Peace Corps

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I had the pleasure of hearing from Travis Axton, a West Coast representative of the United States Peace Corps. In class on Thursday April 10, 2008 he told the class about his interesting experiences of volunteering with the Peace Corps. We heard many interesting facts about the Peace Corps, and also enjoyed a few of the jokes that came along with the story telling.

The United States Peace Corps was founded over 48 years ago and has helped numerous countries all around the world. Each volunteer commits a 27 month long stay, in any one of 74 countries worldwide. There are three basic goals for each volunteer to gain by the end of the commitment:

1.) To learn a language, culture, make friends and develop partnerships

2.) Bring knowledge and skill to people

3.) Bring your knowledge back home, educate the people back home.

Most of their volunteers are sent to many different regions of Africa, and each of the volunteers should be prepared to be sent anywhere. Each volunteer is assigned to their areas based on their skill set.

                I found that Travis’s presentation to be very interesting, he had some very amusing stories about the people of his tribe and the tough times he had learning Bembo. I thought it was very interesting that many times the villages and tribes that have Peace Corps volunteers have asked for them to be there, and they are often treated like the Chief’s of their villages. Travis was even lucky enough to have a chicken slaughtered in front of him, which was even a new experience to his veteran boss, whom promptly left after this engagement. The thing that I found most interesting about his experience was how respect was one of the most important elements of this tribe, and how he was able to survive off only $100 per week, which was like ‘hitting the lottery for a family of four’.

                I have also found more information on the Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov. The Peace Corps was originally founded by former President John F Kennedy when he challenged the students at the University of Michigan to serve their country. Since it was initiated there have been more than 190,000 volunteers sent to over 140 host countries helping everything from AIDS to information technology. Today the Peace Corps is one of the most influential and respected charitable organization’s helping impoverished countries.

                The cultures of the different worlds around the worlds are very intriguing and how they still have high regards for respect in their communities. The Peace Corps is a very important element of the US government’s foreign policies. They have a good idea and concept, to be there to help the communities at large that need help, and not to be there for some other cause. Even though, the experiences learned through the Peace Corps are very interesting I know that this commitment is just not for me. But, after hearing his presentation  and knowing all the commitment and work that goes into each of these volunteers, I have more respect for each person that calls themselves a Peace Corps volunteer.