Nana Royer served in Colombia from 1965 to 67



"The Peace Corps got me started in a life of wanting to serve others as a calling of sorts. It reinforced my feeling that money in itself does not bring happiness. We in the U.S. have way more in the way of material possessions than we could possibly need."

Nana Royer served in Colombia from 1965 to 67

Peace Corps volunteers remember experience of service
Corps marking 50th anniversary

Posted: March 6, 2011 - 1:28am

By LORRAINE THOMPSON

As the nation celebrates the founding of the Peace Corps on its 50th anniversary, locals who served in the corps reflect on their service and how it molded their lives.

Among the Peace Corps volunteers in the St. Augustine area (known as Returned Peace Corps Volunteers or RPCV's) are David Miron and his wife Bernadette Miron, Nana Royer, Lin Smith and Max Royle. Each had his/her own reason to enlist in the volunteer organization whose mission was to provide technical assistance, help people outside the United States to understand the U.S. culture, and vice-versa. However, the scope of their work went far beyond anyone's imagination.[

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Nana Royer

Royer served in Columbia, South America from 1965 to 67.

Following graduation from college I worked as a secretary for a Peace Corps training group for the Virgin Islands and soon got the "bug" to join. Royer served as a volunteer in the Community Health Action Program.

"I taught basic healthy practice: use of latrines, boiling water, taught post-natal clinics relating to how to feed your baby, taught nutrition and gardening in the elementary school; coordinated with sponsors and community action efforts and involved local teenage community health volunteers," she said.

According to Royer, "The Peace Corps got me started in a life of wanting to serve others as a calling of sorts. It reinforced my feeling that money in itself does not bring happiness. We in the U.S. have way more in the way of material possessions than we could possibly need."

Royer summarized the effects the Peace Corps made in her life. "It confirmed my ability to be flexible and served to raise my awareness of life in other countries. It enhanced my problem-solving ability as well as my ability to make do with less."

Royer is currently a semi-retired Registered Nurse.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: March, 2011; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; The 1960's; Florida

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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DC you in September Come to Washington DC to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps from September 21 to 25. There will be an open house at Peace Corps Headquarters, advocacy training, a service day, a staff reunion that all living directors will attend, Peace Corps Night with the Washington Nationals, the Peace Corps Gala, Third Goal Bash, a memorial to fallen Peace Corps Volunteers at Arlington Cemetery, the 50th Anniversary Walk of Flags and the NPCA's Peace Festival. Here's the schedule of events.

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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.

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May 26, 2011: The RPCV in the White House The RPCV in the White House 8 Apr Peace Corps Recruiter Remembers Thomas Maresco 2 Mar Robbie Schwartz writes: How would my life have been different? 2 Mar Rajiv Joseph is a fresh and compelling voice in theater 5 Mar Robert Textor Releases Peace Corps Classic 13 Mar Chris Matthews writes: What's the Real Mission In Libya? 22 Mar Peace Corps Faces Budget Ax in FY2012 23 Mar Brendan Moroso writes: Revolution comes to North Africa 23 Mar Jessica Moon Bernstein has exhibition "Ourrubberos" 26 Mar Joshua Stern Founds Envaya to Provide Interent Access 26 Mar Richard Sitler Photographs PCVs around the world 27 Mar Scott Lacy is Executive Director of African Sky 29 Mar American Sailor Accused of Raping PCV in Uganda 24 Apr Scott Koepke Shares his Love for Dirt 26 Apr Jane Wolkowicz tried to be Strict Vegetarian in Kazakhstan 27 Apr George Packer Writes: Bin Laden: Better Late Than Never 2 May Clare Major Screens Film "Feast & Sacrifice" 4 May Steve Kruse and Salifu Mansaray met 40 years ago 4 May SuZanne Kimbrell Rocks in Dallas 12 May Nancy Sathre-Vogel writes:A Long Path to Nowhere 15 May Gal Beckerman writes: What is Peace Corps for? 15 May Katie Dyer Founded Fair Trade Folk Art Gallery 17 May Henry Wilhelm Honored for his Photography 25 May

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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.

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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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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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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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