Get a 48-day paid vacation, travel to over 75 countries and interact with countless people. Have a monthly living and housing allowance of over $7,000. Have a chance for graduate school opportunities, student loan opportunities and federal employment opportunities. These are just a few of the unique possibilities that volunteers have by joining the Peace Corps.
On March 4, Becky Ament, Recruiter from the Peace Corps Southeast Regional Office will be coming to the UWG to raise awareness concerning the potential benefits of being a Peace Corp volunteer. Ament will be speaking in the Anthropology building student lounge at 11:30 A.M about the Peace Corps’ opportunities, some of her experiences and how to become a volunteer. Ament will also have a general meet-and-greet informational session later in the UCC at 12:30 P.M., which is open to all students and faculty.
Students should attend these events to “learn about two-year international development opportunities with Peace Corps,” said Ament. At the event, Ament will explain two-year international development opportunities. Peace Corps. volunteers travel to various locations to assist with community improvement on a grassroots level and have the opportunity to connect with experts and entrepreneurs from around the world through hands-on learning experiences.
Ament will discuss the benefits of service, the application process and how to be a competitive candidate. She will also explain how these international development projects create value for volunteers as well as the local community as a whole, citing her unique experience as a Community Health Volunteer in Malawi.
Today, over 8,000 volunteers are working with local communities in over 75 countries. “Volunteers gain language and cross-cultural skills to integrate and make a difference in a community overseas,” said Ament. Volunteers work in fields such as agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development. Peace Corps Health Volunteers also educate and promote awareness of issues such as malnutrition and unsafe drinking water.
The Peace Corps was established in 1961. More than 210,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries in the past 50 years. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. The Peace Corps. service is a 27-month commitment. The agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries.
