Peace Corps Volunteer From Green Mountains to the Birthplace of Voodoo writes: Peace Corps is doing everything in their power to make volunteers feel safe and continue to live at post and do positive work



The Beninese have been equally supportive of volunteers. They were shocked to learn about the passing of a volunteer and I was constantly told by my friends at post that this sort of thing never happens in Benin and it is extreamly rare not only for this to happen to a person who is white but a Beninese citizen as well. I am staying in Benin, there is no doubt in my mind that I will continue to be safe at post. Also anyone reading this blog, I know that when I was applying to Peace Corps and was invited to Benin the first thing I did was google it and found out where it was. I was invited to come around this time last year and I hope that the death of Kate doesnt push them away. While the event is tragic it can happen anywhere.

Peace Corps Volunteer From Green Mountains to the Birthplace of Voodoo writes: Peace Corps is doing everything in their power to make volunteers feel safe and continue to live at post and do positive work

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Im Safe

A fellow volunteer was found dead in her house last week. To get the full story please go to Peace Corps website. This post is not about her death but I would rather like to express my thoughts after the event.

Benin is a safe place. These things happen everywhere and statistically is more likely to happen in the States than in Benin. On top of that as a Peace Corps Volunteer youre more likely to get hurt on a college campus than you are in Peace Corps and I honestly feel like there is a much better support system in Benin than there was on my college campus. Peace Corps is doing everything in their power to make volunteers feel safe and continue to live at post and do positive work. Personally I feel safe at post, I do not feel threatened in any way and I certainly dont feel the need to come home.

The Beninese have been equally supportive of volunteers. They were shocked to learn about the passing of a volunteer and I was constantly told by my friends at post that this sort of thing never happens in Benin and it is extreamly rare not only for this to happen to a person who is white but a Beninese citizen as well.

I am staying in Benin, there is no doubt in my mind that I will continue to be safe at post. Also anyone reading this blog, I know that when I was applying to Peace Corps and was invited to Benin the first thing I did was google it and found out where it was. I was invited to come around this time last year and I hope that the death of Kate doesnt push them away. While the event is tragic it can happen anywhere.

If anyone has any questions about benin and the safety and security and my own personal expirences please feel free to email me, my email is on the left side of this window.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: March, 2009; Peace Corps Benin; Directory of Benin RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Benin RPCVs; Blogs - Benin; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Crime; Murder

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




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

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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.

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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.

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Feb 22, 2009: Return to Indonesia? Clinton says PC expects to resume in Indonesia 18 Feb Indonesia still touchy about Peace Corps 17 Feb PCVs Remain Safe in Madagascar 30 Jan Dodd's Senate seat up for grabs? 21 Feb Tony Hall Talks About Poverty and Hunger 18 Feb Pro Football Player Aaron Merz to serve in Zambia 17 Feb Moyers could be new Murrow for US Public Diplomacy 17 Feb Obituary for Nigeria CD Francis Underhill Macy 10 Feb George Packer writes: Parties argue government role 10 Feb James Rupert writes: Missile Strikes Counterproductive? 10 Feb Danny Hevrol in Madagascar amidst fighting 6 Feb Reed Hastings writes: Please Raise My Taxes 6 Feb Obama overrides Hillary on Chris Hill appointment 6 Feb Joseph Acaba has "The Right Stuff" 4 Feb Maureen Orth writes: A New Start 2 Feb Henry Rayburn could make art out of anything 1 Feb Obama out to marry military power with diplomacy 30 Jan Mike Fay honored by the San Diego Zoo 30 Jan Charles Stroh writes: Karzai seen as impediment to change 29 Jan Madeleine Meek writes: The market and the bath 26 Jan NPCA gets new Web Site 22 Jan Read more stories from January and February 2009.

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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.

Read the stories and leave your comments.