September 2, 2005: Headlines: COS - Senegal: Albinoism: Service: Older Volunteers: : Washington Afro-American : Senegal RPCV Linda Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Senegal: Peace Corps Senegal : The Peace Corps in Senegal: September 2, 2005: Headlines: COS - Senegal: Albinoism: Service: Older Volunteers: : Washington Afro-American : Senegal RPCV Linda Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal

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Senegal RPCV Linda Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal

Senegal RPCV Linda Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal

Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal. Back in the United States, Robinson created the Friends of L'ANAS, a committee that collects donations and ships sunscreen, caps and sunglasses to L'ANAS. Her work has been featured in AARP The Magazine and 50Plus Magazine. She was also a guest on Oprah Winfrey's Mother's Day show.

Senegal RPCV Linda Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal

Veteran volunteers key Peace Corps

By Ashley Burrell
The Washington Afro-American
Washington, D.C.
September 2, 2005

Popular preconceptions hold that Peace Corps volunteers are recent college graduates still "wet behind the ears" and looking for a new enlightening experience before they delve into the murky waters of the workforce.

The reality is 6 percent of Peace Corps volunteers are over the age of 50 and are making notable contributions. Case in point: Linda Robinson, who recently celebrated her 60th birthday, is a grandmother of four and one of this year's Washington, D.C., recipients of the Franklin Williams Award.

A national ceremony recognizing 11 volunteers of color from across the nation for their service was held on June 23 at the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by Leon Harris, anchor for local ABC affiliate WJLA and a former CNN anchor.

The award, presented by Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen, is named for Franklin H. Williams, the former Peace Corps regional director for Africa and U.S. ambassador to Ghana.

The Director's Award recognized this year's keynote speaker, the Honorable Wilbert Bryant, counselor to the secretary for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

"He has demonstrated a lifelong interest in education," said Olsen, who presented the award. "I am honored to present this award to someone who has given so much time and effort for education."

The 2005 Franklin H. Williams award recipients included: Christopher Aquino, Seattle awardee; Ambassador Charles R. Baquet III, Dallas awardee; Stafan Cajina, Los Angeles awardee; Roland Foulkes, Atlanta awardee; W. Frank Fountain, Chicago awardee; Rajeev K. Goyal, New York awardee; David M. Jones, San Francisco awardee; Juanita Limas, Minneapolis awardee; Charlotte Golar Richie, Boston awardee; Jay Shah, Denver awardee; and Linda Robinson, Washington, D.C. awardee.

A Baltimore native, Linda Robinson, took a keen interest in the relatively high incidence of albinism in Thies, Senegal, while working at the country's district hospital to promote health education and family planning.

Robinson's concern for people suffering with albinism led to the formation of the group L'Association Nationale des Albinos du Senegal.

And, with Robinson's insistence, land and a community center -- the Robinson House Center for Albinos -- were provided by the local government.

Back in the United States, Robinson created the Friends of L'ANAS, a committee that collects donations and ships sunscreen, caps and sunglasses to L'ANAS.

Her work has been featured in AARP The Magazine and 50Plus Magazine. She was also a guest on Oprah Winfrey's Mother's Day show.

Recipients of the Franklin H. Williams Award described their Peace Corps experience as an awakening -- an educational sojourn where they gave unselfishly as others gave to them.

"We knew how to give, but to have the Peace Corps remember us is such a wonderful thing," said Charlotte Golar Richie of Boston.

Robinson and the other volunteers enthusiastically endorsed service in the Peace Corps.

"The Peace Corps provides a learning experience in the process," said Robinson, now an associate medical librarian at the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library.

Robinson also suggests young adults volunteer in their communities.

"Volunteerism is available in so many different areas," said Robinson, who acts as a docent for the recently opened Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

Out of the 7,733 total Peace Corps volunteers, 232 are African Americans. A considerably large proportion of volunteers, 2,755, choose Africa as their volunteering site and 116 of those are African Americans.

Most volunteers are not only chosen for their demonstrated interest in seeing Third World countries return to a situation of peace, stability, national unity and development, but because they also have specialized skills needed to tackle issues in those countries.





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Story Source: Washington Afro-American

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Senegal; Albinoism; Service; Older Volunteers;

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