By Admin1 (admin) (70.254.224.177) on Sunday, August 07, 2011 - 11:53 am: Edit Post |
Peace Corps Volunteer "Under Our Feet" writes: I can't ignore the most recent news in the Peace Corps South Africa sphere, but I also can't talk about. It makes me feel sick.
I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it. It taints the reputation of Peace Corps South Africa and the rest of the honest, hard-working Peace Corps Volunteers in this country. A google news search will give you the information you need to know.
Peace Corps Volunteer "Under Our Feet" writes: I can't ignore the most recent news in the Peace Corps South Africa sphere, but I also can't talk about. It makes me feel sick.
Changes
August 6, 2011 by underourfeet
I can't ignore the most recent news in the Peace Corps South Africa sphere, but I also can't talk about. It makes me feel sick. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it. It taints the reputation of Peace Corps South Africa and the rest of the honest, hard-working Peace Corps Volunteers in this country. A google news search will give you the information you need to know.
Otherwise, my thoughts are on leaving. In one week I will leave my site with the luggage I came to country with and I will say goodbye to my family and friends in the village. I'm starting the real push towards dismantling my room, sweeping up the dust under my bed, throwing away old receipts that fell behind the fridge, giving the hat I'll never wear again to my gogo. This feels like it should be a time for introspection and reflection but I think that will come later. Right now, I'm just ready to move on with the feeling that I've done what I came here to do, whatever that was two years ago. I feel satisfied and that's enough for now.
The learners and I finished the library this week. It ended up being quite a lot of work but it turned out nicely and a few of the teachers even told me I did beautiful work. Not a bad way to leave things. The school is throwing me a mini-farewell function on Friday and knowing how South African functions can drag on I'm grateful for the "mini" part of it.
After a few days of medical and paperwork at the Peace Corps office I'll be flying into Portland, Maine, arriving on the 19th. I wanted to catch some of that gorgeous New England summer before it morphs into fall and a long winter and to see family I haven't seen in over two years. On the 24th it's back to Iowa to enjoy the last few weeks I'll have to spend with my mother before she leaves for Palestine in early September. And that is all the plan I have so far. I'll be applying for jobs I suppose and trying not to get too depressed over the economy that did not revive in the two years I was away. If anyone has any leads on jobs in the D.C. area, let me know!
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: August, 2011; Peace Corps South Africa; Directory of South Africa RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for South Africa RPCVs; Blogs - South Africa; Sexual Assault and Harassment; Crime
When this story was posted in August 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Peace Corps Featured at Smithsonian
Take a look at our photo essay of Peace Corps' featured program at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC to see how the festival showcased the work of Peace Corps volunteers in economic development and income generation; ways volunteers have helped support local groups to help educate communities; and food and cooking traditions that have played a role in the Peace Corps experience. New: Enjoy photos from the second week of the exposition.
Congressional Hearings on Sexual Assault
Congress held hearings on the sexual assault of Peace Corps volunteers. Read the testimony of RPCVs on how the problem is still ongoing, and not limited to any particular country or region. Director Williams says that "it has become apparent to me that the Peace Corps has not always been sufficiently responsive or sensitive to victims of crime and their families. I sincerely regret that." Read what the Peace Corps is doing to address the issue. Latest: Background on sexual assault of PCVs.
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."
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.
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 .
Read the stories and leave your comments.