2011.01.20: January 20, 2011: Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "A word carries far: Ryan in Niger " writes: So sadly, after exactly 3 months, my Peace Corps experience is coming to a close
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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 :
2011.01.20: January 20, 2011: Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "A word carries far: Ryan in Niger " writes: So sadly, after exactly 3 months, my Peace Corps experience is coming to a close
Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "A word carries far: Ryan in Niger " writes: So sadly, after exactly 3 months, my Peace Corps experience is coming to a close
"Last week we were evacuated from Niger due to continued security concerns. I loved my new village, and knew that I was safe there, but AQIM felt otherwise. The al qaeda group kidnapped and killed two young French NGO workers 2 weeks ago. Unlike previous kidnappings, this took place in Niamey, the capital, in a crowded restaurant frequented by peace corps volunteers. Peace Corps Washington decided that it was no longer worth the risk of keeping volunteers in country, and we were evacuated to Morocco. I am currently in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where PC is holding a transition conference. Some will directly transfer to new countries, but most, including me, will have to close our service, return home, and join a new peace corps class leaving after March."
Niger Peace Corps Volunteer "A word carries far: Ryan in Niger " writes: So sadly, after exactly 3 months, my Peace Corps experience is coming to a close
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Too soon
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.
So sadly, after exactly 3 months, my Peace Corps experience is coming to a close.
Last week we were evacuated from Niger due to continued security concerns. I loved my new village, and knew that I was safe there, but AQIM felt otherwise. The al qaeda group kidnapped and killed two young French NGO workers 2 weeks ago. Unlike previous kidnappings, this took place in Niamey, the capital, in a crowded restaurant frequented by peace corps volunteers. Peace Corps Washington decided that it was no longer worth the risk of keeping volunteers in country, and we were evacuated to Morocco. I am currently in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where PC is holding a transition conference. Some will directly transfer to new countries, but most, including me, will have to close our service, return home, and join a new peace corps class leaving after March.
This is not how anyone wanted things to turn out, and I will truly miss talking, and occasionally working, with the Peace Corps Niger staff. The members of my training stage that directly transfer to new countries will be greatly missed, and I hope that I will be joined by a few of my friends when I leave for a new country in April or May. I will never forget my 3 months in Niger, and will always wish I had had more time.
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 |
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Story Source: Personal Web Site
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Niger; Safety; Evacuation; Blogs - Niger
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