Cooperative Living November/December 2021 - 23

BuildingCommunity | Story and photo courtesy of StatePoint Media
A Future After COVID
The Peace Corps is recruiting volunteers
from diverse backgrounds
E
stablished in 1961, the Peace Corps partners with
communities abroad to develop sustainable solutions
for the world's most pressing challenges at the
grassroots level.
While all volunteers returned home in March of 2020
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency is working to
return to service and is now actively recruiting volunteers
from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the
organization, including African Americans, Hispanic
Americans and Asian
Americans.
" As part of our mission,
we seek to reflect the rich
diversity of the United States
abroad, bringing different
perspectives and solutions
to development issues in the
countries we serve, " says
Carol Spahn, acting director
of the Peace Corps. " We also
seek to create inclusion, a
culture that encourages
collaboration, flexibility
and fairness, and leverages
diversity so that all individuals
are able to contribute to their
full potential. "
If you're interested in
Peace Corps service, here's
what to know.
The Peace Corps
can be a key
stepping stone
in one's career.
NEW CHALLENGES
W While Peace Corps service is demand
" I had to deal with people' expectati
A
hile Peace Corps service is demanding for every
iintroduce additional challenges, accordi
volunteer being from diverse ethnic ba
have served.
t
similarities with my Mexican culture, " says Maria Elena
Venegas Banulelos, a Spanish-speaking, Mexican American
Peace Corps volunteer who served in Jamaica.
" For instance, both Mexicans and Jamaicans are very
religious, we enjoy a little spice in our food, and like to
dress our best when in public. Both cultures love soccer,
dancing and loud music. Also, the environments are similar
in the structure of the homes and agricultural products,
and both are home to the most humble people. "
This sentiment is shared
by other volunteers as well.
" My color and my accent
have not affected my volunteer
work negatively; instead this
has allowed me to integrate
well in my community, and
people even call me 'African,' "
says Aboubakar Bodi, who
was born in Togo and served
in Jamaica.
BRINGING SKILLS HOME
P Peace Corps
eace Corps service can
service can
be an emotionally rewarding
experience and an effective
way to develop the skills
needed to make a difference
in one's community back
home. It can also be a key
stepping stone in one's career.
Volunteers serve for 27
months in education, health,
volunteer, being from a diverse ethnic background can
ntroduce additional challenges, according to those who
" I had to deal with people's expectations about Americans
lookinglooking a certain way. About once a wee
that Americans come from diverse backg
was just as much an American as any
volunteer, " says Neng Lee..
certain way About once week, I had to explain
hat Americans come from diverse backgrounds, and that
I was just as much an American as any other Peace Corps
volunteer, " says Neng Lee
American, Lee served as
first-genera
American, Lee served as a health volunt
R
VALUABLE ASSETS
In other cases,
co-opliving.com
Republic (Kyrgyzstan) from 2015 to 201
In other cases, a diverse background
" Integrating into Jamaican cultur was
first-generation Hmong
health volunteer in the Kyrgyz
epublic (Kyrgyzstan) from 2015 to 2017, and as a youth
ddevelopment volunteer from 2017 to 20
evelopment volunteer from 2017 to 2019.
diverse background can be an advantage.
" Integrating into Jamaican culture was easy due to the many
agriculture and other sectors, and, upon their return, they
are able to usher innovative solutions to collective problems
in U.S. communities.
" I am very proud of having taught CPR and first aid to
people in different villages in the Kyrgyz language. I also
translated most of my CPR and first-aid materials into
Kyrgyz, " says Lee, who notes, " Volunteering opens so many
doors in the future and the people you meet along the way
will help you. "
Says Spahn: " volunteers are international cultural
ambassadors representing the United States. That's why it's
so important our body of volunteers actually reflects the
diversity of the country. " 
To learn more about Peace Corps or to connect with a recruiter,
visit peacecorps.gov.
November-December 2021 | Cooperative Living | 21
PHOTO COURTESY
PEACE CORPS
http://www.peacecorps.gov http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living November/December 2021

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