Emily Armitage, a Peace Corps volunteer currently serving in Bulgaria, begs to differ with Robert Strauss:
Strauss misrepresents a reputable initiative of the US government while devaluing the work of many current and past volunteers. While Strauss argues that many younger volunteers are immature and unqualified, my experiences have taught me otherwise.
Volunteers must be passionate, energetic, flexible and adaptable. There is great value in having volunteers from every age group. Each volunteer offers a different skill set and background, representative of the diversity in America. Yet, often, skills learned in the United States are inapplicable in the developing world due to societal and cultural differences. Often, highly skilled Americans can make ineffective volunteers because they lack some of the other characteristics essential to success in a foreign environment. Volunteers must adapt their perspectives and be willing to learn from their native colleagues.
Older volunteers often have difficulty learning the language, which can limit their contacts within the community. The Peace Corps must recruit volunteers willing to spend two years of their lives in difficult, sometimes primitive conditions and it may be harder for older volunteers to adapt to a lower standard of living. While older volunteers have more life experiences, many younger volunteers possess knowledge of technology, web design, e-mail and the Internet--integral skills for the developing world.
Strauss criticizes the organization's reliance on personal anecdote as an indicator of success. Certainly, rigorous evaluation must be a critical program element but grassroots development encompasses more than statistically validated economic improvement. The impacts are often qualitative and intangible. Grass roots development work empowers people to make sustainable change. The results are usually felt individually or locally. The Peace Corps budget is miniscule compared to those of other US government agencies and international development organizations. We receive a living allowance equal to the local standard and must utilize resources within our community to provide training and develop projects. Peace Corps volunteers are not given money to implement projects. This calls for a nuanced approach to determine and respond to local needs. Often broad overarching policies become illogical within the context of a specific country. It is highly likely that Strauss' experiences in Cameroon differ greatly from the issues facing Bulgaria.
Peace Corps volunteers are not professional development workers. Most move on to other professions while retaining the values and lessons learned abroad. Our experiences make us better, more informed citizens of the world and enable us to share a unique perspective with our fellow American citizens. Of the three Peace Corps goals, the second and third have a resounding impact—to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. We provide the face of America in some of the most remote parts of the world. We show ordinary people that the United States is not a militant superpower without regard for the rest of humanity.
Recently my grandfather wryly questioned me, "Why is it called the Peace Corps? You aren't at war with these countries." Upon consideration, I would say it is one of the best preemptive strategies out there. Volunteers provide a platform for dialogue, exchanging ideas and vision with the citizens of their host countries.
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