2011.09.26: September 26, 2011: William Blakely Ruble serves as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana

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By Admin1 (admin) (70.254.224.177) on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 1:30 pm: Edit Post

William Blakely Ruble serves as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana

William Blakely Ruble serves as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana

I'm serving as a community capacity builder in a program dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS. My primary role has placed me in a clinic, assisting in systems strengthening and information management. The clinic I'm working in is severely understaffed and has an infrastructure that desperately needs improvement. Outside the clinic, I spend a lot of my time teaching English at a local primary school. I have a class of around 30 kids who are 11-13. While my work at the clinic is important, teaching is becoming my passion. As a volunteer, I need to be able to see visible change so I know that my time is well spent. Seeing a child take an active interest in learning helps me through the difficult days of service.

William Blakely Ruble serves as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana

The Peace Corps celebrates five decades

Who from here is serving over there

By Dick Hughes

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 11:42 a.m. Comments (0)

[Excerpt]

William Blakely Ruble, Spartanburg

Serving in the Peace Corps has been one of my goals since I was 15. I would daydream about living in another culture and not only of having the chance to serve but also taking the opportunity to grow as a person.

I knew from the onset it would be one of the greatest challenges of my life. I knew Peace Corps service would come with all kinds of struggles. These include overcoming cultural barriers, dealing with loneliness and separation, and leaving behind the things I love the most.

Today, I'm a Peace Corps volunteer in Mahalapye, Botswana, and I can honestly say service is every bit as hard as I imagined.

I'm serving as a community capacity builder in a program dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS. My primary role has placed me in a clinic, assisting in systems strengthening and information management. The clinic I'm working in is severely understaffed and has an infrastructure that desperately needs improvement.

Outside the clinic, I spend a lot of my time teaching English at a local primary school. I have a class of around 30 kids who are 11-13. While my work at the clinic is important, teaching is becoming my passion. As a volunteer, I need to be able to see visible change so I know that my time is well spent. Seeing a child take an active interest in learning helps me through the difficult days of service.

Every day of service comes with its own challenges. However, embracing these challenges allows volunteers to participate in an amazing journey of self-discovery. I've never been more challenged, nor have I ever felt so in touch with myself.

William Blakely Ruble, 23, began his two-year commitment in April. William is a graduate of Dorman High School and Wofford College.




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Headlines: September, 2011; Peace Corps Botswana; Directory of Botswana RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Botswana RPCVs; South Carolina





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Peasants Come Last Date: October 23 2011 No: 1564 Peasants Come Last
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Gordon Radley Fulfills Pledge to Fallen Brother 6 Oct
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Taylor Dibbert writes: PC Safety Claims Mostly Baseless 29 Sep
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Ghana RPCV Bob Klein has written about Ghana I - the first volunteers to arrive at their country of service. But now as the Peace Corps prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Colombia RPCV Ronald A. Schwartz writes that, in his opinion, the agency's account of its early history is flawed and that while the Peace Corps' web site proclaims that the first volunteers were members of Ghana I, "in fact, the first Peace Corps volunteers were, and are, the members of a group known as Colombia I."

Congressional Hearings on Sexual Assault Date: June 3 2011 No: 1523 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 Date: March 8 2011 No: 1513 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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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 Date: January 18 2011 No: 1477 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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"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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Story Source: Journal Watchdog

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Botswana

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