attached is a special Peace Corps week message from President George W. Bush. Thank you.