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The Peace Corps: Helping Humanity; Helping YourselfBy Pia Lara Solomon
Many of us were raised to believe that when help is needed, it’s our duty to respond — even if that help is on a global scale. One way Americans can help the world is by joining the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is a national government agency, a volunteer-based organization created to help people all over the world. Since 1961, over 182,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, in more than 138 countries worldwide. Volunteers provide help in almost every aspect of human needs. They show people how to build houses and how to turn dirty water into clean, drinkable water. They teach people to read and write. They show them how to make clothes, farm more efficiently and much more. In an article published recently in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, a local teacher joined the Peace Corps to teach students in Ghana. The Peace Corps was the idea of late President John F. Kennedy (JFK), while he was still a U.S. Senator. In 1960, JFK told 10,000 college students in Michigan that if he became president he would ask Americans to volunteer in a program to help people worldwide in the cause of peace. The volunteers would live and work in developing countries--those with severe problems in political, social and economic progress. When he became president the following year, JFK started the Peace Corps. The organization promoted three goals: Current President George W. Bush encourages people to join the Peace Corps, citing goals similar to those set forth by JFK. “Our goal…is to make sure we have the Peace Corps go to nations, particularly Muslim nations, that don’t understand America, they don’t understand our heart; they don’t understand our compassion; they don’t understand that we share the same value,” President Bush said. The vast majority of Peace Corps volunteers, both past and present, feel that they have been enriched by their experiences. One of the greatest rewards for volunteers is to see that they can have a positive impact on people’s lives. Also, volunteering can mean the opportunity to live in a part of the world they might not have visited otherwise. To many people, it’s exciting to learn new languages and experience different cultures. As exciting and cool as living in another country might be, though, there are sometimes risks to Americans in developing nations. Volunteers may even be put into situations where their lives are in danger. According to a recent article in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, one volunteer was frightened when her hut caught on fire. There are also health risks in living in poor countries; volunteers might encounter “bugs” their systems aren’t used to, and sanitation standards vary widely around the world. There may not be doctors or hospitals, and even when there are they might not have adequate medicines or equipment. Regardless of the hardship and possible risks, however, most people who participate in the Peace Corps find that their experiences are educational and extremely rewarding. If you’re too young to join the Peace Corps yet, there are still many ways you can make a difference. The first step in helping make the world better is to learn about some of the problems it faces. You can start with the problems in your own community. Read about these problems, then tell your friends and family how they affect all of us. The next step—and the hardest one for many—is to give up your time to work on solving one or more of the problems. Volunteering can begin right on your home turf. Peace Corps volunteers help solve problems all over the world. For example, if you want to find a way to help developing countries recycle paper and plastic goods, as a volunteer you might go there to create recycling centers and to teach people about the importance of recycling. Peace Corps workers also teach children (and often adults) how to read, participate in their government when possible, build roads and houses, practice better sanitation, plant and harvest crops, and much more. Joining the Peace Corps may just make you feel like you’re getting much more back than you are giving! Try these interesting newspaper activities: 1. Search The News-Journal for an article about a problem in your community, nation or world. Summarize the problem and brainstorm a list of possible solutions. Share your thoughts with your classmates or friends. (Sunshine State Standards LA.A.2.2; LA.B.2.2; SS.C.2.2) 2. Using the weather page in The News-Journal, choose a city in another country and follow its high and low temperatures over a period of several days. Do research to learn more about that city’s climate. Then, clip words and pictures from The News-Journal to create a list of things that would help you stay comfortable in that environment. Paste them on a sheet of paper and hang it in the classroom or on your fridge at home. (Sunshine State Standard SC.G.1.2) 3. Using the Local, Neighbors or Accent sections of The News-Journal, find an article about someone, or a group of people, in the local community who is/are taking action to help others. Study the article for ideas. Next, write a letter of support to that person or group. (Sunshine State Standards LA.B.2.2; SS.C.2.2) 4. Choose a country whose culture you’d like to learn more about. Do further research about that country in the library or on the Internet. Also check The News-Journal and other resources to find articles, ads, recipes, etc. from that country. Clip each item you find and paste it in a scrapbook. From time to time, share your scrapbook with a friend or family member. Make plans to visit the country someday. (Sunshine State Standards FL.B.1.2; FL.D.2.2) 5. Count the number of articles in one entire News-Journal that are about an issue abroad. Write down the number. Next, count–and write down–the number of articles related to issues about or in the United States. Divide the number of articles on foreign issues by the number of articles about domestic (U.S.) issues. Then multiply by 100 to determine the percentage of articles that are about global issues. Are the percentages about equal? Why or why not? (Sunshine State Standard MA.A.1.2; MA.A.3.2) Check out these links to learn more: At the Peace Corps official website, kids can play games, explore the earth and find out what they can do to make a difference in the world. http://www.peacecorps.gov/ The organization United Planet has goals similar to those of the Peace Corps. Learn about United Planet’s mission. http://www.unitedplanet.org/ View pictures submitted by Peace Corp volunteers. http://www.peacegallery.org/ Too young to join the Peace Corps? Learn how you can make a difference in your own community. Be sure to check out the Youth Programs section. http://www.makeadifference.org/ Kids really can make a difference--find out how. http://www.kidscanmakeadifference.org/cando.htm America's largest day of doing good, Make A Difference Day, is the fourth Saturday each October. Here are some cool lessons—and opportunities—for kids about volunteering their time right here at home. http://www.nieworld.com/special/hotcold/qtoz/volunteerism.htm |
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