2010.02.09: Senegal RPCV Florence G. Patterson. founded Pamoja International Cultural Exchange to promote cultural awareness
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Senegal:
Peace Corps Senegal :
Peace Corps Senegal: Newest Stories:
2010.02.09: Senegal RPCV Florence G. Patterson. founded Pamoja International Cultural Exchange to promote cultural awareness
Senegal RPCV Florence G. Patterson. founded Pamoja International Cultural Exchange to promote cultural awareness
Pamoja International Cultural Exchange Inc. was founded in 1982 in Deer Park, Long Island, by Florence G. Patterson. Its mission is to promote cultural awareness. Pamoja is Swahili for "coming together." The idea for the exchange, a nonprofit group with no salaries, was developed when Ms. Patterson was working for Citicorp Banking. She broke ground there as the first black officer of that bank. Ms. Patterson relocated PICEI's headquarters to the Brasher Falls area in 1987 when she moved to the north country in search of a less expensive place to live. The exchange hosts international trips such as the recent trip aboard Princess Cruise Line's Grand Princess. The group also hosts trips to locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., and nearby Canadian cities; fundraising for each trip. Its simple mission is to get people to understand and appreciate different cultures. "We're about the sharing of cultures and bridging the gap of culture and generations, because without it, that's where we lose ourselves," Ms. Patterson said. The group hosted two seminars aboard the Grand Princess attended by more than 30 people at each event. Ms. Patterson said that was a respectful number, considering attendance was based on word-of-mouth.
Senegal RPCV Florence G. Patterson. founded Pamoja International Cultural Exchange to promote cultural awareness
Pamoja finishes 21-day 'mission'
CULTURAL EXCHANGE GROUP: Trips all about sharing, learning heritage, traditions
By CHRIS BROCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
BRASHER FALLS - Pamoja International Cultural Exchange has a grand mission and is proceeding with it one person, and occasionally, one boatload at a time.
A group of 24 PICEI members returned Dec. 23 from a 21-day transcontinental cultural cruise that included stops in Italy, Spain, France, Morocco, Brazil, the Canary Islands, Barbados and the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Pamoja International Cultural Exchange Inc. was founded in 1982 in Deer Park, Long Island, by Florence G. Patterson. Its mission is to promote cultural awareness.
Pamoja is Swahili for "coming together."
The idea for the exchange, a nonprofit group with no salaries, was developed when Ms. Patterson was working for Citicorp Banking. She broke ground there as the first black officer of that bank. Ms. Patterson relocated PICEI's headquarters to the Brasher Falls area in 1987 when she moved to the north country in search of a less expensive place to live.
The exchange hosts international trips such as the recent trip aboard Princess Cruise Line's Grand Princess. The group also hosts trips to locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., and nearby Canadian cities; fundraising for each trip.
Its simple mission is to get people to understand and appreciate different cultures.
"We're about the sharing of cultures and bridging the gap of culture and generations, because without it, that's where we lose ourselves," Ms. Patterson said.
The group hosted two seminars aboard the Grand Princess attended by more than 30 people at each event. Ms. Patterson said that was a respectful number, considering attendance was based on word-of-mouth.
"The cruise ship didn't have us on their official program," she said.
Members of the exchange, while ashore, spread knowledge of the cultures they are familiar with, such as Mohawk.
"It's just social networking," Ms. Patterson said. "It's people you come across and they're sharing their culture."
PICEI is non-political and non-denominational.
"We don't try to indoctrinate anyone," Ms. Patterson said. "People are just sharing what they know."
Ms. Patterson shared her knowledge and business experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 2000 to 2004 on Goree Island, Senegal, Africa, where she focused on small-enterprise development.
When she first arrived in Senegal, Ms. Patterson said she was struck by the site of young people begging.
"I told them, 'No begging, Whatever you want you should be able to get it yourselves,'" she said. "Sometimes people say it's a waste, but people learn very well and very fast."
Besides tours, PICEI accomplishes its mission through hosting performances of the performing and visual arts and festivals.
"We do all of our work with integrity," Ms. Patterson said. "We don't have a lot of money, so we keep our volunteers motivated by other things that are rewarding besides money. When you do it from your heart, I think it's more important."
■ ■ ■
For more information on Pamoja International Cultural Exchange Inc., call the organization at 1 (518) 358-9942 or 1 (866) 660-5116. On the Net: http://picei.homestead.com
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: February, 2010; Peace Corps Senegal; Directory of Senegal RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Senegal RPCVs; Service; NGO's; The Third Goal; African American Issues; New York
When this story was posted in March 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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: Watertown Daily Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Senegal; Service; NGOs; The Third Goal; African American Issues
PCOL45418
86