Peace Corps

1. Introduction

"Abundant Rewards." This is the title of an essay that was written by a Peace Corps volunteer, Laura

Stedman, on her reflections of her work in Swaziland, serving as a science teacher. The essay discusses her students and what turned out to be her most important accomplishment, to give the children confidence in themselves.

In this way she opened the door for them to learn on their own, and to feel that their opinions were important. Once the children began to share their own opinions, she learned a large amount from them also. The essay I described above sums up my interests in the Peace Corps. To be able to help those less fortunate than you, and in a very concrete way. Unlike sending "two dollars a month, to help a child," to some informercial, were you never really see the results, or are to involved with them either.

You also don’t get the amazing experience of learning about a country’s culture and customs. Most importantly, through the Peace

Corps you are able to go through the enriching experience of interacting with people, in which case you both learn from each other a great deal, and help each other along the path of life. On a side note, through the Peace Corps we also show that the US is not the

"bully of the world" (as Saddam would like to claim). That some of us Americans, if not most, do care about all people, not just ourselves. 2. Background and Support

Peace Corps is a volunteer service, in which Americans are sent to help undeveloped and poverty-stricken countries. The volunteers stay in these host countries for two years.

They live with the people, in many times poor conditions, and serve and interact with the people of the country. In doing this, the Peace

Corps have three major goals: "1)

To provide volunteers who contribute to the social and economic development of interested countries; 2) To promote a better understanding of Americans among the people whom volunteers serve;

3) To strengthen Americans’ understanding about the world and its people." Most of all, the organization promotes world peace, and understanding between America and all the other nations and people of the world. It is a United

States government agency, and is funded by our tax dollars. Which is a place where I don’t mind my money going to.

How did the Peace Corps come to be?

It is a very complicated...

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...initiative to do so.

Hopefully these people can put the knowledge into use, and combined with the continued aid of the Peace

Corps can empower themselves to improve their lives, but hopefully also improve the lives of others.

5. Conclusion

Without the Peace Corps the world would not have one of the great opportunities to grow together. One volunteer can effect just one person in his/her host country.

However, that person who becomes empowered with new knowledge and hope, instills that into his family, who slowly instill this into their village, and hopefully at some point the entire country.

All the while America, through the volunteers, is improving relations with other countries, while other nations are able to do the same.

With both parties learning so much about each other, and through each other. If this is not an utterly good and important cause, I don’t know what is. One day these countries that we are, and have, helped to improve their lives can hopefully one day do the same for others. The dream that I see in the

Peace Corps is one day worldwide understanding between all people.

As long as the Peace Corps is around, we know at least we are striving in this direction.