December 29, 2004: Headlines: Recruitment: San Antonio Current : Wanted: happy, shiny faces without felony convictions
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December 29, 2004: Headlines: Recruitment: San Antonio Current : Wanted: happy, shiny faces without felony convictions
Wanted: happy, shiny faces without felony convictions
Wanted: happy, shiny faces without felony convictions
Wanted: happy, shiny faces without felony convictions
Caption: Former Peace Corps volunteer Laura Booher spent two years in Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic, where she taught English as a foreign language. (Photo by Mark Greenberg)
These days, recruiting for the Peace Corps probably isn't as tough as convincing people to join the National Guard, but federal budget constraints have hampered the agency's efforts to meet its recruitment goals.
Forty years ago, the Peace Corps had 10,000 volunteers in 44 countries. In 1966, the number of volunteers peaked at 15,556, due in part to the novelty of the Peace Corps and college grads seeking Vietnam War deferments. By 1987, there were only 5,219 - a historical low. During their respective administrations, Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton set an ambitious goal of 10,000 volunteers, but a lack of funding has consistently stunted recruitment. Today, there are about 7,700 volunteers in 72 countries, a little more than half of President Bush's goal of 14,000 by 2007.
"Congress hasn't appropriated enough money to grow," says Peace Corps spokesman Jesus García, who works from the agency's Dallas regional office.
In Fiscal Year 2005, lawmakers set the Peace Corps budget at $317 million, about $80 million less than Bush requested.
To qualify for the Peace Corps, you must be at least 18 years old and an American citizen. Those without a college degree must be highly skilled in their line of work. Fluency in a foreign language is also required, although you can take classes during training.
Volunteers must serve for two years; they receive a monthly stipend of $200-300.
The application process can take six to nine months. Those interested can apply online at www.peacecorps.gov or call to request an application. Training information is also available online.
Volunteers undergo a medical exam, criminal background check, and further interviews. Those who fail the physical, are considered a security risk, or don't meet the language requirement during training can be "deselected."
"Countries are getting stricter for qualifications," says García. "They're requiring fluency in a foreign language, especially French or Spanish."
During the Vietnam War, college graduates, often called "generalists" because most had earned liberal arts degrees, comprised the bulk of Peace Corps volunteers. In the early 1970s, Nixon appointee Michael Balzano Jr. directed the Peace Corps to recruit older, "more respectable" volunteers because administration officials feared college grads were either anti-war beatniks or communists.
Today's Peace Corps recruits college graduates, mid-career professionals, and retirees.
Trainees can list a country or regional preference, although the Peace Corps must match host countries' requests with volunteers' skills. Those interested in education, especially teaching English as a Second Language, are in demand, as are health care workers.
San Antonian Mark Rivera is headed for the Peace Corps next year, either to Morocco or Eastern Europe. "It's beneficial for Americans, as we tend to get isolated. We're citizens of the world and we should help out where it's needed." •
By Lisa Sorg
When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:
| The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005. |
| Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia." |
| Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors. |
| The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn. |
| Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here. |
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Story Source: San Antonio Current
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