Peace Corps Volunteer Cami writes: So it's official, the Peace Corps Guinea program has been suspended



After a day of massive protests all across the country, we were informed by our APCDs that the program in Guinea would be suspended for a period of at least 3 months. So, what does this mean for me? Well - we were given three options by the PC. The first option was to do a three month project in another country (Mali, for example) to wait out the protests in Guinea, then possibly return to Guinea if the program reopened. The second was to imediately transfer to another PC country to finish out our service. I won't be doing either of these. After being pulled out of Guinea, where I had made friends, begun learning the language, established a good rapport with my students, and had made my house a comfortable place to live, I did not want to start from square one in another country without even having the benefit of pre-service training. Instead, I'll be taking the third option available to us, which is to COS (Close of Service).

PCOL Comment: The Peace Corps Press Office informed us yesterday that the program in Guinea would be suspended and we decided to hold the news for a day until volunteers could be informed.

Peace Corps Volunteer Cami writes: So it's official, the Peace Corps Guinea program has been suspended

Peace Corps, Round 2
from Lost In Guinea by Cami

So it's official, the Peace Corps Guinea program has been suspended. After a day of massive protests all across the country, we were informed by our APCDs that the program in Guinea would be suspended for a period of at least 3 months. So, what does this mean for me? Well - we were given three options by the PC. The first option was to do a three month project in another country (Mali, for example) to wait out the protests in Guinea, then possibly return to Guinea if the program reopened. The second was to imediately transfer to another PC country to finish out our service. I won't be doing either of these. After being pulled out of Guinea, where I had made friends, begun learning the language, established a good rapport with my students, and had made my house a comfortable place to live, I did not want to start from square one in another country without even having the benefit of pre-service training. Instead, I'll be taking the third option available to us, which is to COS (Close of Service). That being said, I'll only be closing my service temporarily, as I'm going to request to re-enroll in the Peace Corps in a program leaving this summer. So I'll be starting over with Peace Corps in June or July, redoing training, and committing to another two years.

I have no idea where I'll end up, but I'm really hoping we have some say over where we go. I would hope that since we forced to leave Guinea by situations out of our control, the Peace Corps will be understanding and helpful the second time around, giving us some say as to where we go. Then again, the Peace Corps is a big government bureaucracy, and the fact that we were evacuated after serving for 7 months might just get lost in the shuffle of papers.

The good news is that I'll be getting a crapload of money for the 7 months i served plus for accepting Cash in Lieu instead of a ticket straight home. This means that, hopefully, Jen and I will be traveling to Dogon country in Mali, then spending a few weeks in Mauritania and Morocco, before ending our journey in Spain. We'll see.

As far as la Guinee is concerned, the president declared martial law a couple nights ago, meaning:

* The military has taken over all policing duties
* Civilians are only allowed to move around the cities from 4 pm to 8 pm
* No one is allowed to move around in automobiles
* No large gatherings are allowed

Ok, that's all for now...oo'o.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: February, 2007; Peace Corps Guinea; Directory of Guinea RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Guinea RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers

When this story was posted in February 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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February 2, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Peace Corps Volunteers in Guinea Are Safe in Mali 28 Jan Lee Wilbur writes: Muslim media images are shocking 31 Jan Gregory Acker plays African drums for 3rd Goal 31 Jan "Jimi Sir" now available for free internet viewing 30 Jan Is Civilian Reserve just another Bush throwaway line? 30 Jan Tony Hall writes: What North Korea really wants 30 Jan Paul Tsongas remembered on 10th anniversary 28 Jan Ben Bell attends Washington march against Iraq war 27 Jan First Peace Corps Volunteers to Serve in Cambodia 26 Jan Phil Hardberger sees 'golden years' ahead for San Antonio 26 Jan Doyle wants smoking ban in Wisconsin 24 Jan Mark Udall to run for Colorado Senate Seat 17 Jan Meredith Walsh works with Burmese refugees 16 Jan Tschetter spends MLK Day with Habitat for Humanity 15 Jan Robert Buckley founds Himalayan Healers 14 Jan James Rupert writes: An aging king in Thailand 14 Jan Michael O'Hanlon writes: A Skeptic's Case For the Surge 14 Jan Senator Dodd opposes Iraq surge 11 Jan Pat Waak celebrates 2008 Democratic Convention 11 Jan Al Kamen writes: The six rules for Congressional Junkets 10 Jan Bill Moyers slams Bush on global warming 10 Jan Psychological biases favor conflict rather than concession 1 Jan

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January 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Dodd declares candidacy in 2008 Presidential race 11 Jan Malawi RPCVs found "Orphan Support" 11 Jan John Garamendi takes oath as California Lt. Governor 8 Jan Amy Smith prepares her students for field trips to remote villages 8 Jan CES provides loans to rural constituents in Guatemala 6 Jan RPCV Tom Bissell writes: Rolling Estonia 5 Jan Lance Holter writes: 1st Lt. Ehren Watada risks it all 2 Jan Paul Theroux writes: Remember the Cicadas 2 Jan Louise M. Pascale republishes Afghan children's songs 31 Dec Husband remembers Niger RPCV Mary Ann Hobson 30 Dec Bob Leventry faces problems importing organic quinoa 29 Dec Congressmen urge increase in diplomatic and development programs 27 Dec Family says treatment after PCV death left bitter feeling 27 Dec Family finishes project after PCV dies in shark attack 26 Dec Mark Ridoff writes: Productivity doesn't aid middle class 24 Dec Dodd says begin process of getting troops out of Iraq 24 Dec PCVs caught in street protest in Bolivia 22 Dec Honda named to powerful Appropriations Committee 22 Dec PCOL and NPCA collaborate on story "Snowshoe Bob" 21 Dec Alejandro Toledo charged in Forgery Scheme 21 Dec Michael O'Hanlon writes: The State of Iraq 20 Dec Carl Pope writes: Renewable energy offers new jobs 20 Dec

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Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan On his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future.

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Election 2006: Results of RPCV Races Chris Shays claims victory in closely watched race Jim Walsh wins re-election to Congress in close race Tom Petri unopposed for re-election to Congress Sam Farr wins re-election to Congress Mike Honda wins re-election to Congress Jim Doyle wins re-election to Wisconsin Governorship Kinky Friedman loses in long shot bid for Texas Governor John Garamendi elected Lt. Governor of California

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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