Peace Corps - Best Experience of Your Life?

by Mariam Mostamandy · 2009-08-11 09:44:00 UTC
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(photo credit: artisrams)

Our comment of the week is from William Tarpai, on the Peace Corps Is What You Make of It post. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who continues to be involved with Peace Corps, William shares some of guest blogger Molly's views on the Peace Corps experience. William also shares his hopes and expectations for the future of Peace Corps and the recently confirmed Director, Aaron Williams. Finally, he suggests a way we can take action to help. Here is the comment:

Molly is spot on.  Peace Corps isn't for everyone, but as almost everyone who has been a PCV will tell you, it was one of the best experiences of your life. Growing the number of co-sponsors and getting commitments to support $450M will be absolutely critical in helping us assess if we have the votes necessary to pursue a floor amendment

Speaking as a member of the National Peace Corps Association who is behind in paying their annual membership dues, and having been a PCV and a United Nations Volunteer as well as a 6 year PC staff member, I would like to see a Bigger, Better and Bolder Peace Corps!

Peace Corps Director Williams has a big job in front of him.  He needs all the support that he can get to bring the reform to Peace Corps and serving Peace Corps Volunteers to help them make progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the countries that Peace Corps now serves, and the more than 20 new countries that have requested Peace Corps Volunteers.

What can be done by rank and file supporters of the President:

Meet/Engage with your Senators and/or their staff during the August Recess: Plan a meeting in his/her district offices or find out about any public events of your Senators.     - URGE your Senators  to support a robust investment for the Peace Corps by becoming a co-sponsor of Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 [s1382], and helping to champion a $450 Million Peace Corps appropriation for Fiscal Year 2010.

William, please contact me to choose where you would like your charity gift sent.

Mariam Mostamandy
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