• 2010.03.14: Peace Corps Volunteer "Krissy's latest adventure - Benin, West Africa" writes: Friday, March 12th, marked the 1 year anniversary of the tragic death of Peace Corps Volunteer Catherine Puzey  Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - 12:11 pm [1]

Peace Corps Volunteer "Peace (Corps) Out " writes: This March 12th marked the one year anniversary of the death of Peace Corps Benin Volunteer Kate Puzey



In Cotonou, sixty Volunteers, along with Peace Corps Administrators, American Embassy workers, and the Ambassador to Benin, gathered together to memorialize the life and service of a fellow Volunteer. This being my first year in-country, I had never met Kate. I'd only even been told delightful stories of her work and her amazing personality by other Volunteers that knew her.

Peace Corps Volunteer "Peace (Corps) Out " writes: This March 12th marked the one year anniversary of the death of Peace Corps Benin Volunteer Kate Puzey

Thursday, March 25, 2010

My African Life: Class, Corn, Can Openers, Kate, and a Crazy Cat

[Excerpt]

In Memory of Kate

This March 12th marked the one year anniversary of the death of Peace Corps Benin Volunteer Kate Puzey. In Cotonou, sixty Volunteers, along with Peace Corps Administrators, American Embassy workers, and the Ambassador to Benin, gathered together to memorialize the life and service of a fellow Volunteer. This being my first year in-country, I had never met Kate. I'd only even been told delightful stories of her work and her amazing personality by other Volunteers that knew her.

It was a simple ceremony held at the Peace Corps Benin Bureau Headquarters. It included a candle-lighting ceremony, words from friends and Volunteers, and speeches by Peace Corps Staff and the Ambassador. However, the segment of the ceremony that resonated most with me was a ten minute slide show of photos of Kate throughout her service. In those photos, she became real to me. I could relate to the girl sitting on the rocks of lagoon underneath a waterfall in Tanguetta; the teacher standing up at the blackboard in front a classroom of Beninese students; a helpful friend cooking food with a woman from her village. Through those photos, I saw fragments of memories that will become the landscape of my own service here in Benin. She was just like me. A young, hopeful, optimistic Volunteer who came to Benin to teach English and who learned so much more than she could ever be taught. As I mentioned, I never got to know Kate, but I feel in some ways, I do know her. We walked the same path; I am just following the footprints that she left behind.

Adieu, dear Kate.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: March, 2010; 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 November 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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

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Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all.

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Nov 8, 2010: The 50th Begins University of Michigan commemorates 50th 16 Oct Wittenberg University also has claim on 50th 31 Oct Historical Marker Unveiled to Celebrate 50th 15 Oct Directors Discuss Impact of Service 13 Oct Mary Morgan writes: Some thoughts on the 50th 16 Oct Colombia I Holds Reunion at Rutgers 31 Oct Remembering the Early Program in Ghana 23 Oct George Packer writes: Meaning of the Mid-Terms 2 Nov Steve Driehaus Defeated for re-election 2 Nov Michelle Obama's Uncle was PCV in India 1 Nov Chic Dambach writes "Exhaust the Limits" 31 Oct Alrick Brown Directs Documentary on Rwanda 31 Oct Rajeev Goyal writes: Obama Does Nothing for Peace Corps 31 Oct Dr. Paul Frommer Created Language for 'Avatar' 20 Oct Cy Kukenbaker Directs Movie about Soccer in Malawi 15 Oct Peace Corps has no Institutional Memory 14 Oct Kristof and Stacia Nordin demonstrate permaculture in Malawi 9 Oct Volunteer Stephanie Chance dies in Niger 8 Oct Peace Corps volunteer Census hits 40-year high 4 Oct Malaysia PM wants Peace Corps to Return 25 Sep Volunteer Thomas Maresco Murdered in Lesotho 4 Sep Johnathan Miller launchs Airborne Lifeline 26 Aug

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July 20, 2010: Nita Lowey Pushes Expansion Nita Lowey pushes $46.15 million PC funding increase 1 Jul Anne Goddard helps lead ChildFund 12 Jul PCVs Safe after bombing in Uganda 12 Jul PCVs Evacuated from Northern Burkina Faso 7 Jul Ben Masters promotes bamboo bicycles 6 Jul Danny Dunbar is a fan of Brazil soccer 2 Jul Christopher Hill leaves Iraq Embassy For Academia 2 Jul NPCA holds YouTube contest 2 Jul Larry Palmer nominated as Ambassador to Venezuela 30 Jun Laurence Leamer writes: America Looks Like a Fortress 29 Jun Ed Reed writes: Troops' service in Korea not in vain 28 Jun Mary-Denise Tabar finishes tour in Iraq 24 Jun Carrie Hessler-Radelet Sworn in as PC Deputy Director 24 Jun PC Releases Comprehensive Agency Assessment Report 22 Jun Michael Burden writes: The dilemma on your dinner plate 18 Jun Safety at risk for Peace Corps volunteers? 17 Jun PCVs in Southern Kyrgyzstan evacuated safely 15 Jun Steve Harpt helps dropouts reconstruct their lives 11 Jun Biden Meets with Peace Corps/Kenya Volunteers 11 Jun 19 Americans Sworn-in as PCVs in Indonesia 4 Jun PC Celebrates Volunteers Return to Sierra Leone 3 Jun John Coté makes cross-country walk for US Troops 16 May

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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

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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

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