Frequently Asked Questions
The following are questions that Peace Corps Volunteers at all stages of service ask about Coverdell World Wise Schools' programs. We hope these FAQs can answer any questions you might have. If, however, you still have questions after reading this page, feel free to contact us.
| Q: | What is Coverdell World Wise Schools? |
| A: | Coverdell World Wise Schools is located in the Peace Corps Office of Domestic Programs, which promotes the agency's third goal of increasing Americans' understanding of other peoples. Since it began in 1989, World Wise Schools has helped more than 3 million U.S. students communicate directly with Peace Corps Volunteers all over the world. Initially set up as a correspondence match program between Volunteers and U.S. classes, World Wise Schools expanded its scope over almost two decades by providing a broad range of resources for educators. |
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| Q: | What is the Correspondence Match program? |
| A: | The Correspondence Match program facilitates correspondence between an educator, his or her students, and a currently serving Peace Corps Volunteer. Participants exchange letters, stories, artifacts, photos, e-mail messages, and even phone calls. Volunteers have enjoyed successful matches with traditional classrooms, youth groups, Scout troops, and many other types of student organizations. |
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| Q: | Why should I participate as a Peace Corps Volunteer? |
| A: | Through the Correspondence Match program, World Wise Schools offers Volunteers a meaningful way to fulfill the Peace Corps' third goal during service overseas to increase Americans' understanding of other peoples and cultures. As a Volunteer, you will receive reimbursements for the postage costs of one letter per month to each educator with whom you are corresponding. Your educator match will also receive all of World Wise Schools' new classroom resources, including information about how to get involved with your overseas projects through the Peace Corps Partnership Program. |
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| Q: | How can I enroll in the Correspondence Match program? |
| A: | Peace Corps applicants, invitees, and Volunteers may apply by sending us an e-mail through our enrollment page. If you are currently serving overseas, please get in touch with your In-Country Contact (ICC) for World Wise Schools. The ICC can give you a Correspondence Match enrollment form to complete and forward your enrollment information to World Wise Schools. If you are in the United States you can contact us via phone, letter, or e-mail. You may enroll in the Correspondence Match program at any time during your Peace Corps service. |
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| Q: | Can I sign up with one or more educators I already know? |
| A: | Sure! World Wise Schools encourages you to tell former teachers or other friends and family members who are teachers about the Correspondence Match program. The best time to arrange this type of match is before you leave for Peace Corps service. To set up your match, simply fill out your information in the Volunteer enrollment e-mail on the Correspondence Match Volunteer sign-up page, and then ask your educator partner to send us an enrollment e-mail (available on the Correspondence Match Educator sign-up page), specifying your name. If you do not have time to arrange the match before you start your service, you may contact the educator once you are overseas and send World Wise Schools the contact information for that person. If you would like to correspond with more than one educator you know, that's fine. Just submit an enrollment form for each of the educators. Consider your own time constraints as you consider how many matches you would like. If you know other educators but think you won't have the time to correspond with all of them, encourage them to enroll in the program, and we can match them with other Volunteers around the world. |
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| Q: | If I already know my teacher's name and address, do I have to wait for official notification from World Wise Schools before I start writing? |
| A: | No. You may begin corresponding right away. Keep in mind, however, that you will not begin to receive postage reimbursements until you are officially sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer at the end of pre-service training. |
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| Q: | How long does it take to be matched to an educator once I enroll? |
| A: | Depending upon the Volunteer's geographic requests and the number of educators interested in the Volunteer's region of service, Volunteers can expect to wait several months before being notified of their educator match. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you enroll with a former teacher, friend, or family member who is a teacher so that you can get started right away. If you do not know any educators with whom you would like to correspond and would like World Wise Schools to match you with an educator as quickly as possible, please specify that you have "no preference" geographically. |
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| Q: | When will I receive my educator's contact information and Correspondence Match materials? |
| A: | You will receive an e-mail and a letter from World Wise Schools with your educator's contact information, along with our Handbook for Educators and Volunteers, as soon as your match has been processed and you have arrived in your country of service. Sometimes overseas mailings can be delayed, so we appreciate your patience. |
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| Q: | Do educators and Volunteers have to follow a set curriculum while corresponding? |
| A: | No. Educators and Volunteers share the responsibility of shaping their exchange and choosing the content of their correspondence. The World Wise Schools Handbook for Educators and Volunteers serves as a guide for those participating in the correspondence match, offering suggestions for the correspondence. There is no required curriculum that teachers and Volunteers must follow, but World Wise Schools offers a wide array of resources that we encourage teachers and Volunteers to use. |
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| Q: | Will my educator match receive information about my country of service? |
| A: | No. The educator does not receive educational materials that describe the Volunteer's country of service. However, educators will receive the educational materials World Wise Schools produces while they are enrolled in the program, along with our Handbook for Educators and Volunteers. |
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| Q: | May I visit my educator's classroom before, during, or after my service? |
| A: | If you already know your educator match and have an opportunity to visit his or her group of students before you leave for service, World Wise Schools encourages you to set up a time to visit. This is a wonderful way to connect with the students and get your correspondence off to a winning start. If you visit the United States at any point during your service, this is also a great opportunity to visit your educator's class and meet the students in person. You can also use this time to show photographs, clothing, and other artifacts from your country of service. We strongly encourage returned Peace Corps Volunteers to visit their educator's classroom as well as other classrooms through the Speakers Match program. This is an excellent opportunity to share your experiences and fulfill the Peace Corps' mission. |
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| Q: | Are Volunteers reimbursed for postage costs? Are educators? |
| A: | Volunteers are reimbursed for the cost of one letter per month per educator with whom they are enrolled in the Correspondence Match program. Keep in mind that you will not begin to receive monthly reimbursements until after you are sworn in as a Volunteer. Educators are not reimbursed for any postage costs. |
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| Q: | How often should I correspond with my educator? Is the Correspondence Match program a large commitment of my time? |
| A: | World Wise Schools recommends that the Volunteer and the educator exchange at least one letter or e-mail each month. We find it is best to set aside the same day each month for writing your letter. This way you and the teacher are ensured a lasting and productive correspondence. If you have not heard from your educator for a while, do not wait for a letter before writing again. This sort of "question and response" exchange can be difficult to sustain due to postal delays, and it can lead to several months of silence while both of you wait for a letter. We also suggest that you number your letters so that you and the educator can more easily keep track of the letters that have been sent and received. |
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| Q: | Can I incorporate my World Wise Schools correspondence into my primary and secondary projects? |
| A: | Yes, many Volunteers incorporate their World Wise Schools correspondence into their primary projects. Likewise, the Correspondence Match program is a popular secondary project for Volunteers. The Peace Corps Partnership Program, administered from Peace Corps headquarters, provides an easy opportunity for World Wise Schools educators and students to participate in your Volunteer work by combining project sponsorship and cross-cultural exchange. If you or your educator are interested, we encourage you to visit the Peace Corps Partnership Program website for more information. |
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| Q: | What do I do if I haven't heard from my educator for many months? |
| A: | If you have accounted for postal delays and still have not heard from your educator, contact your In-Country Contact at post and explain your situation. If you have e-mail access you may also contact World Wise Schools directly. Your ICC and World Wise Schools staff are ready to assist you with any problems that may arise. Please remember that World Wise Schools will not know that you are having communication difficulties with your educator unless we hear from you. |
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| Q: | What happens if I am unable to continue correspondence with my educator? |
| A: | If you end service early or are otherwise unable to continue your correspondence with your educator, please notify your In-Country Contact at post and/or contact World Wise Schools. Please state why you are unable to continue corresponding and any other relevant information we might need to know. |
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| Q: | What happens to the match when I finish my Peace Corps service? |
| A: | When you complete Peace Corps service, in addition to hearing from you, your educator match will be notified by World Wise Schools and offered an opportunity to re-enroll with another Peace Corps Volunteer. If you know of a Volunteer in your country of service who is waiting for a match and who would like to continue the correspondence with your educator match, please notify World Wise Schools, and we will be happy to arrange the new match. When you return to the United States, we encourage you to visit your educator's students and other classrooms as a Speakers Match participant. |
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| Q: | Can I sign up for Correspondence Match as a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV)? |
| A: | Maybe. Correspondence Match is a connection between a currently serving Volunteer and an educator. If you are an educator and would like to exchange letters with a currently serving Volunteer, sign up here. |
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| Q: | What is the Speakers Match program? |
| A: | The Speakers Match program links returned Peace Corps Volunteers with educators and students who want to hear about Peace Corps experiences. It is at the heart of fulfilling the Peace Corps' third goal—to increase Americans' understanding of other peoples and cultures. Any returned Peace Corps Volunteer who would like to speak at a school or other local organization may contact Speakers Match to be linked with a school or other organization that has requested a speaker. You will receive information about participating as an RPCV speaker near the end of your service. To enroll as a participant, contact World Wise Schools. |
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| Q: | Why should I get involved with Speakers Match? |
| A: | We think Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Mary Kay Jou and Jennifer Kinniff say it best: "I believe that Peace Corps Week is a wonderful experience for all involved. It gives RPCVs the chance to reminisce and remember all the special once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Because coming home is so difficult for many, it gives a voice to the stories that were buried in order to re-assimilate to American life. Peace Corps Week opens up the minds of American students who have not yet traveled. And for our international students, be they refugees or immigrants, it gives a sense of pride, a sense of home, and a sense of belonging." —Mary Kay Jou, RPCV Mali "Wherever you choose to present, the benefits to you, your country of service, and your audience will last beyond the event itself. A presentation is your opportunity to counter any misconceptions or lack of knowledge about your host country among Americans. You'll open the eyes of your audience to customs, beliefs, and adventures many have never imagined. You could even be the inspiration for some future Peace Corps Volunteers." —Jennifer Kinniff, RPCV Russia Far East |
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| Q: | Where can I find a place to speak about my Peace Corps experience? |
| A: | Check out Peace Corps' advice on finding a venue for a speaking engagement. If you're an educator or community leader and would like a Volunteer to speak at your organization, contact Speakers Match. Or get in touch with World Wise Schools at 202.692.1450 or wwsinfo@peacecorps.gov. |
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| Q: | Can I speak to a youth group or other student organization? |
| A: | Yes. Feel free to reach out to your community. Often you will find that youth groups like after-school care, church groups, day camps, and Boy/Girl Scouts are very receptive. |
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| Q: | Do you have any free Peace Corps T-shirts, hats, yo-yos, or patches to give away when I speak? |
| A: | Sorry, we don't. But take a look at the NPCA's store and see if you find what you're looking for. World Wise Schools offers a variety of educational resources for preparing a great Peace Corps presentation. There is also a package of materials the Peace Corps sends out for Peace Corps Week which RPCVs can receive by filling out this form. Finally, look over the Peace Corps' online presentation resources and presentation suggestions for tips to make your event a memorable one. |
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| Q: | If I am an RPCV and a teacher, can I participate in Coverdell World Wise Schools as an educator? |
| A: | Absolutely. All educators—RPCVs and non-RPCVs—are encouraged to participate in the Correspondence Match program and Peace Corps Week. Take a look at our lesson plans, Building Bridges, Water in Africa, and all of the other resources we produce. |
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