If you are a family member
or friend of a current or prospective Volunteer, it is important for
you to understand the realities of Peace Corps service, particularly
with regard to personal safety and welfare. If someone you know is about
to accept an assignment to serve overseas, this is surely an exciting
time, and we want your expectations to be as realistic as possible. The
more you learn now about the realities of Peace Corps service, the better
prepared you will be to handle the challenges and rewards ahead.
Because Peace Corps works in some of the least developed countries and
in some of the most remote areas in the world, health, safety, and security
risks are an unavoidable part of life and of Volunteer service. While
the majority of Volunteers serve their two years without major incident,
it is important for you to know that Peace Corps service does involve
certain risks, including road accidents, natural disasters, crime and
civil unrest. Peace Corps devotes significant resources to minimize safety
risks to Volunteers and to ensure that they are given the training, support,
and information they need for a safe experience. However, there are many
variables beyond the agency's control that impact Volunteers' welfare
and it is not possible to eliminate all the risks associated with Volunteers'
service overseas.
Key Points about Safety and Security in the
Peace Corps
In matters of safety and security, Peace Corps makes the following key
assumptions:
Serving as a Volunteer Involves
Safety and Security Risks
Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, having a limited understanding
of local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are some
of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience
varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and
burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assaults
do occur.
Volunteers Are Expected to
Adopt a Culturally Appropriate Lifestyle to Promote Their Safety
Being a Volunteer requires changes in lifestyle preferences and habits
in deference to host country cultural expectations and in order to minimize
security risks. Choices in dress, living arrangements, means of travel,
entertainment, and companionship may have a direct impact on how Volunteers
are viewed, and thus treated, by their communities. Navigating the differences
in gender relations may be one of the most sensitive and difficult lessons
to learn, but one which could have a direct impact on the Volunteer's safety
and the protection provided by the local community. Mature behavior and
the exercise of sound judgment will enhance personal safety.
Each Peace Corps Post Maintains
a Volunteer Safety Support System Designed to Minimize Safety Risks, as
Prescribed by Peace Corps Policy
Fundamental to the Peace Corps approach to Volunteer safety is the fact
that Volunteers can most effectively minimize their safety risks by building
respectful relationships with those in their community. Peace Corps has
instituted a broad and systematic approach to increase Volunteers' capacity
to keep themselves safe during their two-year service. This approach is
based upon several fundamental tenets of Volunteer safety and security,
which are outlined below. These include: building relationships, sharing
information, training, site development, incident reporting and response,
and emergency communications and planning.
Building Relationships Is
Key to Volunteer Safety
Like the Peace Corps mission, safety and security are predicated on the
development of close interpersonal relationships between Volunteers and
host-country community members. The agency recognizes that Volunteers'
daily safety is, for the most part, best assured when they are well integrated
into the local community, valued and protected as extended family members,
and viewed as contributors to development. To this end, the Peace Corps
strives to build and maintain the support of host country governments,
authorities, and local communities for the Peace Corps' presence in country
and the work the Volunteers have been requested to perform. The responsibility
of Volunteers is to learn the local language and integrate into the host
community. Volunteers are expected to build and maintain respectful relationships
with sponsoring agency representatives, colleagues, and other community
members. These relationships help Volunteers establish a presence in their
new homes, pave the way for many work and social opportunities, and become
the basis of their new support systems in country.
Knowing What to Expect Helps
Applicants and Volunteers Make Informed Choices
The Peace Corps is committed to providing accurate information about
Volunteer service to interested individuals. This information describes
the nature and conditions of Peace Corps service; the challenges Volunteers
face; the impact that serving in another culture will have on individual
lifestyle, comfort, and safety (e.g., living with host families, conservative
dress, restrictions on movement and night travel); and the support Volunteers
will receive in their respective countries of service. From the moment
an applicant is invited to serve in a particular country, specific information
about potential challenges is provided from a variety of sources. These
challenges often include unwanted attention; harassment; health and safety
risks; and cultural behaviors that an American might find offensive,
uncomfortable, or threatening. With this information, potential Volunteers
can make informed decisions about whether Peace Corps service is right
for them and whether they are prepared to live at any site in their host
country, where local community members will be their primary support
system. Once the Volunteers are in-country, Peace Corps staff will keep
them informed of security issues and provide guidance for maintaining
their safety and well-being as appropriate.
In addition, for the welfare of Volunteers, Peace Corps policy requires
that Volunteers report their whereabouts when they travel away from their
sites or change residences, and that they obtain Peace Corps authorization
if they intend to leave their country of assignment for any reason.
On-Going Training Equips
Volunteers for a Safe and Productive Service
The Peace Corps takes an integrated approach to Volunteer training. Through
language, cross-cultural, and health and safety instruction, training
is designed to raise the Volunteer's awareness of their new environment,
build their capacity to effectively cope with the many challenges they
will face, and provide the tools the Volunteers need to adopt a safe
and appropriate lifestyle. Volunteers are also instructed in Peace Corps
policies and procedures and the Volunteer's responsibility to abide by
them.
Before reporting to the communities where they will live and work, Volunteers
participate in 8-12 weeks of intensive training in their country of service.
During pre-service training, Peace Corps typically places Volunteers
with local families to aid in cultural integration and language acquisition.
This early home-stay experience begins the process of building and maintaining
various networks of friends and contacts with host country nationals
and fellow Volunteers that will support each Volunteer's efforts for
a successful service. The Peace Corps provides this integrated safety
training throughout the Volunteer's tour of service to help Volunteers
better understand their surroundings, how to cope with unwanted attention,
and how to develop personal safety strategies.
Volunteer Sites Are Assessed
to Meet Safety and Security Criteria
Peace Corps staff in-country are responsible for assessing and approving
the communities where Volunteers will live and work to ensure that placements
are appropriate and safe and that secure housing and work sites are available.
Site selection is based on established safety and security criteria that
reflect consideration of site history; access to medical, banking, postal,
and other essential services; access to communication, transportation,
and local markets; availability of adequate housing and living arrangements;
and the potential for obtaining and maintaining the acceptance and consent
of host country authorities and the population-at-large. During their
service, Volunteers are visited periodically at their sites by Peace
Corps program managers and medical staff members to monitor issues related
to Volunteers' site assignments. If a Volunteer's safety or well-being
is placed at risk or compromised, the Peace Corps staff will try to resolve
the situation or move the Volunteer to another location.
Peace Corps Responds to
Volunteers' Safety Concerns
Volunteers are strongly encouraged and expected to report safety concerns
or incidents to the appropriate Peace Corps staff member. Staff members
are prepared to provide appropriate medical, emotional, and administrative
support as each case warrants. In such cases, Volunteers' need for confidentiality
will be respected. The Peace Corps also maintains a collaborative relationship
with the U.S. Embassy and host government officials in order to respond
to Volunteers' safety and security concerns as they arise. Improvements
in safety reporting have allowed the Peace Corps to identify associated
risk factors (time of day, location, alcohol use, means of transportation,
etc.) and develop strategies to help Volunteers address them. Volunteers
are urged to be aware of their environment and to adopt a safe lifestyle
and exercise judgment in a manner that reduces their exposure to risks.
Emergency Communications
and Planning
Typically, Volunteers live and work with community members, at some distance
from the Peace Corps office in the capital city. Volunteers are expected
to stay in touch with the Peace Corps office on a periodic basis. They
are required to report their whereabouts when they travel away from their
sites, and are required to receive Peace Corps authorization if they
intend to leave the country of assignment for any reason. Although some
Volunteers consider notification of movement and regular contact with
the Peace Corps office restrictive, it is necessary to ensure that Volunteers
can be contacted in case of emergency.
The Peace Corps addresses larger security concerns through country-specific
Emergency Action Plans (EAP) that are in place in each Peace Corps country.
These plans, developed to address such events as natural disasters or
civil unrest, set forth the strategies developed by each Peace Corps
office to prepare for, respond to, and recover from such crises. The
plan defines roles and responsibilities for staff and Volunteers, explains
standard policies and procedures, and lists emergency contact information
for every Volunteer in country. These plans are tested and revised annually.
A critical element of the EAP is a comprehensive locator form for each
Volunteer, which ensures that Volunteers can be contacted in case of
emergency and for important notices. Volunteers receive training about
the EAP, are provided a copy of the EAP, and are expected to familiarize
themselves with their roles and responsibilities during times of crises.
The Peace Corps works very closely with the U.S. Embassy to share information,
develop strategies, and coordinate communications in a crisis. If a situation
arises in country that poses a potential threat to Volunteers, the Peace
Corps will immediately assess the nature of the threat and respond in
a manner that ensures the Volunteers' safety and well-being. If the decision
is made to evacuate Volunteers from a country, the Peace Corps will commit
every resource at hand to safely move each Volunteer and staff member
out of harm's way. Although the Peace Corps does not automatically contact
family members in all crisis situations the Peace Corps will, in the
event of an evacuation, initiate calls to the emergency contact persons
each Volunteer has identified.
Safe Journey
Every staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers
with the support they need to successfully meet the challenges they
will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. We hope
that the information provided here will help you gain a sense of these
challenges, the changes in attitude and lifestyle that may be required
to adapt to a new environment, and the level of support that can be
expected from the Peace Corps, local colleagues, and host communities.
The success of each Peace Corps Volunteer is our goal. We rely on Volunteers
to exercise personal responsibility, demonstrate a keen awareness of
the world around them, and a willingness to adjust their behavior in
a manner that will enhance their safety and well-being. In the end
their efforts will be rewarded with an incredible, unique experience. |