David A. Tirman spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer on the southern Philippine island of Leyte



"The Peace Corps not only offers Americans a chance to immerse in another culture, it is equally a chance to see America through a new lens. Many people in rural areas served by the Peace Corps have never seen Americans before. Uttering a few words in the local dialect or teaching basic hygiene or introducing Frisbee to the kids are less lofty accomplishments, yet every little bit is important."

David A. Tirman spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer on the southern Philippine island of Leyte

My Turn: The Peace Corps turns 45

David A. Tirman
My Turn
March 1, 2006

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March 1 marks 45 years since the founding of the Peace Corps. President John F. Kennedy’s administration launched the Peace Corps in 1961 with the following mission: 1) to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, 2) to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and 3) to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

In the 45 years since its founding, over 182,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 138 different countries. I know of at least five Truckee area residents among those who served as Peace Corps volunteers.

In 1981 with new college degrees in hand, I was one such volunteer. I spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer on the southern Philippine island of Leyte. My work was with a municipal government that was trying to secure U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding to build a technical training school. This school was needed to help train local workers in industrial skills.

The local Filipino mayor reasoned that if the town could enlist the services of a Peace Corps volunteer, then chances of securing American aid funding to build the school would improve. The mayor was right. The town got the money and I ended up spending the next two years working hand-in-hand with Filipinos designing and building the new facility.

When I served in the Peace Corps from 1981-83, the annual budget was roughly $60 million. This relatively modest budget supported more than 6,000 Peace Corps volunteers throughout the world. Peace Corps volunteers do not receive a salary but rather a living stipend. The stipend allows volunteers to live at a level similar to what would be considered middle class in the host country.

The Peace Corps is a lesson in diplomacy and, after all, volunteers are ambassadors of the United States. To adapt to a foreign culture does not necessarily mean imitating the people, dressing as they dress, feeling as they feel. Adapting is being who you are as a Peace Corps volunteer: An American attempting to immerse, live, and work in strange new surroundings with sensitivity.

Sensitivity is the key to better global understanding.

As a branch of the U.S. State Department, the Peace Corps still has a vital role to play. The past 45 years has realigned the mission and many are surprised that the organization still exists. The ideal, however, remains a noble one — to promote world peace and understanding.

The Peace Corps not only offers Americans a chance to immerse in another culture, it is equally a chance to see America through a new lens. Many people in rural areas served by the Peace Corps have never seen Americans before. Uttering a few words in the local dialect or teaching basic hygiene or introducing Frisbee to the kids are less lofty accomplishments, yet every little bit is important.

And it certainly doesn’t harm American relations in the developing world at a time when Americans are largely misunderstood.

David A. Tirman is a Truckee resident, an architect and project manager with East West Partners. He is
a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Philippines from 1981-83.

When this story was posted in March 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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March 1, 1961: Keeping Kennedy's Promise On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency: "Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language. But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace. "

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

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Top Stories: February 2, 2006 Al Kamen writes: Rice to redeploy diplomats 20 Jan Peace Corps mourns the Loss of Volunteer Tessa Horan 1 Feb RPCV pursues dreams in America's Heartland 1 Feb Sargent Shriver documentary to be shown in LA 30 Jan W. Frank Fountain is new board chairman of Africare 27 Jan Abbey Brown writes about acid attacks in Bangladesh 26 Jan Christopher Hill Sees Ray of Hope in N.Korea Standoff 26 Jan Jeffrey Smit writes on one man diplomatic outposts 25 Jan Joe Blatchford's ACCION and microfinance 24 Jan James Rupert writes: A calculated risk in Pakistan 23 Jan Sam Farr rips conservative immigration bill 21 Jan Americans campaign for PC to return to Sierra Leone 20 Jan Kinky Friedman supports Gay Marriage 20 Jan Margaret Krome writes on Women leaders 18 Jan James Walsh leads bipartisan US delegation to Ireland 17 Jan Mark Schneider writes on Elections and Beyond in Haiti 16 Jan Robert Blackwill on a "serious setback" in US-India relations 13 Jan Kevin Quigley writes on PC and U.S. Image Abroad 13 Jan Emily Metzloff rides bicycle 3,100 miles from Honduras 9 Jan Charles Brennick starts operation InterConnection 9 Jan Lee Fisher tells story of Pablo Morillo 7 Jan Nancy Wallace writes: Was PC a CIA front after all? 4 Jan

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Paid Vacations in the Third World? Retired diplomat Peter Rice has written a letter to the Wall Street Journal stating that Peace Corps "is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World." Director Vasquez has responded that "the small stipend volunteers receive during their two years of service is more than returned in the understanding fostered in communities throughout the world and here at home." What do RPCVs think?

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

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Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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