Larry J. Pitman writes: As a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia, I have been very impressed by the excellent work being done here in Peru by the Peace Corps



I have had the opportunity over the years to meet many of the young Americans who are working in small towns throughout Peru. They are quietly effective. They have virtually no funds to work with and, even so, have created many valuable projects to help in areas where Peruvians most want to develop: education, small business creation and health. You can donate to the Peru Fund to help their projects by going to the Peace Corps website, look for donations and click on the Peru Fund. Any help will be much appreciated and well used.

Larry J. Pitman writes: As a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia, I have been very impressed by the excellent work being done here in Peru by the Peace Corps

Peru in 2011, a year for optimism
By Larry J. Pitman

2011 will be a year of change. That is an easy statement to make because every year I can remember was a year of change.

All around me I hear people say, "I believe 2011 will be a good year." Some who were unhappy with the results of 2010, are saying, "I hope that 2011 will be better than 2010."

I believe that in Peru we have some good reasons for optimism.

Regarding change for the next year, one thing is certain. We will elect a new President in 2011. Such an event always requires a discussion of the future of the country. Thus, everyone will be listening to the candidates as they explain their vision of how Peru should develop. It is an important choice.

It is early days in the campaign, but I have noticed considerable discussion of three main topics. First, how can we continue growing the economy and creating more jobs? Second, how to continue to reduce poverty and, finally, how to improve the educational system in Peru.

As I enter my sixth year in Peru, I can see my viewpoint is changing. As a newcomer I could view everything with a detached eye. After six years, I now have to look at Peru as a country I identify with. It is not a place I am visiting temporarily; it is the place I call home. It is the place I intend to live in for the foreseeable future.

I am very pleased at the progress I have seen in many areas since I came to Peru in 2005. Nevertheless, as indicated above, there is much more to be done. In truth, though, I have the feeling that 2011 could be a breakthrough year for Peru.

That is why I hope that all of us who care about Peru will push a little harder this year to make things happen. How can we do that? There are many ways .In Peru there are many excellent organizations working to make life better for those in need. They need volunteers and they need financial support. Even if you have only a little money or a little time, get started.

Let me confess that I have a favorite. As a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia, I have been very impressed by the excellent work being done here in Peru by the Peace Corps. I have had the opportunity over the years to meet many of the young Americans who are working in small towns throughout Peru. They are quietly effective. They have virtually no funds to work with and, even so, have created many valuable projects to help in areas where Peruvians most want to develop: education, small business creation and health. You can donate to the Peru Fund to help their projects by going to the Peace Corps website, look for donations and click on the Peru Fund. Any help will be much appreciated and well used.

Let's celebrate the arrival of the new year with a great party.

And then, let us get to work.

Happy New Year.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2010; Peace Corps Peru; Directory of Peru RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Peru RPCVs; Peace Corps Bolivia; Directory of Bolivia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Bolivia RPCVs

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




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

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Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest.

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March 1, 2011: The First PCVs Bob Klein writes: First PCVs Arrive in Ghana 22 Feb Hugh Pickens says PC to Win Nobel Peace Prize 22 Feb Patricia McKissick sees history unfolding in Cairo 12 Feb Bruce Rosen Leads Lawsuit Against Iran 10 Feb Claudia Jayne teaches Sewing in Fiji 9 Feb Michael Snarskis Discovered Ancient Civilizations 4 Feb John Freivalds writes: Egypt compared to Iran in 1970's 2 Feb Ted Poe to investigate PCV Sexual Assault Victims 31 Jan Peter DiCampo takes Flashlight Portraits of Ghana 25 Jan Lyn Wright Fogle says Learning new Language Transforms Us 25 Jan Shanti A. Parikh Examines Structures of Gender Inequality 21 Jan Ann Sheehan writes: Hearing Sarge sent me to Africa 20 Jan Laurence Leamer writes: I remember Sarge as he was 19 Jan Jim Fedako writes: What stands in way of rebuilding Haiti? 17 Jan Peace Corps Evacuates PCVs from Niger 17 Jan Sean Smith quits Hollywood for Peace Corps 17 Jan Peace Corps Malaysia Prgoram to be Re-instated 15 Jan Brian Buckley co-owns Innisfree Poetry Bookstore 13 Jan Rob Prince writes: Tunisia explodes 13 Jan Pancho Lane writes about Colombia 1 12 Jan Erik Thompson brings Micronesians to Minnesota 24 Nov Alan Guskin helped lay foundation for Peace Corps 4 Nov

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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."

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PCV Murder Investigated ABC News has investigated the murder of Benin PCV Kate Puzey. Read our original coverage of the crime, comments on Peace Corps actions, the email Puzey sent her country director about sexual incidents with Puzey's students and with another PCV, the backstory on how RPCVs helped the Puzey family, and Peace Corps' official statement. PCOL Editorial: One major shortcoming that the Puzey murder highlights is that Peace Corps does not have a good procedure in place for death notifications.

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Jan 9, 2011: Push for the Peace Corps Rajeev Goyal Pushes for the Peace Corps 20 Dec Denis Dutton founded Arts & Letters Daily 2 Jan Jim Carter promotes organ exchange 29 Dec Bob Hollinger embraced the Toyama-ryu style of karate 27 Dec Anthony Siracusa is Riding a bike around world 27 Dec Marianne Combs writes: Another Upheaval in Ivory Coast 25 Dec Kathy Rousso documents weaving methods in Guatemala 24 Dec Ramsey Nix writes: Christmas in Mongolia 23 Dec Leanne Moore writes: Coming Back to America 23 Dec Cancer Victim Linda Lahme dreams of Africa 23 Dec The RPCV Who Changed American Parenting 22 Dec Dick Holbrooke at the Peace Corps 22 Dec Mahlon Barash publishes "Imágenes del Perú" 20 Dec Susan Luz writes "The Nightingale of Mosul" 18 Dec RPCV arrested in alleged Sandinista 'Land Grab' 17 Dec Peter DiCampo captures village life in Ghana 16 Dec John Coyne writes: Peace Corps Prose 16 Dec Kathleen Stephens presses China to rein in North Korea 15 Dec Greg Parsley writes: PC taught me to bypass bureaucrats 14 Dec Pat Waak writes: Peace Corps Pays Off 8 Dec David Matthews wins NATO medal for work in Afghanistan 7 Dec Ralph Bolton wins award in Anthropology 9 Nov

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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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