Pacific Magazine > Magazine > November 1, 2006

Commentary

40 Years Of Peace Corps

A Long Partnership With FSM, Palau Celebrated

By Eric Adams


Peace Corp Mike McCoy, Satawal 1969. Photo: PVC John Kaufman
Peace Corps, the Federated State of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau celebrated 40 years of partnership on November 6, 2006. Hundreds of government officials, former and current Volunteers and people who have been touched by this unique and enduring partnership attended ceremonies in each state in the FSM and in the Republic of Palau.

 The occasion was also marked by Presidential Proclamations by FSM President Joseph J. Urusemal and Palau President Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr. declaring November 6-10 as “National ‘U.S. Peace Corps Week’ in gratitude and thanks for the work of the Peace Corps to promote the general well being of our nation and citizens.”

Postage stamps for each state and Palau commemorating the Anniversary were also issued by the Postmaster General.
 
 Kosrae stamp comemorating the 40th anniversary of Peace Corps in the state.
Peace Corps Country Director, David Reside, noted that, “the 40th Anniversary is a great opportunity to thank the people of Micronesia and Palau for their support of the Peace Corps program, recognize the great accomplishments of the past four decades and recommit to the high ideals that John F. Kennedy espoused in 1961.”

 

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The Peace Corps continues to be seen as an international model of community service and practical grassroots assistance to people in developing countries. The goals of the Peace Corps - helping people of developing countries meet their basic needs and promoting mutual understanding between Americans and people from other cultures - are as relevant today as they were in 1961. Volunteers continue to serve as America's goodwill ambassadors, bringing a spirit of hope and optimism to the struggle for progress and human dignity.

The work of the more than 4,000 Volunteers who have served in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture and water and sanitation among others, would not have been possible without the support and guidance of the people of FSM and Palau. As Country Director Reside notes, “Volunteers have been supported over the years by thousands of Host Families, local partners and staff who made room in their lives to welcome Volunteers, and who continue to share their wonderful hospitality and patience as these Americans learn to speak the many languages and live in a culture that is new and unfamiliar.”

 
Swearing-in of New Volunteers
 At the Ceremony, 25 new Peace Corps Volunteers who completed intensive language, cultural and technical training, were sworn in to service. In speaking to new Peace Corps Volunteers earlier this year, President Urusemal asked them to “encourage our youth to appreciate and understand what they have, while preparing them to move on to a career or to higher education.”
President Remengesau of Palau noted that the partnership with Peace Corps has “worked in the past, is working now and we expect it to continue working for years to come.” He also joked that for the Volunteers who came to Palau, they “came, saw, and were conquered by Palau”, noting the many Volunteers who continue to make Palau their home years after completing their service, as well as two Volunteers who will be extending for a third year of Peace Corps service. President Remengesau emphasized the need for Peace Corps to support Math, Science and English instruction in the schools so that Palau students can improve their academics and pursue opportunities for higher education.

 

At the ceremony, the new Volunteers talked about the projects they will undertake and thanked their host families in the local language and then did customary chants, songs and dances to mark the occasion.

 
 
 FSM President Urusemal with new Peace Corp volunteers. Photo: Peace Corps
History of Peace Corps Programs
Peace Corps entered the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in 1966 when it was still part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The first group of volunteers taught English at all education levels and was soon followed by a group of legal advisors. In the 1970s Peace Corps moved into agriculture, health, community development and cooperative management projects, and the early 1980s saw vol­unteers working in water/sanitation, forestry and fisheries. 

 

The formation of the Federated States of Micronesia in 1986 resulted in a re-assessment of programming and Peace Corps’ involvement in many activities was consolidated. Dual assignments were developed in which all Vol­unteers taught English in primary schools and worked in another activity specified by each sponsoring state government. In the 1990s, programming shifted from being focused on ESL to a wider range of technical areas. National projects were developed in youth, health, library/reading and technology, marine resources conservation and terrestrial resources conservation. From 2000 – 2006, Volunteers worked on Natural Resources Conservation and Development and Youth and Community Development projects.

During the past 18 months, Peace Corps staff and Volunteers have met with more than 80 representatives from the education, environment and health sectors to determine how and where Volunteers can best serve the countries of FSM and Palau. As a result, in 2007, Volunteers are returning to the classroom to teach ESL and will liaison with agencies to facilitate environmental education, health education and community development programs.
There are presently 42 Volunteers working with partner agencies to teach English, organize youth summer camps and activities, support conservation and agriculture programs, and deliver health education. In 2006, Volunteers worked with 133 organizations in 144 communities to serve more than 12,500 men, women and children.
While acknowledging the importance of the work-related accomplishments of the past 40 years, Programming and Training officer, Eric Adams commented that, “it is the personal relationships that make our partnership unique and enduring. Our work together is a vehicle by which we become part of something larger than ourselves and find ourselves caring deeply about people who live thousands of miles from where we were born. When this happens, we know that we have achieved John F. Kennedy’s vision for the Peace Corps and that the US, FSM and Palau have fulfilled their commitment to fostering peace and friendship.”
Country Director Reside concluded his remarks at the ceremony in Pohnpei by naming the six Americans who lost their lives while in Peace Corps service to Micronesia; David McCarthy, Joseph Nonnemaker, Ann Kenney, David Ira Rubin, Joseph Sheriff and Andrew Karrer.
Peace Corps Micronesia’s main office is on the island of Pohnpei; there are also four field offices, located in the states of Yap, Kosrae, and Chuuk, as well as the Republic of Palau.
PCV Charles Mann performs on Yap Day. Photo: Courtesy Peace Corps

 

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