http://www.PeaceCorpsJournals.com/

Features:
1. Contains over 1,300 journals and blogs from Peace Corps Volunteers serving around the world.
2. The main page is user-friendly. There are regional-specific pull-down menus to select your country of choice.
3. Clicking on the actual word of the region on the main page brings to an encyclopedia article specific to that region.
4. Each country has its own detailed page that can directly linked to, and which are easily accessible with a possible slow Internet connection within the field. (In other words, no fancy graphics that take forever to load up in the middle of Africa)
5. A detailed map for every country that becomes interactive, via Google, once clicked on.
6. Facts, Encyclopedia articles, and Peace Corps specific web pages for each country is available through following one of four links at the bottom of each map.
7. A list of the entire staff of Peace Corps worldwide, with contact information, on every country-specific page.
8. Official rules and regulations for PCV Journals and blogs in the “More Information” menu.
9. Links to Graduate School Programs affiliated with Peace Corps, and RPCVs Regional Associations.
10. There is an e-mail link on every page. If you want to add a Journal, spotted a dead link, or have a comment.

Enjoy!

-Mike Sheppard
RPCV / The Gambia
http://www.PeaceCorpsJournals.com/

By Anonymous (acbfc63b.ipt.aol.com - 172.191.198.59) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 9:40 am: Edit Post

I don't like the use of the specific government so-called handbook which this web sites uses. I understand that it is in the public domain and has supposedly accurate country information.
I think it is inappropriate and arrogant. I would have expected better judgement.

By Anonymous (24-247-183-23.dhcp.aldl.mi.charter.com - 24.247.183.23) on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:44 am: Edit Post

The "specific government so-called handbook" you mentioned is The World Factbook, a great resource for information on countries. It is used by volunteers and students alike.

Browsing through the journals on the website I found lots of volunteer websites that use either the Factbook's map of their country on their page, or even has a link to the actual Factbook entry. Some of these volunteers are even actively serving.

The Factbook is a great resource for everyone, and being in public domain is icing on the cake.

"The World Factbook is prepared by the CIA for the use of U.S. government officials, and its style, format, coverage and content are primarily designed to meet their requirements. However, it is frequently used as a resource for student papers, web sites and non-governmental publications. As a work of the U.S. government, it is considered to be in the public domain."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Factbook

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/