By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-178-137.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.178.137) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 7:14 pm: Edit Post |
Peace Corps Given OK to Land in Mexico
Peace Corps Given OK to Land in Mexico
Peace Corps Given OK to Land
Mar 1, 2004
Business Mexico
by Gary Deaton
Later this year, Mexico will receive its first group of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers. Although the country has traditionally rejected U.S. aid and development programs, a group of 15-20 volunteers will soon begin working in information technology programs.
Mexico and the U.S. began exploring the idea in September 2001 under the auspices of the Partnership for Prosperity (P4P) program, a public-private alliance promoted by presidents Fox and Bush to foster development in Mexican regions where growth has lagged,fueling immigration to the United States. An accord was finally signed between Peace Corps and Mexico's National Science and Technology Council (Conacyt) at the P4P meeting last june.
Although the Peace Corps came into existence in 1961 and thousands of volunteers have served throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico had never accepted assistance from the grassroots development agency.While volunteers traditionally serve in the agriculture,forestry and education sectors, Mexico has well- developed outreach programs in these areas compared to its regional neighbors.
In contrast, Peace Corps volunteers assigned to Mexico will work in such fields as information technology, small business development and science and technology.A Peace Corps assessment team worked closely with Conacyt to select volunteer work sites and to determine the best way to utilize their skills.
Some analysts have pointed out that the breakthrough agreement comes on the heels of well-publicized attempts to mitigate the conflict between Mexico and the United States over the war in Iraq.They contend that the sharp break from traditional policy exemplifies Fox's desire to mend fences broken by Mexico's refusal to support the U.S.-led invasion.
Volunteers are scheduled to begin working by early fall.
-Gary Deaton
Copyright American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico A.C. Mar 2004
By Sean Blackburn (209-42-156-87.qx.wispnet.net - 209.42.156.87) on Friday, October 15, 2004 - 6:22 pm: Edit Post |
I am interested to know whether this is the same "Gary Deaton" that was once an agroforestry specialist in Guatemala circa 1993. Sean Blackburn