The Kingdom celebrates Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary!

Hello Dear Reader,

September has been a month of celebration! I have been fortunate enough to celebrate Peace Corps' 50th anniversary twice in one month, which nicely coincides with my 5 year anniversary of officially swearing in as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer (September 2006)!

As you are aware, I was honored to serve as a guest panelist during Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health's celebration of 50 years of Peace Corps. Panelists participating in this event represented each decade of Peace Corps service to the United States and communities around the world. Today, along with my friend Blain (RPCV Paraguay, 2004-2008), I attended another celebration hosted by Peace Corps- Lesotho. The invitation requested guests to either wear business attire or 'national dress'. Believe it or not, I have not yet purchased a seshoeshoe (a dress worn in both Lesotho amongst the Basotho and in South Africa amongst the Batswana (where I served in PC))- pronounced se-shway-shway. Instead I wore a beautiful dress representing my new home away from home- Ethiopia!


Today's celebration was well represented by dignitaries from both Lesotho and the United States, specifically His Majesty King Letsie and U.S. Ambassador Bond, respectively. The common thread woven throughout the celebratory event was the enormous contribution Peace Corps Volunteers have made in the lives of not only the communities they've served, but in their home communities as well. One of the dignitaries from Lesotho commented about his personal experience with Peace Corps. One of his former teachers was a PCV in the 1960's. The impact this 23 year old teacher made on his life has made a lasting impact...some 50 years later!

In her speech, Ambassador Bond noted that Peace Corps Volunteers show that the world is both big and small- big in that each culture/community is unique in its own way, small in that, with each difference, there are many more similarities. Further, she stated that once an individual accepts the call to service in the Peace Corps, they will forever be a Peace Corps Volunteer. Just think about it, you'll never hear someone say, "I am an ex-PCV." No, we are "Returned Peace Corps Volunteers", because we have completed our two years (or longer) of service to our PC community, but spend the rest of our lives living out the 3rd goal (see previous post on 3rd goal). We are forever connected to the Peace Corps. I am so honored to be part of this awesome fraternity!

In addition to speeches, the audience was also treated to:

Cultural performances



Music sung by currently serving PCVs, and


We were honored to witness the new batch of Lesotho PCV being sworn in by Ambassador Bond and presented with certificates by King Letsie. How cool is that?!


Something else that touched my heart was to see that RPCVs, who served in countries all over the world and are now based in Lesotho, were well represented!

I'd say that today was a great day! Wouldn't you?!

As I end this little blog post, I'll leave you with a video of President John F. Kennedy's University of Michigan speech (1960), calling students to serve their country on a mission of global peace- a speech that inspired the development of the U.S. Peace Corps.




...and at the end of every speech or gathering in Lesotho, we pray for- Khotso (Peace)! Pula (Rain)! Nala (Prosperity)!

How far would you go to serve your country? Peace Corps!

Danielle

Emory University/Peace Corps Panel Discussion Link

If you're interested in watching the live streaming of tomorrow's panel discussion from 1-3pm EST, follow this link:

http://mediasite.sph.emory.edu/RSPHMediaSite/Viewer/?peid=dd5b6a6fac3e4300935905ba40fc33fc1d

NEWS ALERT

Peace Corps Atlanta Regional Office
Contact: Steve Hunsicker
305-929-3066
shunsicker@peacecorps.gov

August 12, 2011

For Immediate Release Contact: Steve Hunsicker
305-929-3066

Emory University and Peace Corps Foster Public Health in American Communities

Thursday, September 8, Emory University and the Peace Corps will celebrate the Peace Corps 50^th Anniversary with the event, “Honoring Our Public Health Legacy, Inspiring Future Generations.” Co-sponsored by the Rollins School of Public Health and the Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, the event will include a discussion with current Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, and a panel session with key public health professionals who have served in each of the decades of Peace Corps’ history.

In a special feature of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the Peace Corps and the Rollins School of Public Health will sign a partnership agreement for the school to join the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, a graduate school initiative—including financial aid and career-building internships—reserved especially for returned Peace Corps volunteers.

“The Peace Corps is delighted to have the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University as a partner in the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program,” said Director Williams. “This new partnership not only opens doors to an enriching graduate school opportunity at a reduced cost, it also enables returned Peace Corps volunteers to continue their work in public service through meaningful internships in underserved American communities. Experience overseas, combined with graduate studies, position a Peace Corps Fellow well for all future endeavors.”

“We’ve piloted a Fellows program since August 2009 and witnessed great outcomes from our first group of Fellows. RPCVs add a unique perspective to leadership and service, enhance our academic programs and students' field experiences, and reinforce a culture of service that is integral to public health,” said Dr. Richard Levinson, Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Rollins School of Public Health.

As part of the new program, Fellows will participate in internships serving international refugee populations in the local Atlanta community. To this end, Emory has established partnerships with various local nonprofits including Refugee Family Services, Lutheran Services of Georgia, Clarkston Development Foundation, Fugees Family, Global Village School and Refugee Resettlement & Immigration Services of Atlanta (RRISA).

About Emory University

Emory University, founded in 1836, has become a major national teaching, research and service center with a total enrollment exceeding 12, 930 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The school ranks among the 15 universities with the largest endowments and is one of the fastest growing research universities in the country. The Rollins School of Public Health is 20 years old, and Emory has offered degrees in public health for 34 years.

About the Peace Corps:

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, by executive order. Throughout 2011, Peace Corps is commemorating 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world. Historically, more than 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Today, 8,655 volunteers are working with local communities in 76 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. Visitwww.peacecorps.gov for more information.

About the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program

The Coverdell Fellows Program, formerly known as Fellows/USA, started in 1985 at Teachers College, Columbia University and now includes more than 60 participating universities in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The program is specifically reserved for students who have already completed their tenure abroad with the Peace Corps. More details can be found at peacecorps.gov/fellows.

About the Peace Corps’ Third Goal

The Peace Corps’ third goal, articulated by President John F. Kennedy, aims "to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans." This goal is realized primarily through the efforts of the more than 200,000 returned volunteers who share their stories and experiences with their fellow Americans. Within the Peace Corps, the Office of Public Engagement works to promote the agency’s third goal through: Coverdell World Wise Schools, an initiative which develops free teaching and learning resources—based on volunteers’ experiences—for K-12 classrooms; Returned Volunteer Services, which facilitates returned volunteers’ transitions back to the United States; and the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, which partners with graduate schools across the country to provide returned volunteers with scholarships and career-building internships in underserved American communities. For more information, visitpeacecorps.gov/engage.

For additional information, contact:

Tarvis E. Thompson, Communications Manager
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
O: 404.727.3516
M: 404.693.4766
tthomp8@emory.edu