2010.11.17: November 17, 2010: Mali RPCV Eileen Conoboy writes: The Peace Corps' lessons in a globalizing society
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2010.11.17: November 17, 2010: Mali RPCV Eileen Conoboy writes: The Peace Corps' lessons in a globalizing society
Mali RPCV Eileen Conoboy writes: The Peace Corps' lessons in a globalizing society
The world has changed vastly since 1961, but the Peace Corps mission to promote world peace, friendship and understanding has not. The pragmatic idealists who join the Peace Corps in 2010 are 21-year-old recent college graduates from Seattle and 80-year-old retirees from Olympia. They are farmers, English teachers, health educators, youth-development workers and environmentalists. They are Americans who heard the call to serve when Kennedy first announced the Peace Corps, and those who stumbled upon it by a tweet. They are patriotic citizens of all stripes, colors, ages and political persuasions who see a world without boundaries and a program that can help them pay it forward.
Mali RPCV Eileen Conoboy writes: The Peace Corps' lessons in a globalizing society
The Peace Corps' lessons in a globalizing society
Guest columnist Eileen Conoboy discusses the benefits of Peace Corps service in understanding other cultures in a globalizing society.
By Eileen Conoboy
Special to The Times
WHEN John F. Kennedy called a generation to serve their country overseas in a newly created Peace Corps 50 years ago, he knew that "the logic of the Peace Corps is that someday we are going to bring it home to America."
In our age of increasing global interconnectedness, going overseas and learning about the world outside our physical borders has never been more necessary. Peace Corps volunteers immerse themselves in the local languages and customs of the communities they serve - not for a few weeks or the odd year, but for a substantive 27-month period that affords real insight into other cultures while fulfilling requests for technical assistance from 77 host countries.
After working on a malnutrition and child-survival initiative in Mali, West Africa, I returned with a near-fluency in Bambara. I brought back a deep appreciation for Malians' ease of laughter, and their close relationship with the natural world, and their unwavering respect for elders. Living and working alongside my newfound friends humbled me in countless ways and expanded my worldview - and helped me better understand my own country and culture.
Whether Peace Corps volunteers live in mud huts in Africa or high-rises in Eastern Europe, they return from their service as quintessential global citizens. They possess foreign-language skills, international perspectives, resourcefulness and a desire to make the world a better place - all of which translates to an unparalleled domestic dividend that enriches U.S. communities here at home.
The world has changed vastly since 1961, but the Peace Corps mission to promote world peace, friendship and understanding has not. The pragmatic idealists who join the Peace Corps in 2010 are 21-year-old recent college graduates from Seattle and 80-year-old retirees from Olympia. They are farmers, English teachers, health educators, youth-development workers and environmentalists. They are Americans who heard the call to serve when Kennedy first announced the Peace Corps, and those who stumbled upon it by a tweet. They are patriotic citizens of all stripes, colors, ages and political persuasions who see a world without boundaries and a program that can help them pay it forward.
Peace Corps volunteers return to the job market with unparalleled cross-cultural competency and are highly sought after by international organizations, government agencies and nonprofits for their on-the-ground development experience and foreign-language proficiency. With one in three jobs in Washington state tied to international trade, the ability to compete on the global mat has never been more critical.
On the cusp of the Peace Corps' 50th anniversary, there are thousands of new openings in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Pacific islands. So do your country a favor ... and leave.
Eileen Conoboy served as a volunteer in Mali, West Africa, and is the regional office manager of the Peace Corps Northwest Regional Office in Seattle.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: November, 2010; Peace Corps Mali; Directory of Mali RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mali RPCVs; Speaking Out
When this story was posted in February 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: Seattle Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Mali; Speaking Out
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