The Peace Corps at 50
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2011-06-02/peace-corps-50
President John F. Kennedy called the Peace Corps an expression of America's responsibilities to the "great common cause of world development." But as the Peace Corps celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, it's an organization at a crossroads. Almost 8,000 volunteers are currently serving in 77 countries. But reports are shining a harsh spotlight on volunteer safety issues. Director Aaron Williams joins Kojo to discuss the future of the Peace Corps.
Guests
Aaron Williams
Director, Peace Corps
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In this footage from 1961, President Kennedy outlines his vision for his new Peace Corps program:
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Our daughter is currently serving her second year in Albania. She is teaching English as a second language in a high school She also provides group lesson in English to interested community members. We talk with her weekly via Skype. Many in her cohort blog about their experiences. We are privildieged and proud of her service.
Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is actually safer than going to college, looking at the number of rapes or assaults per 1,000 people. Saying that it is dangerous to be a Volunteer may be accurate, but it really should be put in context. Compare the dangers in Peace Corps to the dangers at colleges or in the military.
That said, how the Peace Corps responded to those incidents that did occur was not always perfect; but it wasn't always terrible either. The goal now is to improve all responses, both the good and the bad.
kevin
RPCV Panama 2007-2009
I was a volunteer in Mongolia 2003-2005. I come from a family with 3 volunteers (Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan)! My experience in the Mongolian countryside was amazing and like most volunteers, I probably learned more from the Mongolians than they learned from me! In response to a previous caller, I think it's partially the responsibility of the volunteer to educate themselves about the country they are going to serve in. Additionally, if the volunteer is uncomfortable or threatened in their site, it's also their responsibility to bring that to PC's attention in that country. Mongolia also had a system of peer counselors set up, so that if volunteers were not comfortable talking to the admin in country, they could try and problem solve with their fellow volunteers first.
I was a volunteer in Mongolia 2003-2005. I come from a family with 3 volunteers (Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan)! My experience in the Mongolian countryside was amazing and like most volunteers, I probably learned more from the Mongolians than they learned from me! In response to a previous caller, I think it's partially the responsibility of the volunteer to educate themselves about the country they are going to serve in. Additionally, if the volunteer is uncomfortable or threatened in their site, it's also their responsibility to bring that to PC's attention in that country. Mongolia also had a system of peer counselors set up, so that if volunteers were not comfortable talking to the admin in country, they could try and problem solve with their fellow volunteers first.