2011.01.02: January 2, 2011: Peter Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that "the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically"

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Nepal: Activist Rajeev Goyal (RPCV Nepal): 2011.01.02: January 2, 2011: Peter Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that "the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically"

By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 4:31 pm: Edit Post

Peter Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that "the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically"

Peter Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically

Rajeev Goyal went to Nepal as an English teacher but ended up bringing in a ton of outside money and expertise to build a water system. And he brought a similar militant, disruptive spirit to other activities in the village – and to Congress. Not everyone likes that style. The reaction of Sen. Patrick Leahy, for example, was "enough already." Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that "the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically." I disagree. The Peace Corps should be a place for volunteers who are outsiders as well as insiders, who learn as well as teache. To me, Shriver's spirit of humility remains the Peace Corps' "brightest hope."

Peter Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that "the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically"

The Reading Rack

Published: Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 2E

Suggested reading from The Bee's editorial board.

'Village Voice: The Peace Corps' brightest hope'

New Yorker, Dec. 20

In March 2011, the Peace Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary. President John F. Kennedy launched the idea in 1960 as part of an American attempt to win hearts and minds around the world, not just military battles or new markets.

It was voluntary government service – but not military or professional foreign service – tapping young people to live and work abroad, sharing skills and human warmth.

The aim was to create a corps of Americans who would have first-hand "knowledge of the world, its peoples and its problems," as the first director, Sargent Shriver, put it. Kennedy's idea was that young Americans would return home "better able to assume the responsibilities of American citizenship and with greater understanding of our global responsibilities."

I joined in 1981, the 20th anniversary, serving as a junior high math teacher in Swaziland for 3 1/2 years.

So I was intrigued by this article in the New Yorker by Peter Hessler, who served in China. He describes a different kind of Peace Corps – the volunteer as hard-charging trooper, promoting change with aggressive one-on-one tactics abroad and back at home.

He profiles a volunteer who served in Nepal from 2001 to 2003 – and who in the last two years has taken on Congress in an attempt to expand the Peace Corps.

Rajeev Goyal went to Nepal as an English teacher but ended up bringing in a ton of outside money and expertise to build a water system. And he brought a similar militant, disruptive spirit to other activities in the village – and to Congress. Not everyone likes that style. The reaction of Sen. Patrick Leahy, for example, was "enough already."

Hessler, mostly an admirer of Goyal, concludes that "the failure of the Peace Corps is that former volunteers rarely play the same outsider role back home, at least politically." I disagree. The Peace Corps should be a place for volunteers who are outsiders as well as insiders, who learn as well as teache. To me, Shriver's spirit of humility remains the Peace Corps' "brightest hope."

– Pia Lopez




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2011; Figures; Peace Corps Nepal; Directory of Nepal RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Nepal RPCVs; Expansion; Nepal RPCV Rajeev Goyal





When this story was posted in January 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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

 Site Index Search PCOL with Google Contact PCOL Recent Posts Bulletin Board Open Discussion RPCV Directory Register

Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal Date: November 9 2010 No: 1460 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.

Nov 8, 2010: The 50th Begins Date: November 9 2010 No: 1457 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

July 20, 2010: Nita Lowey Pushes Expansion Date: July 24 2010 No: 1447 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

Memo to Incoming Director Williams Date: August 24 2009 No: 1419 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

Join Us Mr. President! Date: June 26 2009 No: 1380 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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Story Source: Sacramento Bee

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Nepal; Expansion; More Peace Corps; Goyal

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