Read and comment on this press release from the Peace Corps on the visit of Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo shown in the photo above with President Bush during the Bush's visit to Lima last March. President Toledo is in the United States to attend the ceremonies marking the anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers and to attend sessions at the United Nations. While in the United States President Toledo will also meet with Director Vasquez. During President Toledo’s historic visit to the Peace Corps’ headquarters, he will share with agency staffers personal details of the crucial role that Peace Corps volunteers played in his young life.
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Peruvian President Meets Peace Corps Director
President Toledo Will Share Details of How Peace Corps Volunteers Impacted His Life As A Young Man
Washington, D.C., September 12, 2002—Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez will welcome Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 14, 2002. Toledo and Vasquez will discuss the role that Peace Corps Volunteers can play in Peru now and in coming years.
President Toledo had first expressed his desire to reopen Peru’s doors to the Peace Corps during his Inaugural Address in 2001. After a 27-year hiatus, Peace Corps volunteers recently returned to the Andean nation. Since August of this year, four Peace Corps volunteers have been working in northern Peru on a rural health project. In November, an additional twenty volunteers will travel to the Peruvian regions of Ancash, Cajamarca and Piura to launch a small business development project and continue their work in rural health education.
During President Toledo’s historic visit to the Peace Corps’ headquarters, he will share with agency staffers personal details of the crucial role that Peace Corps volunteers played in his young life. In 1963, President Toledo, then an adolescent shoe shine boy, developed a lasting friendship with Peace Corps Volunteers Joel Meister and Nancy Deeds. After Toledo graduated from high school, Meister and Deeds helped him gain admission to San Francisco City College and later, San Francisco State University. Subsequently, the future Peruvian President would earn a scholarship for graduate studies at Stanford University.
In 1962, one hundred thirty Peace Corps volunteers began their work in Peru. They launched grassroots development projects targeting health, agriculture, education and business development. Over the 13-year duration of the program in Peru, hundreds more volunteers worked in agriculture, education, fisheries, forestry and reconstruction programs following the earthquake in 1970.
Since 1961, more than 165,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as agriculture, small business and community development, education, environmental conservation, healthcare and information technology. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age (there is no upper age limit). Most programs require a college degree and all majors are welcome. Non-degreed applicants must have three to five years of experience in business, farming, ranching or a skilled trade. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment. Its benefits include language and cultural training, medical and dental coverage, housing, as well as a monthly stipend and 24 vacation days a year. Volunteers may defer repayment of various student loans while serving.
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Peace Corps - Overseas Programs; COS - Peru
