"As a former volunteer, I know firsthand the important role the Peace Corps plays in assisting the people of less developed countries to get an education, improve agricultural and business practices and more," said Petri. "The heart and soul of the Peace Corps are the volunteers, mostly young, who commit themselves to service in unfamiliar cultures, far removed from many modern comforts and conveniences. Through their experiences they get as much as they give, but the challenges they face make clear that they are engaged in service to people – it's far more than just a job. The Peace Corps deserves greater recognition, especially for the service work performed by its volunteers."
RPCV Congressmen Petri and Farr send a letter nominating the Peace Corps for the Nobel Peace Prize
Rep. Tom Petri Joins Effort to Nominate Peace Corps for Nobel Peace Prize
Friday, February 11, 2011
By: admin
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Rep. Tom Petri released the following statement:
As the Peace Corps celebrates its 50th Anniversary, Congressman Tom Petri has joined with Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) in sending a letter nominating the Peace Corps for the Nobel Peace Prize. The bipartisan letter was ultimately signed by 138 members, making up more than a quarter of the House of Representatives.
Since its inception, the Peace Corps has deployed nearly a quarter million volunteers to serve poor, neglected, and marginalized communities in the name of peace. Petri served in Somalia with the Peace Corps and the U.S. Agency for International Development in 1966-67.
In the letter addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Petri and his colleagues cited the Peace Corps' commitment to Alfred Nobel's expansive vision of fraternity between nations and the promotion of peace. The letter also highlighted the agency's powerful and enduring impact on the international community, having "shown the world an inspiring, uplifting side of humanity that reflects our better nature – service to others in the great common cause of global peace and development."
In the last 50 years, the Peace Corps has enabled more than 200,000 individuals to serve in 139 developing countries around the world. Peace Corps volunteers have worked with millions of individuals in impoverished areas on essential projects in health, education, agriculture, and technology in an effort designed to lift up local capacity and facilitate community ownership. While establishing itself as a world-renowned institution, the Peace Corps continues to change and evolve to best meet the development needs of a rapidly changing world.
"As a former volunteer, I know firsthand the important role the Peace Corps plays in assisting the people of less developed countries to get an education, improve agricultural and business practices and more," said Petri. "The heart and soul of the Peace Corps are the volunteers, mostly young, who commit themselves to service in unfamiliar cultures, far removed from many modern comforts and conveniences. Through their experiences they get as much as they give, but the challenges they face make clear that they are engaged in service to people – it's far more than just a job. The Peace Corps deserves greater recognition, especially for the service work performed by its volunteers."
The demand for Peace Corps volunteers remains high. There is currently a waiting list of over 20 countries that have requested volunteers, as well as other countries that have requested an increase in the number of volunteers.
As established by Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the person or entity that, "shall have done the most or then best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding of peace congresses."
