The Peace Corps: How Friendship Can Bring Power

The school year coming to an end is always a reminder that time keeps moving forward, no matter what you might try to do to stop it. Whether you’re a senior who is already committed to a college or you're a freshman who is actively avoiding thinking about all of that, a plan is always a good thing. While most people do think about what colleges and majors they are interested in for their post-secondary plan, not many people think about their post-post secondary plan. Sure, you can make the obvious choice and go straight into a career like everyone else. However, the thing a lot of people miss is there are other options to explore.

One of these other options is joining the Peace Corps as a volunteer for 2 years. The Peace Corps is a US government program that sends volunteers to other countries to support under-privileged communities. Put into place by JFK in 1961 the program's goal was to undermine the negative stereotypes that were common in other countries toward Americans. A good resource to learn more about the history of the program is the documentary A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps on PBS.

Alana DeJoseph Learning how to make mud bricks in Mali.

In an interview with the director of this documentary, and former Peace Corps. Volunteer Alana DeJoseph. DeJoseph spoke on the advantages the Peace Corps brings the US when it comes to soft power and international relations. When asked about the importance of the Peace Corps in the US government she responded: “[Peace Corps. Volunteers] bring back the understanding of what it is like for people on the ground in those countries… and with all of that knowledge, America can be a better member of the world community, and the US government can be a better institution for its own people.”

Alana also spoke about her own experiences volunteering. She volunteered in the West African town of Folona in the country of Mali from 1992 to 1994 and it was very clear from her answers that it was an amazing experience. She described a memory of a day near the end of her time in Mali when a group of women from the town came to visit and had a conversation over coffee. She said this was when she “realized the women of Folona were my family now, and we would be there for each other.”

Volunteers work with communities to support 6 different sectors: Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Youth in Development. To volunteer you must be a US citizen, over 18, and have a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience. Over the time of your service volunteers get a monthly allowance tied to the local costs in the country. This allowance is enough to cover: food, household supplies, communication, clothing, local transportation, personal items, and discretionary spending. After service, volunteers get a $10,000 service award to help them integrate into life at home.

Before going to live in a host country, volunteers go through a 3 week training period where they are briefed on what they will be doing during their time there. Including language classes and safety training for the country they’re being sent to.

(All information about volunteer life and how to volunteer is available at peacecorps.gov)