2007.10.15: October 15, 2007: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Salem Statesman Journal : Linda and Gerry Bowers keep daughter's Peace Corps dream alive

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Zambia: Peace Corps Zambia : Peace Corps Zamiba: Newest Stories: 2009.07.03: July 3, 2009: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Service: Libraries: Fallen: Education: Women's Issues: Statesman Journal: Parents Found "Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund" to provide scholarships for girls living in the Zambian village where their daughter died : 2007.10.15: October 15, 2007: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Salem Statesman Journal : Linda and Gerry Bowers keep daughter's Peace Corps dream alive

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-25-189.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.25.189) on Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 9:33 am: Edit Post

Linda and Gerry Bowers keep daughter's Peace Corps dream alive

Linda and Gerry Bowers keep daughter's Peace Corps dream alive

But when their daughter, Elizabeth, a Peace Corps volunteer, died in 2002 while assisting people less fortunate in Zambia, her adventure -- her vision of service and global awareness -- became theirs. Now, the Willamette University professors are being recognized for carrying on their daughter's work. The Bowerses started a memorial fund -- which later evolved into the nonprofit -- after their daughter died five years ago at age 22 from a head injury suffered in a bicycle crash while she was volunteering in Lumwana West. The 1997 Sprague High School graduate had been teaching villagers about aquaculture, or how to raise their own fish. As English professors, the Bowerses decided that education would be their way of carrying on their daughter's legacy. With an education, women could help shape their own future, the couple thought. So far, 85 women in grades eight through 12, who call themselves Beth's girls, have received Zambia Education Fund scholarships, which pay for everything from school and exam fees to tutoring. When the fund started, only four girls from the village were going to school.

Linda and Gerry Bowers keep daughter's Peace Corps dream alive

Parents keep daughter's Peace Corps dream alive

Agency will honor Willamette professors for promoting education in Africa after daughter died

EUNICE KIM
Statesman Journal

October 15, 2007

Caption: Linda and Gerry Bowers will be recognized Tuesday by the Peace Corps for their efforts to promote education for women in Zambia. Photo: Lori Cain/Statesman Journal

Linda and Gerry Bowers never imagined they'd be helping women who lived halfway around the world, women they never knew.

But when their daughter, Elizabeth, a Peace Corps volunteer, died in 2002 while assisting people less fortunate in Zambia, her adventure -- her vision of service and global awareness -- became theirs. Now, the Willamette University professors are being recognized for carrying on their daughter's work.

Jody Olsen, deputy director of the Peace Corps, will present the Bowerses with a certificate of commendation Tuesday at Salem Public Library. The certificate is meant to honor their work helping to educate women in poverty-stricken Zambia.

"They're a wonderful, wonderful couple and an inspiration to many other people here in the U.S., in Zambia and in the community," Olsen said. "We want to give special recognition to them."

The Bowers' nonprofit corporation, the Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund, has provided educational scholarships to dozens of young women from the Lumwana West area of northwest Zambia. It also is funding the construction of a memorial library in the village.

"To be acknowledged by the Peace Corps is a great honor," said Linda Bowers, 65. "The whole thrust of our project was to sustain Beth's vision, and her vision was in line with Peace Corps'. By honoring us, they're honoring Beth. They're also reaffirming their own vision of global peace and understanding. We believe in that, and Beth believed in that."

The Bowerses started a memorial fund -- which later evolved into the nonprofit -- after their daughter died five years ago at age 22 from a head injury suffered in a bicycle crash while she was volunteering in Lumwana West. The 1997 Sprague High School graduate had been teaching villagers about aquaculture, or how to raise their own fish.

As English professors, the Bowerses decided that education would be their way of carrying on their daughter's legacy. With an education, women could help shape their own future, the couple thought.

So far, 85 women in grades eight through 12, who call themselves Beth's girls, have received Zambia Education Fund scholarships, which pay for everything from school and exam fees to tutoring. When the fund started, only four girls from the village were going to school.

Then and now, the only school in the village is Lumwana West Basic School, which goes up to grade nine. Students who want to go to high school -- grades 10 through 12 -- must travel to the next town over, Mwinilunga. Scholarships help pay their boarding costs.

Since 2004, about 25 women have continued on to high school with the help of the Education Fund. Three have graduated, including Prudence Masanyinga, who has gone on to study sociology at a government institute.

"The most rewarding part of this project is how the education of the girls in this village will eventually expand to improve families and society in Zambia," said Karen Chittick, secretary of the nonprofit's board of directors. "You're not just giving a girl an education. They will return to the village as role models for other girls."

Beyond supporting schooling, the Bowers' fund is paying for the construction of the village's first library, a project initiated by Peace Corps volunteer Bob Wilder.

"I have no question that we're making a major difference," Linda Bowers said.

The Bowerses hope to make an even bigger difference as they grow their organization and move into its second phase of development. The goal is to help more women complete high school and assist the qualified ones to go to college.

To do that, however, the Bowerses said they need to raise more money. They've hired a videographer to put together a video about their daughter, the fund and the work being done in Zambia. Part of the footage was shot in Zambia last summer when the Bowerses visited for their first time.

"All anyone has to do is to see the girls and the story, and they'll be moved by it," Linda Bowers said.

A version of the video will be played on the popular Web site YouTube, which the Bowerses hope will drive more people to their organization's site www. bethsgirls. org.

A longer version will be used during presentations around the Salem area and beyond.

Someday, the Bowerses want to turn their fund into an endowment and pass it onto "Beth's girls," who would administer the scholarships.

"I feel like they're very beautiful and very bright," said Gerry Bowers, 66. "I have a lot of respect for them. I'm very excited that they have all of these opportunities open up for them."

ekim@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6721




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: October, 2007; Peace Corps Zambia; Directory of Zambia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Zambia RPCVs





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


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed
Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Date: October 27 2007 No: 1206 Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act
Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

Peace Corps News Peace Corps Library Peace corps History RPCV Directory Sign Up

October 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Date: October 14 2007 No: 1203 October 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories
UN Secretary-General Visits Peace Corps 12 Oct
David Robeck adopted four orphans in Russia 14 Oct
Juan Donald Dontugan remorseful for killing Julia Campbell 12 Oct
PCV John Roberts dies in accident in Vanuatu 12 Oct
Richardson proposes PCVs earn back their college tuition 10 Oct
Bruce Cumings writes: North Korea: neutral instead of nuclear 9 Oct
Volunteerism is dropping significantly 9 Oct
Josh Swiller recalls being deaf in the Peace Corps 8 Oct
Bob Bates gained near-legendary status as mountaineer 7 Oct
New search for Peace Corps Volunteer Walter Poirier III 6 Oct
James Rupert writes: Attacks by Taliban mounting 6 Oct
Peace Corps Returns to Ethiopia 4 Oct
Chris Matthews and “the book interview from hell” 3 Oct
Knox College starts Peace Corps preparatory program 22 Sep
Julia Chang Bloch exhibits African American Art Treasures 19 Sep
Garamendi says students should push for change 17 Sep
NPCA raises $1 million in Microlending program 13 Sep
Dodd says Iraq Has Left Us More Vulnerable 12 Sep
David Whitman's photo exhibition opens Sep 9 in Key Biscayne 8 Sep
Dodd-Feinstein increases Peace Corps funding by $10 million 7 Sep
Kevin Denny writes: Malawi Village uplifts AIDS orphans 3 Sep

What is the greatest threat facing us now?  Date: September 12 2007 No: 1195 What is the greatest threat facing us now?
"People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings Date: July 25 2007 No: 1178 Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings
Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation.

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer Date: August 15 2007 No: 1185 Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer
Paul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director Date: June 27 2007 No: 1166 Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director
A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Date: April 27 2007 No: 1109 Suspect confesses in murder of PCV
Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

He served with honor Date: September 12 2006 No: 983 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.


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: Salem Statesman Journal

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Zambia

PCOL39389
29


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: