6,000 Former Volunteers Visit Schools Nationwide for Peace Corps Day 2002 |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today on Peace Corps Day, held in honor of the anniversary
of the day that President Kennedy signed the Executive Order establishing the
Peace Corps in 1961, more than 6,000 former Peace Corps volunteers shared their
overseas experiences with approximately 500,000 students nationwide, and Peace
Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez joined former volunteers at a public elementary
school in Washington D.C. to talk about the importance of international
volunteerism and cross cultural understanding.
In remarks to students and teachers at the Marie H. Reed Learning Center,
Vasquez said, "Now, more than ever, Americans need to know more about the
people, culture, and customs of other countries around the world. By telling
their stories on Peace Corps Day and throughout the year, former Peace Corps
volunteers are strengthening the ability of Americans to better understand the
world, themselves and others."
Following the all-school assembly, Vasquez joined program organizer, teacher
and former volunteer Mary Nasibi (Liberia 1965-67) and several students for an
overseas telephone call with Peace Corps Cameroon volunteer Vincent Baxter for a
30-minute conversation.
Twenty former Peace Corps volunteers also took part in the Marie Reed program
by giving classroom presentations about their experiences overseas.
Immediately following the school program, Vasquez spoke to Peace Corps
headquarters staff in the first of several addresses about his vision for the
agency. Vasquez described his pleasure in meeting with several returned
volunteers during the morning activities and talked about how pleased he was to
be at Peace Corps and how he looked forward to getting to know members of the
staff.
Vasquez also expressed confidence that the agency could reach President
Bush's goal of doubling the number of volunteers over the next five years and
increasing the number of Peace Corps countries. "Because it is Peace Corps Day,
we have a lot to celebrate. These are good times for the Peace Corps. It is a
priority for the administration. Fifteen thousand volunteers in five years is
achievable, and we are going to do everything in our power to make that happen,"
stated Vasquez, before a packed room.
Vasquez provided a brief update for the staff on recent meetings with
ambassadors to Costa Rica and the Kyrgyz Republic and announced that assessment
teams will be leaving in the near future for Afghanistan, Pakistan and
Bangladesh. He also detailed the importance of his impending trip to join the
teams in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and then spoke about continuing on to meet
with representatives in China and Peru. In Peru he will join Peru's President
Toledo and U.S. President Bush when they sign the bilateral agreement for Peace
Corps volunteers to return to Peru on March 24, 2002.
Director Vasquez relayed that recent life-defining events, including the
honor of being nominated for Peace Corps director by President Bush, recent
major surgery and rehabilitation followed by a harrowing escape from the White
House on September 11th , were motivation for him to want to make a significant
contribution to the country and to the world. "I can think of no better place
than to be here, to be with you and to work with you here at Peace Corps," added
Vasquez.
In addition to the thousands of former volunteers speaking in classrooms and
organizing events in their communities, other highlights of Peace Corps Day on
March 1 included:
- More than 30 currently serving Peace Corps volunteers spoke via telephone
call with classrooms in the United States.
- Ukraine Peace Corps staff and volunteers celebrated Peace Corps Day by
giving presentations in their communities, hosting an English language and
cultural fair and other activities.
- Six former volunteers shared their Peace Corps experiences with 600
American students who are participating in the Institute for Shipboard
Education's Semester at Sea program, aboard the S.S. Universe Explorer. On
Peace Corps Day, the S.S. Universe Explorer was between South Africa and
Mauritius and the entire day was filled with Peace Corps-related activities.
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