2006.10.09: October 9, 2006: Headlines: COS - Ukraine: Secondary Education: Winsted-Lester Prairie Journal: Ukraine RPCV Brian Benson is now the FOCUS coordinator at the Dassel Cokato High School
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Ukraine:
Peace Corps Ukraine :
The Peace Corps in the Ukraine:
2006.10.09: October 9, 2006: Headlines: COS - Ukraine: Secondary Education: Winsted-Lester Prairie Journal: Ukraine RPCV Brian Benson is now the FOCUS coordinator at the Dassel Cokato High School
Ukraine RPCV Brian Benson is now the FOCUS coordinator at the Dassel Cokato High School
What he liked most about the Peace Corps was that it is a well established volunteer organization and has been placing volunteers since 1961. Also, if Benson were to serve, he wanted to volunteer for a long period of time, which most organizations didn’t offer. A longer period of time, such as the two years offered by the Peace Corps, would allow Benson enough time in a country to get to know the people, and therefore be more effective meeting the expectations and the needs of the country. “And myself as a volunteer,” he added. Benson left the US three years ago intending to make the Ukraine his home. “The Ukraine has become my home,” he said. “It’s exciting having a home at two sides of the world,” Benson said.
Ukraine RPCV Brian Benson is now the FOCUS coordinator at the Dassel Cokato High School
DC teacher spends time volunteering in Peace Corps
By Kristen Miller
Staff Writer
Brian Benson is now the FOCUS coordinator at the Dassel Cokato High School, but before that, he spent two years in the Peace Corps.
FOCUS, or Focusing On Challenges with Unconditional Support, is a program which works with high school students toward a successful academic future, according to Benson. As FOCUS coordinator, Benson serves as an advocate for the FOCUS students, he said.
This gives Benson the opportunity to share his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer and by doing so, he hopes to influence others to see the world as a global society, he said.
From October 2003 to December 2005, Benson was stationed with the Peace Corps in the Ukraine.
Benson worked as a teacher trainer for the continuing education of teachers of English as a foreign language.
All volunteers go through a several-step process before being stationed in one of the Peace Corps countries, he said.
First, a person must apply with the corp, receive a personal interview, and be “invited” to serve.
If the volunteer accepts the invitation, they are on their way to training for four to six months.
Benson had considered volunteerism after finishing his undergraduate studies, but found out “It wasn’t the right time, he said.
“I felt strongly about an opportunity to volunteer my skills and time,” he said.
Later, Benson decided to pursue the idea. He investigated the Peace Corps and found it was the right organization for him.
What he liked most about the Peace Corps was that it is a well established volunteer organization and has been placing volunteers since 1961.
Also, if Benson were to serve, he wanted to volunteer for a long period of time, which most organizations didn’t offer.
A longer period of time, such as the two years offered by the Peace Corps, would allow Benson enough time in a country to get to know the people, and therefore be more effective meeting the expectations and the needs of the country. “And myself as a volunteer,” he added.
Benson left the US three years ago intending to make the Ukraine his home.
“The Ukraine has become my home,” he said.
“It’s exciting having a home at two sides of the world,” Benson said.
Although he missed his family and friends back in the US, he now misses his host family, friends and colleagues in Vinnystia, Ukraine.
“I had an exceptional experience,” he said.
“It was everything I had hoped it would be and much more,” Benson commented about his volunteer experience and life in the Ukraine.
He learned enough Ukrainian and Russian, but is not fluent in either.
“I learned what I needed to learn,” he said.
This is partly due to the fact that much of his work was teaching English and therefore spoke the language for the majority of his day, Benson explained.
With Ukraine being a developing country, he found a diverse culture “that shares an incredible history of independence,” he said.
For many years, the Ukraine had struggled for independence and was conquered by several groups.
“They have now established what I believe, will be long-term independence,” he said.
“The Ukrainians are very proud people for that,” he added.
While there, Benson witnessed a nonviolent political revolution.
It began with a small group of university students who felt their vote for a new president was representative of the people.
“There was strong public opinion the vote was manipulated,” Benson said.
After a ruling by the supreme court, the first president was ousted from office and replaced with the current president, according to Benson.
“It was amazing to be an observer as it all evolved,” Benson said.
Benson clarified “observer” because the Peace Corps does not represent any political views.
“It connects with people in a nonpolitical way,” he said.
He understands the Peace Corps is not for everyone, but he would recommend this organization for anyone wanting to volunteer their time outside of the US.
Benson is looking forward to going back to the Ukraine this summer.
“I really miss the Ukraine,” he said, but is happy to be home as well.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: October, 2006; COS - Ukraine; Secondary Education; Minnesota
When this story was posted in November 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | Harris Wofford to speak at "PC History" series Senator Harris Wofford will be the speaker at the 4th Annual "Peace Corps History" series on November 16 sponsored by the University of Maryland at Baltimore County (UMBC) and the Maryland Returned Volunteers. Previous speakers in the series have included Jack Vaughn (Second Director of the Peace Corps), Scott Stossel (Biographer of Sargent Shriver), and C. Payne Lucas (President Emeritus of Africare). Details on the time and location of the event are available here. |
 | Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
 | He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
 | Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
 | The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
 | PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
 | History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Winsted-Lester Prairie Journal
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ukraine; Secondary Education
PCOL34680
66
Hi There,I enjoyed reading about Brian Benson. Thank you for writing about RPCV Brian Benson,Group 25 -service in Ukraine. Cheers,from Lucy Holloway,Group 25 Ukraine.
Hi There,I enjoyed reading about Brian Benson. Thank you for writing about RPCV Brian Benson,Group 25 -service in Ukraine. Cheers,from Lucy Holloway,Group 25 Ukraine.