2011.01.14: January 14, 2011: Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers
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2011.01.14: January 14, 2011: Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers
Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers
In March 2009, Kate Puzey became the 23rd woman in the Peace Corps to be murdered since the organization's inception. She learned that another teacher and peace corps volunteer was sexually molesting girls at her school. Puzey turned him in by sending what she thought was a confidential email to the Peace Corps. The accused teacher's brother worked in the Peace Corps office in Benin, and officials say someone there exposed what Puzey did. Her throat was slit after the accused teacher was fired. "We miss you darling," said Harry Puzey, Kate's father. "Kate died in March and by May, no more contact with the Peace Corps," said Lois Puzey, Kate's mother. Puzey's family was dissappointed by with the Peace Corps following the murder. They were left in the dark on what happened.
Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers
Peace Corps Murder Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers
By Philippe Djegal, News Channel 3 Reporter
POSTED: 9:35 pm PST January 14, 2011
UPDATED: 11:34 pm PST January 14, 2011
COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. -- It's one of the most respected organizations on earth.
The Peace Corps was created by President John F. Kennedy to help people all over the world.
But on the eve of it's 50th anniversary questions are being raised about how safe women are serving overseas following the murder of a volunteer.
ABC News chief investigative correspondant Brian Ross has been probing the murder of peace corp volunteer Kate Puzey.
She served in Benin, Africa and that's where she was killed.
The organization has been accused of trying to cover up the murder and not protecting it's women overseas.
But one Cathedral City pastor says serving in the peace corp was the highlight of her life.
"I felt very safe in the peace corps," said Rev. Dr. Amanda Burr, with United Methodist Church of Palm Springs.
Burr served from 1972 until 1974 in Columbia, South America.
She was a nurse in a country that has now become so dangerous that the Peace Corps is no longer there.
"I was the only gringa in Puerto Carreno Vichada," said Burr. "But I had Columbian allies, who took very, very good care of me and made sure that I was always safe and protected."
But Peace Corps volunteer Kate Puzey, 24, was not as fortunate.
"We're at the Badjoud march, my march."
Her colleagues loved her and so did the people she helped in Benin, Africa.
"I was at Caswa for two hours," said Puzey.
In March 2009, she became the 23rd woman in the Peace Corps to be murdered since the organization's inception.
She learned that another teacher and peace corps volunteer was sexually molesting girls at her school.
Puzey turned him in by sending what she thought was a confidential email to the Peace Corps.
The accused teacher's brother worked in the Peace Corps office in Benin, and officials say someone there exposed what Puzey did.
Her throat was slit after the accused teacher was fired.
"We miss you darling," said Harry Puzey, Kate's father.
"Kate died in March and by May, no more contact with the Peace Corps," said Lois Puzey, Kate's mother.
"I think it's possible for anybody in a foreign country to get themselves in trouble," said Burr, who also mentioned that it's important to note that the people serving overseas for the Peace Corps are volunteers. "As a matter of fact, when I came back I was a recruiter and the recruitment process is quite stringent for people to get into the Peace Corps."
Puzey's family was dissappointed by with the Peace Corps following the murder.
They were left in the dark on what happened.
Burr sypathizes with the family, but believes stories like this are isolated and don't represent the Peace Corps as a whole.
"It made all the difference in my life," said Burr. "It was perhaps the singular most important thing that I ever did, and led me on a path that has led me into the ministry as a matter of fact to because a pastor of a church."
Over the last decade, more than 1,000 women volunteers have been raped or sexually assaulted while serving in the Peace Corps.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: January, 2011; Peace Corps Benin; Directory of Benin RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Benin RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Crime; Murder
When this story was posted in May 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| 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. |
| 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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Story Source: KESQ
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Benin; Safety; Crime; Murder;
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