Politics
So Peace Corps Back In The Region
Demand for volunteers increases, says Vasquez
With spots around the globe deemed a security risk for Americans, Fiji and other islands of the Pacific have been given the thumbs up by the United States Peace Corps. This was demonstrated by the Washington DC-based organisation's decision to re-introduce its programme in Fiji after a break of five years.
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"We never stop being vigilant, we never stop training, we never stop assessing risks and ensuring that we evaluate the process of a volunteer's safety constantly. But I would say there is a high sense of confidence with safety and security here in Fiji."
What helps, said the Peace Corps boss who arrived in Fiji after visiting the Philippines, was the philosophy of the organisation that calls on its members to integrate with the community they serve.
"I travel all over the world and often I hear people say, 'Barbara, our Peace Corps volunteer; Michael, our Peace Corps volunteer; and on and on and on.' It's almost like the community adopts the volunteers and with that comes a higher level of security and safety."
The Peace Corps presence in the Pacific takes in Tonga too as well as Samoa, Kiribati, Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia. "For the 25 volunteers who recently took up their two-year postings in Fiji, in January, the group will work in areas of health, education, environment and tourism."
Vasquez said thePeace Corps withdrew from Fiji in 1998 for financial not security reasons. Only after the United States Congress gave the organisation more funds was it able to fund its re-entry into Fiji and extensions in Albania, Azerbaijan and Chad. With over 7500 volunteers serving in 71 countries today, the Peace Corps commands an annual budget of US$295 million. For 2004, it's asking the United States Congress for $310 million.
"Right now, the list of countries that want Peace Corps programmes exceed 20, so there's a lot of demand out there, but it's constrained by dollars." Extracts of interview with Vasquez:
IB: Is the job of director challenging since you didn't serve as a Peace Corps volunteer yourself?
GV: "Much of my adult life has been dedicated to work in volunteer service of various kinds both at home and overseas. So my life in the last three decades or so has been engaged in some form of volunteer service that encompasses a lot of different areas from medicine, education to public access, treatment and care of diseases. So volunteer work has been a great part of my life."
IB: Did you get some indication before your appointment that the President would make you head of the Peace Corps?
GV: "Oh I did. The President and I have been friends for 15 years now. I was made aware of his intention to nominate me to be the director of the Peace Corps. I was then and will always have a very deep respect and passion for the work of Peace Corps.
"I first became aware of Peace Corps as a young man and saw some Peace Corps commercials. I always thought the concept, the idea of going overseas to a faraway land to help people, to train people is something that is exciting, something to consider, and for me to be able to serve as director of Peace Corps is a dream realised."
IB: Has there been a shift in emphasis in the types work volunteers are required to do in the Pacific?
GV: "Education continues to be one of the big areas with Peace Corps. Always has been, probably always will be. But we are expanding into areas like youth development, community development, information technology, small business development. It's evolving.
"We try to be sensitive to the needs of the host countries and we also try to identify the kinds of programmes Peace Corps volunteers can be successful and make a meaningful contribution to the host country."
IB: What's the responsibility of a host country?
GV: "The first step is inviting us. Second is that in some of the countries their governments assist us to identify housing and in some cases provide housing for some of our volunteers. Some additional support comes in the kind of partnership we develop with ministries. But the programme of Peace Corps itself is funded by the US Government."
IB:: Is there a future for volunteers like the Peace Corps in this age of globalisation?
GV: "There's a huge future. The demand for Peace Corps volunteers in the world is limited only by the physical constraints. One, there are many countries that have requested programmes but who don't have programmes today. Two, Americans are applying to serve as Peace Corps at much higher numbers. Last year, we achieved the highest number of volunteers in the field in 28 years‹7533 to be exact.
"Some have said that's quite remarkable in light of everything that is going on around the world today. But it's indicative in my view of the importance of the mission of Peace Corps. It's also indicative of the strong spirit of Americans who believe that promoting world peace and friendship is worth the sacrifice of interrupting your lives for two years to go overseas and make a difference."
