2011.03.13: March 13, 2011: Almost 30 years after Gary Burniske joined the Peace Corps to serve in Colombia, he's doing similar work for another organization
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2011.03.13: March 13, 2011: Almost 30 years after Gary Burniske joined the Peace Corps to serve in Colombia, he's doing similar work for another organization
Almost 30 years after Gary Burniske joined the Peace Corps to serve in Colombia, he's doing similar work for another organization
It was a way to help poor people in developing countries have a better life, Burniske said, while helping the environment. He also was looking for a chance to see the world and maybe even get a career boost. "I would have a lot of responsibility early on," he said, something "that was much harder to get breaking into the job market in the States." In an e-mail from Colombia, Burniske said that the "Peace Corps helped mold my character, beliefs and values for helping the world's poor." It launched a 30-year career working in Asia, Latin America, the former Soviet Union and Africa.
Almost 30 years after Gary Burniske joined the Peace Corps to serve in Colombia, he's doing similar work for another organization
Local volunteers look back as Peace Corps turns 50
Caption: Returned Peace Corps volunteer Gary Burniske, now the leader of Mercy Corps in Colombia, teaches urban tree planting in a poor Afro-Colombian community, Gran Arroyo, in the district of Cartagena.
By Tom Vogt
Columbian Staff Reporter
Monday, March 14, 2011
[Excerpt]
Almost 30 years after Gary Burniske joined the Peace Corps, he's doing similar work for another organization. Burniske is country director for Mercy Corps in Colombia.
It started with two back-to-back Peace Corps assignments in Central America. He worked from 1977-1979 as a forestry specialist in the highlands of Guatemala. From 1979-1981, he worked in watershed management in the Costa Rica National Park Service.
It was a way to help poor people in developing countries have a better life, Burniske said, while helping the environment. He also was looking for a chance to see the world and maybe even get a career boost.
"I would have a lot of responsibility early on," he said, something "that was much harder to get breaking into the job market in the States."
In an e-mail from Colombia, Burniske said that the "Peace Corps helped mold my character, beliefs and values for helping the world's poor."
It launched a 30-year career working in Asia, Latin America, the former Soviet Union and Africa.
Now, with Mercy Corps, "I am the country director managing millions of dollars and coordinating with high-level government ministries, donors, embassies and the UN agencies," he said. However, "I still get out to the field with the people we are helping. That is very gratifying."
Tom Vogt: 360-735-4558 or tom.vogt@columbian.com.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: March, 2011; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; NGO's; Service; State of Washington
When this story was posted in September 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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Story Source: The Columbian
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Colombia; NGOs; Service
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