2011.01.17: January 17, 2011: Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "Hard Corps" writes: All 98 volunteers, including me, have been safely evacuated to Morocco to await reassignment or return home
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Niger:
Peace Corps Niger :
Peace Corps Niger: Newest Stories:
2011.01.17: January 17, 2011: Peace Corps Suspends Program in Niger; All Volunteers Evacuated Safely :
2011.01.17: January 17, 2011: Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "This Anasara Life" writes: This morning, at 5:30 a.m., I boarded a plane to Morocco and say goodbye to Niger, potentially for forever :
2011.01.17: January 17, 2011: Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "Hard Corps" writes: All 98 volunteers, including me, have been safely evacuated to Morocco to await reassignment or return home
Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "Hard Corps" writes: All 98 volunteers, including me, have been safely evacuated to Morocco to await reassignment or return home
"Not sure what the future holds for me – but I am confident, as always, that Peace Corps will take care of me. Depending on what's available, I do have the option at this time to take another assignment in a different country (anywhere in the world where Volunteers serve) and basically start Peace Corps over again – going through training, learning a new language, integrating into a new culture, and serving 27 more months. Obviously it is not a decision to take lightly and I will continue updating this blog as I get more information."
Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "Hard Corps" writes: All 98 volunteers, including me, have been safely evacuated to Morocco to await reassignment or return home
sitting on the dock of the bay…
17 Jan 2011 6 Comments
by jessicamaureen in peace corps Tags: evacuation, morocco, niger, RPCV, transition conference
Caption: Two French citizens who died after being kidnapped from this restaurant in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Janaury 9, 2011 were probably killed by their captors. French troops were attempting to rescue them when they found the bodies.
I have so much I want to say about this, but I'll keep it short for now, with more to come later.
I am deeply saddened to announce that due to continued safety and security concerns – mainly the recent al-Quada kidnapping/murder of two Frenchmen from a bar in the capital – Peace Corps has permanently suspended all programs in Niger.
All 98 volunteers, including me, have been safely evacuated to Morocco to await reassignment or return home.
Though I personally always felt completely safe in-country, especially in my village, I understand and agree with the decision to leave. Please keep the people of Niger in your thoughts – it is they who will be impacted the most by this tragic turn of events. The people who took me in, shared with me what little they had, and became my family will always be in my heart. Kala hanfo & fonda tilas ay corey.
Not sure what the future holds for me – but I am confident, as always, that Peace Corps will take care of me. Depending on what's available, I do have the option at this time to take another assignment in a different country (anywhere in the world where Volunteers serve) and basically start Peace Corps over again – going through training, learning a new language, integrating into a new culture, and serving 27 more months. Obviously it is not a decision to take lightly and I will continue updating this blog as I get more information.
This was the best experience I've ever had and I'm so grateful to the outstanding PC/Niger staff and my wonderful fellow Volunteers. Thanks all for your support over these amazing six months.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: January, 2011; Peace Corps Niger; Directory of Niger RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Niger RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Evacuation; Blogs - Niger
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
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
| 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. |
| 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: Personal Web Site
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Niger; Safety; Evacuation; Blogs - Niger
PCOL46495
82