In the initial phase of the new effort, most older volunteers will be placed in nine test countries: the African nations of Cameroon, Lesotho and South Africa, along with Ukraine, Romania, Thailand, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Panama. Peace Corps senior staff members in those countries will offer feedback on the satisfaction and progress of older volunteers. The Peace Corps’ revamped recruiting messages will be tightly focused on adults 50 and older and likely publicized through groups such as the AARP and the National Retired Teachers Association. Medical screening will be streamlined, and language training better tailored to older volunteers’ learning styles. There also will be more sensitivity to their needs, such as being closer to medical resources.
Peace Corps' goal is to boost the ranks of volunteers 50 and older from 5 percent of the 7,749 Americans in the Peace Corps to 15 percent over the next two years
Peace Corps revamps recruiting
Federal agency to emphasize attracting more volunteers who are 50 and older
By MARSHA KING - The Seattle Times
SEATTLE — The Peace Corps is reshaping its youth-focused culture as part of a national push to attract retirement-age volunteers.
Almost every facet of the federal agency will be affected — from recruitment messages and medical screening, to language training and country placements.
The goal is to boost the ranks of volunteers 50 and older from 5 percent of the 7,749 Americans in the Peace Corps to 15 percent over the next two years.
The average age of volunteers is 27, but the oldest person now serving is 81.
Baby boomers are a “very rich American resource,” mature, highly skilled, educated and willing to give back to society, said Ron Tschetter, newly appointed Peace Corps director.
“We can offer them an opportunity to do that in a very unique way and have meaningful results for them and the host country.”
Tschetter will talk about the initiative Thursday at the Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle. A panel of returned older volunteers also will speak.
“The older person can set a good example for the younger volunteers on how to really remember the Peace Corps is a 24/7 job,” said panelist Linda Perry, 64, who returned to her home in Monroe, Wash., in 2004 after serving three years in Bulgaria.
Recent college graduates will continue to represent the bulk of Peace Corps volunteers. In fact, the University of Washington has more graduates serving in the Peace Corps than does any other college in the nation.
Regardless of age, all volunteers will be expected to serve 27 months and receive the same benefits. And older individuals can still be placed in nearly any country that needs their skills.
But in the initial phase of the new effort, most older volunteers will be placed in nine test countries: the African nations of Cameroon, Lesotho and South Africa, along with Ukraine, Romania, Thailand, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Panama.
Peace Corps senior staff members in those countries will offer feedback on the satisfaction and progress of older volunteers.
The Peace Corps’ revamped recruiting messages will be tightly focused on adults 50 and older and likely publicized through groups such as the AARP and the National Retired Teachers Association.
Medical screening will be streamlined, and language training better tailored to older volunteers’ learning styles. There also will be more sensitivity to their needs, such as being closer to medical resources.
Perry said several older volunteers from her group returned home early because they weren’t prepared for the winter cold.
But by the time Perry came home, she was in terrific shape, thanks to her walking lifestyle in Bulgaria. Now she’s back to substitute teaching, a more conventional lifestyle — and “searching for what’s next.”
INTERESTED?
Debbie Curley of the Peace Corps office in Atlanta will speak at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at United Way of the Midlands, 1800 Main St., Columbia. Or e-mail her at dcurley@peacecorps.gov.
