Why I joined the Corps

Some of you who know me, may not be surprised by my decision to join the Peace Corps. You may have thought, "Ah, she loves to travel so this isn't a surprise." Then there are those of you who are thinking, "Why would you do such a thing? Two years is such a long time! Oh well, in the name of adventure I guess..." My decision is a smattering of both, but mostly because of my interest in international development and desire to gain an on-the-ground understanding of what challenges developing countries and communities face on a day-to-day basis. This is key because by living through these challenges and knowing why certain approaches won't work due to culture, education, etc., can we begin to make a plan forward. No, this doesn't mean throwing money at a community/country--because that's merely a temporary fix. Rather, sustainability is key.

How do you go about this? Capacity building. This is where an organization makes an effort to improve its service delivery. Let's take XYZ, some non-governmental organization (NGO). XYZ may realize that it has poor resource management and how this inhibits how its programs are delivered. The next step would be to improve resource management, and in this way, XYZ is doing this. Capacity improvement includes but is not limited to: human resources, processes and procedures, technical expertise, internal communication, project analysis, strategic planning, and team building. In practice, development agencies such as USAID may award a contract or grant to a consulting firm to build the capacity of local NGOs. In other words, a US NGO goes overseas and targets areas of improvement for local NGOs. This is done with the goal of sustainability--so that foreigners aren't always relied on to carry out the work. There are many concepts for sustainability. The challenge is incorporating those concepts into the project design. To mention a few:

1. stakeholders

Who are you serving?
What will they do when the NGO is gone?
Is training provided to the local NGO to take over the job?
Are the local NGOs included in designing activities and an exit strategy?
How are the local NGOs then able to pass on these skills onto their local people?

In order for there to be a passing on of skills, there must be "ownership and buy-in." This means that the stakeholders see value in the service and are willing to commit scarce time and resources to continuing the service. For example, a literacy program will fail unless program participants are committed to the idea of literacy and see tangible results in improving their lives. A hand-washing campaign will also fail if stakeholders see no benefit in regular hand washing especially if they have to travel a half day to obtain water.

2. realistic expectations

Change takes a LONG time. Change can be positive or negative. There may be regressions before improvement can be achieved, especially when cultural barriers are involved.

Let's go back to the hand-washing campaign. If you have a community that isn't in the habit of washing their hands before eating and have stomach sicknesses, the solution may not be as easy as merely conducting a campaign. Culture has a huge impact as well as gender roles. We have to ask: Who teaches kids to wash hands? Generally, mothers, right? So if women aren't specifically targeted, the project probably won't have as great of an impact as desired. And if women aren't allowed outside of the home or even allowed to receive an education, this would pose as another challenge for this project.


This is no short and simple answer to address the main reason why I joined the Peace Corps. I am also not looking to be a hero. I simply believe that we cannot continue to turn a blind eye when faced with poverty, disease, and lack of education. We are living in increasingly challenging times and we need to help our global neighbors. Former president John F. Kennedy (then senator) started the concept of Peace Corps service to address these challenges. With this, I leave you with a piece of John F. Kennedy's 1961 Inaugural Address:

"To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required--not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we see their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge--to convert our good words into good deeds--in a new alliance for progress--to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free."

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."