Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
There are a number of organizations and initiatives that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are encouraged to utilize and support:
Peace Corps Main Office
A wealth of general Information for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers can be found on the Peace Corps main website at:
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former
Friends of the Dominican Republic
An active non-profit organization composed of but not limited to Peace Corps Dominican Republic Returned Volunteers, the Friends of the Dominican Republic finances current Volunteer projects in the Dominican Republic, maintains active networks of former volunteers, and publishes updated news on PCDR. Visit their site at: www.fotdr.org.
Peace Corps Partnership Program
Interested in providing crucial financial support to current projects initiated by Peace Corps Volunteers in the Dominican Republic? Please visit: Peace Corps Partnership Program.
The 45th Anniversary Celebration
The following article first appeared in WorldView Magazine, Volume 20, Number 2,
SUMMER 2007. WorldView Magazine is published by The National Peace Corps Association,
http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org
Country Celebrations
Examining the 45-year anniversaries
by Aaron Wiliams & Kevin F.F. Quigley
In recent months, the Dominican Republic and Thailand celebrated 45 years of
Peace Corps service in their countries. NPCA was lucky to be well represented
at both these events. A member of our board of directors, Aaron Williams,
who served in the Dominican Republic from 1967 to 1970, attended the events in
the Dominican Republic in early February. Ginny Kirkwood, who is a member of our
Advisory Council, a former board member and former Thailand country director,
joined NPCA's president, Kevin Quigley, to attend the events in Thailand in late
March. Kevin served in Thailand from 1976 to 1979.
These anniversary celebrations provide shining examples of what we as a community
might do to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. They dramatically
evidence that these country programs have evolved, that serving volunteers continue
to make important contributions and that Peace Corps does not simply belong to RPCVs,
but rather it touches the lives of the American and host-country staff, colleagues,
family and friends. It is important for us now to find adequate and sufficient ways
to honor this anniversary, so that anyone who is interested can play a role in celebrating
Peace Corps' many accomplishments, and rebuilding these life-long connections among
so many of us around the world.
Yet these celebratory events cannot simply be about the past. They must show how
Peace Corps can strengthen its role to defeat the "common enemies of man: poverty
and war" that President Kennedy established Peace Corps to combat.
Quigley and Williams describe what they saw.
The conference in the Dominican Republic was a delightful blend of fond reunions among the RPCVs, social events, and opportunities to learn about the current projects being implemented by PCVs and their counterparts throughout the country.
We had an amazing time. We enjoyed an Opening Dominican Fiesta with local food, music,
and dancing. We participated in workshop discussions of 45 years of Peace Corps in the DR,
contemporary political, social, economic conditions in the country and a simulation of
current Peace Corps training. Volunteers led workshops on the environment, health,
youth, education and business program sectors. I think the nature of these workshops
illustrates the depth of the friendship and partnership between our two countries.
I believe it was successful because of the superb planning of the partner organizations,
Friends of the Dominican Republic and Fondo Quisqueya, two organizations that worked
closely with Peace Corps Country Director Romeo Massey, his staff, and many volunteers
currently serving there.
We were welcomed by some of the former Dominican leaders who were instrumental
in the early success of the Peace Corps there, and we were honored to have as
our special guests Dominican Secretary of State for Foreign Affair Carlos Morales-Troncoso;
U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Dr. Hans H. Hertell; the Dominican Ambassador
to the United States, Dr. Flavio Darío Espinal, and Peace Corps Deputy Director
Jody Olsen and Inter America & Pacific Regional Director Allene Zanger.
The grand finale was a "Noche Dominicana" celebrated in the Old Colonial City
with great Dominican food, drink and dancing, a fun evening with Peace Corps
and Dominican friends and colleagues.
Following the formal activities, many RPCVs then visited their sites, many
for the first time in decades, and/or enjoyed touring the nation's lovely tourist
destinations.
Aaron Williams, RPCV 1967-70. See more about DR events at http://www.fotdr.org.
Walk, talk, shake hands, kiss cheeks; make friends and open up.Scott FreemanFormer volunteer in the Dominican Republic 2005-2007.