Peace Corps, President Kennedy Honored by "Water for People"



Peace Corps, President Kennedy Honored by "Water for People"

Peace Corps, President Kennedy Honored for Water Sanitation Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 20, 2004 – When then-Senator John F. Kennedy first proposed the idea of a Peace Corps on the steps of the University of Michigan campus 44 years ago this month, most Americans could not foresee the agency's impacts on the world. On Saturday, the extent of President Kennedy’s legacy was honored with the 2004 International Humanitarian Award, presented by Water for People.

The award honors President Kennedy's legacy of creating the Peace Corps, which has led to hundreds of volunteers working in overseas communities to improve water quality and educate people about waterborne illnesses. Bill Sullivan, Chair of the New England Water Works Association and Water For People, who is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer from Micronesia, presented Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez with the award at a ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston. In addition, Caroline Kennedy gave a message by videotape on behalf of her father.

"Most of you are aware of the Water for People mission, which includes working toward a world where all people have safe drinking water, and a world where no child dies from a water-related illness," said Director Vasquez. "I want you to know that our volunteers are with you in achieving that mission."

Currently, 425 Peace Corps volunteers' primary projects are focused on working on water sanitation efforts in 14 countries. In addition, hundreds more volunteers work in the health sector, conducting hygiene and sanitation education – a key component to ensuring people are educated about ways to improve their water quality.

According to an August report by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 2.6 billion people – over 40 percent of the world's population – do not have access to basic sanitation. More than 1 billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water. To confront this challenge, the two organizations have created the Millennium Development Goals to improve water and sanitation services. Today, just as they have worked over the decades, Peace Corps volunteers are doing their part to meet the challenge.

Water For People, a non-profit organization that brings safe water and sanitation to people around the world, is comprised of engineers, scientists, manufacturers, and public servants with the mission of protecting public health. The organization currently funds projects in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Since its founding in 1991, Water For People has worked in 43 countries.

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Schwarzenegger praises PC at Convention Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny?

Peace Corps: One of the Best Faces of America Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and can you come up with a Political Funny?

Read the stories and leave your comments.

By giuseppe (212.2.2.86) on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 7:26 am: Edit Post

Friends,

Let us introduce ourselves to all already active in the process of promoting peace by inviting you to view our web page www.peace365.org in which we point out to the invitation received from the United Nation Resolution 55/282 where in paragraph3 it states: …(UN) Invites all …regional and non-governmental organizations, individuals, through education and public awareness… to cooperate with the United Nations in establishing of the global ceasefire. Yes, we are invited.
Let us all accept their invitation by promoting our plea for additional 365 days of peace to the existing resolution and with the united voice in action wipe out wars from the face of our Mother Earth for ever.

Marek and Peppe