Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen Visits Belize



Peace Corps Deputy Director Josephine K. Olsen visited the Central American nation of Belize to meet Peace Corps Volunteers across the country last week. Olsen met with the Governor-General of Belize, Sir Colville Young, Sr., who fondly recalled working as a language trainer with the Peace Corps in 1962. Olsen said of her visit, "Shortly after the Peace Corps was established, the Belizean people warmly welcomed us into their beautiful country. This friendship has grown stronger over the years, and the Belizean people continue to partner with Peace Corps Volunteers to help to improve the quality of life in Belize’s diverse communities."

Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen Visits Belize

Peace Corps Deputy Director Visits Belize

Caption: Peace Corps Deputy Director Dr. Jody K. Olsen visits with a Peace Corps Volunteer in Belize

Olsen visited Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, and government officials during visit to Central American nation.

BELMOPAN, BELIZE, February 4, 2008 - Peace Corps Deputy Director Josephine K. Olsen visited the Central American nation of Belize to meet Peace Corps Volunteers across the country last week. Olsen met with the Governor-General of Belize, Sir Colville Young, Sr., who fondly recalled working as a language trainer with the Peace Corps in 1962.

Olsen said of her visit, "Shortly after the Peace Corps was established, the Belizean people warmly welcomed us into their beautiful country. This friendship has grown stronger over the years, and the Belizean people continue to partner with Peace Corps Volunteers to help to improve the quality of life in Belize’s diverse communities."

During her travels across the country, Olsen met with several Volunteers, including Robert Magee of New York City. Magee is leading a project on nutrition education through the establishment of a school vegetable garden in his village.

Another Volunteer, Molly Osborn, of Minneapolis, works in a small town on the Mexican border. With the help of her community, Osborn established a library of 2,000 books and has helped a local women's cooperative secure a $25,000 grant to build a restaurant near the border crossing, which will bring significant revenue into the community.

Joe Campbell, a youth development Volunteer from Milwaukee, works in an urban high school, and is teaching life skills to at-risk youth, placing an emphasis on self-esteem activities and positive social interaction. He also serves as a mentor to encourage students to stay in school.

There are 65 Peace Corps Volunteers currently serving in Belize, in the areas of small enterprise development, youth development, education, health, and HIV/AIDS. Since 1962, over 1,600 Volunteers have served in Belize.

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Headlines: February, 2008; RPCV Jody Olsen (Tunisia); Peace Corps Belize; Directory of Belize RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Belize RPCVs; Figures; Peace Corps Tunisia; Directory of Tunisia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Tunisia RPCVs; Staff