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More than a billion people—almost one-fifth of the world's population—do not have access to safe drinking water. (WHO/UNICEF)
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Forty-seven years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy launched the Peace Corps. The agency was conceived idealistically as an effort to send volunteers to work in underserved communities around the world. It wasn’t easy getting the first group together back in 1961: Huge bureaucratic obstacles, including vetting the backgrounds of the volunteers, had to be overcome. Nevertheless, after just a few months, the first Peace Corps Volunteers departed for West Africa, where they served in Ghana.
Today, almost 50 years later, more than 190,000 Volunteers have served in 139 countries, and a 30-year high of more than 8,000 Volunteers are currently assigned in 74 countries. The agency annually celebrates Peace Corps Week around its March 1 anniversary by encouraging former Volunteers and their families to tell their stories in classrooms and other venues around the United States. However, this effort to connect former Volunteers with their communities actually extends all year long. World Wise Schools sponsors the Speakers Match program, which helps teachers and others find former Volunteers who are eager to speak to groups.
 Go to the Speakers Match Page |
Spotlight on World Water Day—March 20, 2008
Focus on the World’s Water |
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In the United States, the vast majority of people take for granted that they can turn on their taps and receive clean water they can drink and use for cooking, washing, and irrigating—and for sanitation. |
When it comes to sanitation, more than a third of the people on Earth—2.6 billion people—lack sanitation facilities. A great many Peace Corps Volunteers around the world focus their work on helping communities both to obtain water efficiently and to keep their water supplies safe from contamination. In recognition of March 20, celebrated by the United Nations as World Water Day, World Wise Schools highlights readings, lessons, a slide show, and other resources that relate to water issues.
Slide show (New!):
 “Slovakia: Working Alongside the Roma, or Gypsies,” by former Peace Corps Volunteer Igor Naumovski.
Water—Related Stories:
Water in Africa: A learning unit by 90 Peace Corps Volunteers, including a great many written anecdotes.
"Working With Environmental Issues": Story by Fred Koehler, former Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa, accompanied by a lesson plan.
"Chiggers and Other Challenges": Story by Joan Heberger, former Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras, accompanied by a lesson plan.
Podcasts:
Stories on water read by Peace Corps Volunteers.
Video:
“Destination: Lesotho”: A Peace Corps Volunteer helps a community in southern Africa build a water catchment system.
Water Links:
World Water Day (March 20, 2008)
Environmental Literacy Council |
| Peace Corps Exposition for Atlanta-area Educators |
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The Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, and the Atlanta Area returned Peace Corps Volunteers are hosting a Peace Corps exposition to increase awareness of returned Peace Corps Volunteer activities in local communities in the greater Atlanta area. This expo, with the participation of schools, communities, and community-service organizations, will bring attention to how returned Volunteers bring their international experience home and now make a difference in their own communities.
As a Coverdell World Wise School educator, you are invited to join us at this exposition to learn even more about the impact of the Peace Corps in communities both internationally and here at home. For updated information, please visit
www.peacecorpsconnect.org/openhouses
Additionally, if you are a returned Volunteer who is teaching and would like to showcase how you are making a difference in your school, we invite you to apply to exhibit at this expo on Sunday, March 30, in Atlanta. Your exhibit should highlight the Peace Corps goal of helping Americans better understand other cultures, through presentations or demonstrations. For more information and to register, please go to www.rpcv.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=1849. Deadline for applications: March 10.
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Q: What do you like best about presenting your Peace Corps experience to young people in the U.S.?
A: I don't know any returned Peace Corps Volunteers who don't enjoy speaking about their time in-country. If you ask, they will share, and you will probably have a hard time getting them to stop! Presenting allows returned Volunteers to fulfill the Peace Corps goal of bringing the experience back to the U.S. It is a way to reconnect, remember, and reminisce about the best experiences where you served, and why you would do it all over again.
The questions that returned Volunteers receive from our audiences are wonderful and allow us to smile inside because there was a time when we had those same questions. Sharing our experience keeps us from ever forgetting what we accomplished and how we impacted at least one, if only one, life.
—Vanessa Spero served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa, from 2001 to 2003. She recently gave a Peace Corps presentation to a Girl Scout troop for World Thinking Day.
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The Peace Corps is creating an online educational game called “Peace Corps Challenge,” geared toward sixth and seventh graders.
World Wise Schools is seeking educators with experience teaching students of these ages to be the first to try the new immersive video game and provide us with constructive feedback.
Interested teachers can sign up by
e-mailing wwsinfo@peacecorps
.gov. Please notify the Peace Corps of your interest by March 10. |
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