Edward French has accepted a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps to serve as a health volunteer in Tanzania



Edward French has accepted a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps to serve as a health volunteer in Tanzania

63-year-old Bangor man volunteers for service in Peace Corps post in Tanzania

Bangor Daily News
Bangor, Maine
June 9, 2005

BANGOR - Bangor resident Edward French has accepted a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps to serve as a health volunteer in Tanzania, Africa. French will leave for training in Tanzania on June 15.

During his 27 months in Tanzania, French will work with host country nationals to improve the health of Tanzanians by promoting healthy behavior through education and awareness on a wide range of issues. French will work with teachers and students to develop education programs to address local health conditions and challenges.

French graduated from the University of Maine in 1969 and began graduate studies at the University Connecticut School of Social Work. He graduated in 1979 with a master's degree in social work.

Back in Maine, he worked for Sweetser as director of child and family community based services until July 2004. Most recently, he worked for Innovative Fitness as director of marketing and development and as a consultant to the Maine Children's Alliance.

"As a 63-year-old, I thought I was going to retire, but I'm not ready yet. The Peace Corps affords an exciting opportunity and challenge for me to continue to use my skills and abilities in service to others. Especially today, I am inspired by the Peace Corps mission," French said.

There are 187 Peace Corps volunteers serving in Tanzania. Facing severe land degradation, lack of teachers and a growing threat of AIDS, Tanzania struggles to sustain development. Volunteers work to help Tanzanians overcome these and other challenges through programs dedicated to small business development, youth development, health, the environment and agriculture.

More than 178,000 Americans have served in 138 countries since President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order creating the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961. Peace Corps assignments include working to help fight hunger, bringing clean water to communities, teaching children, helping to start small businesses and stopping the spread of AIDS.

Volunteers can earn credit toward a graduate degree while serving or find ways to offset graduate school costs with fellowships offered to volunteers who have returned from service. To obtain information about the Peace Corps, call (800) 424-8580, or visit www.peacecorps.gov.

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

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June 16, 2005: Special Events Philip Weiss, PCV murder writer, speaks in Baltimore June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 NPCA to hold Virtual Leaders Forum on July 29 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 6, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Kinky Friedman will "sign anything except bad legislation" 6 Jun Niels Marquardt Makes Chimpanzee Protection a Priority 6 Jun Laurence Leamer needs approval for "Today" appearance 6 Jun Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is son of RPCVs 6 Jun Anthony Sandberg runs Berkeley sailing school 5 Jun Amy Smith field-tests sugarcane charcoal 5 Jun Mary Johnson organizes workshop on genocide 3 Jun Jonathan Lash in 100 most Influential Business Leaders 3 Jun Hastert jump-starts Chris Shays' Campaign 3 Jun John Coyne says 41 RPCVs applied for scholarships 3 Jun James Rupert writes on bombing in Kandahar mosque 1 Jun John McCain says to expand opportunities for service 1 Jun Jay Rockefeller's relationships with Japanese go way back 1 Jun Anat Shenker met her husband during service in Honduras 31 May Ryan Clancy punished without hearing for visiting Iraq 30 May Melissa Mosvick remembered as a fallen American hero 29 May Kurt Carlson played basketball against Togo's national team 29 May Helen Thomas's favorite president remains JFK 24 May

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