Loret Miller Ruppe issues nationwide appeal for volunteers to serve in Africa



The Peace Corps has issued a nationwide appeal for volunteers to begin famine relief and agricultural work in Africa, and officials say it has produced the largest number of inquiries since the heyday of the agency in the early 1960's. Mrs. Ruppe said that the countries proposed for an initial effort were Mali, Zaire, Lesotho and Niger, and that other countries would be added later. Although food shortages in these countries have not received as much international attention as the famine in Ethiopia, she said, their problems are severe and the Peace Corps believes its most effective long-term efforts can be directed to them. Loret Miller Ruppe was Director of the Peace Corps from 1981 to 1989.

Loret Miller Ruppe issues nationwide appeal for volunteers to serve in Africa

PEACE CORPS GETS 5,000 CALLS IN DRIVE FOR AFRICA VOLUNTEERS

Published: January 15, 1985

The Peace Corps has issued a nationwide appeal for volunteers to begin famine relief and agricultural work in Africa, and officials say it has produced the largest number of inquiries since the heyday of the agency in the early 1960's.

On Thursday, the Peace Corps said it was seeking 600 volunteers to work in Africa. Officials said today that they had received more than 5,000 inquiries.

The Federal volunteer organization, created by President Kennedy in 1961, said that to meet requests from 24 African governments it must ''immediately'' receive 10,000 applications from which to select 600 people with skills in agriculture, health, nutrition, mechanics and water systems.

Loret Miller Ruppe, the Peace Corps director, said the organization had received telephone calls from people of all ages and professions, including many older farmers.

There are now 2,500 Peace Corps volunteers in Africa, half of whom are involved in agricultural projects.

Initial Effort in 4 Countries

Mrs. Ruppe said that the countries proposed for an initial effort were Mali, Zaire, Lesotho and Niger, and that other countries would be added later. Although food shortages in these countries have not received as much international attention as the famine in Ethiopia, she said, their problems are severe and the Peace Corps believes its most effective long-term efforts can be directed to them.

Many calls have been from people interested in working in Ethiopia, Mrs. Ruppe said. But the Peace Corps pulled out of Ethiopia in 1977, she said, because ''we could not guarantee at that time the health and safety of our volunteers.'' Lieut. Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam seized power in a Marxist coup that year and has not requested American volunteers.

In her appeal for more agricultural volunteers, Mrs. Ruppe announced that the Peace Corps would begin a long- term food program in Africa in which teams of 5 to 10 volunteers would begin working with small-scale farmers on land preparation, water supply, storage and preservation of crops, processing and marketing. She said these teams would be assisted by the United States Agency for International Development. Mrs. Ruppe said that funds for 600 volunteers had been appropriated for this fiscal year but that the Peace Corps had only recently decided to make African food and agriculture development a top recruitment priority. She said the agency would be ''redirecting'' priorities and funds in the current budget to carry out its African program.

Shriver Criticizes Approach

''That's no good,'' said R. Sargent Shriver Jr., President Kennedy's brother-in-law and the Peace Corps director from 1961 to 1966. ''All that does is take 600 volunteers from one place and put them in another place,'' he said.

Mr. Shriver said that while he believed the agricultural recruitment program ''is long overdue and could be extremely helpful,'' the best way to enhance the Peace Corps contribution to developing countries would be for Congress and the Reagan Administration to put more money into it.

The Peace Corps has about 5,200 volunteers in 59 countries. Although the agency received more than 15,000 applications last year, volunteer selection is highly competitive, and it has been difficult to get skilled agricultural workers, Mrs. Ruppe said.

Each applicant must be a United States citizen at least 18 years old. There is no upper age limit. More than 300 volunteers last year were 50 or older. The toll-free number for inquiries is (800) 424-8580.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Peace Corps Annual Report: 1982; Loret Miller Ruppe (Director 1981 - 1989); Figures; Directors; Peace Corps Mali; Directory of Mali RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mali RPCVs; Peace Corps Lesotho; Directory of Lesotho RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Lesotho RPCVs; Peace Corps Congo Kinshasa; Directory of Congo Kinshasa RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Congo Kinshasa RPCVs; Peace Corps Niger; Directory of Niger RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Niger RPCVs

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