In 1969, Jill Vickers went to Afghanistan to inoculate local villagers against smallpox



In 1969, a top priority for the World Health Organization was eradicating smallpox. As part of that effort, the Peace Corps sent a number of volunteers to Afghanistan. The mission was to inoculate local villagers against the disease.

In 1969, Jill Vickers went to Afghanistan to inoculate local villagers against smallpox

Interview: Jill Vickers on "Once in Afghanistan"

Friday February 6, 2009

Neal Charnoff

In 1969, a top priority for the World Health Organization was eradicating smallpox.

As part of that effort, the Peace Corps sent a number of volunteers to Afghanistan. The mission was to inoculate local villagers against the disease.

Bridport resident Jill Vickers was one of those volunteers.

Now Vickers has co-produced a documentary film about the experience, called "Once In Afghanistan".

In the film, Vickers and her 16 fellow Peace Corps volunteers share their memories of traveling into the mountains of Afghanistan 40 years ago.

Note: "Once in Afghanistan" will be shown at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, Sunday afternoon at 3.

Jill Vickers Photo: Jerry Charboneau

Top Image: © DIRT ROAD DOCUMENTARIES 2008

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: February, 2009; Peace Corps Afghanistan; Directory of Afghanistan RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Afghanistan RPCVs; Public Health; Documentary Films; Vermont

When this story was posted in February 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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

---

PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

---

Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

---

Jan 24, 2009: RPCVs March in Inauguration Peace Corps Community marches in Inaugural Parade 20 Jan Jane Albritton writes: Memories of Maury Albertson 18 Jan Sarah Chayes writes: Failing Afghanistan 15 Dec Volunteers in Guinea are Safe 23 Dec Jim Walsh reflects on 20 years of service 28 Dec Public service in Driehaus' blood 3 Jan An Interview with Kathleen Stephens 3 Jan Robert P. Cristo returns to Nigeria 4 Jan Sarah Holt makes 2,663-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail 5 Jan Zophia Kneiss is metal sculptor 11 Jan Harris Wofford is Godfather of National Service 12 Jan Melanie Edwards founds Mobile Metrix 14 Jan Jody Olsen Named PC Acting Director 16 Jan Lawrence Leamer writes: Obama betrays the Peace Corps? 18 Jan George Packer writes: Obama's Inaugural Address 20 Jan Obama going to do something great for Peace Corps 21 Jan John Bridgeland writes: Volunteer to Save the Economy 22 Jan Foy Spicer writes: Electricity as a scarcity 23 Jan Carl Pope to Step Down as Sierra Club Chief 23 Jan James Rupert writes: US Missile Attacks Kill 15 24 Jan Jeffrey Tayler writes "Murderers in Mausoleums" 25 Jan Read more stories from January 2009 and December 2008.

---

Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from Bolivia because of "growing instability" and the expulsion of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg after Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American government of inciting violence in the country. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia. Latest: Some volunteers have returned to Bolivia on their own to complete their projects.

---

PCVs Evacuated from Georgia The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

Read the stories and leave your comments.