Their Tired, Their Hungry, Their Poor: Peace Corps Volunteers Know They're "Wanted"

    In 1980's comedy classic Airplane!, Peace Corps volunteer Ted Striker, after introducing basketball to a rural African village and watching them immediately perform Globetrotter finger-rolls and Jordan-esque dunks, remarks, "It's probably due to advanced American teaching techniques." While the Zucker brothers' explanation for the stereotype of talented black ballplayers is debatable, the incredible contributions that the Peace Corps has made throughout the world in its 40 years of existence are not. (See bottom for a link to the clip, as well a quick Airplane! tutorial on how Not to greet a village chief)

    John F. Kennedy touched on more than American patriotism in his presidential Inaugural Address, better known as the famous “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You” speech. In a pledge to fight world poverty, Kennedy addressed the suffering: “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.” In 1961 President Kennedy founded the Peace Corps for just that reason. Today, the Peace Corps website boasts its alumni at 190,000, with volunteers in 139 countries helping to fight a wide range of problems. By recruiting educated and dedicated American volunteers, the Peace Corps helps struggling peoples with health (including HIV/ AIDS), business, education, the environment, agriculture, and youth development. By simply browsing the Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov) and brochure, or by listening to volunteers like Travis Axton, it’s not difficult to see the far-reaching positive influence of this organization.

Travis Axton served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia, Africa from 2002-2004. He calls his 27-month commitment, fulfilled as a neighborhood health committee coordinator in Zambia, a truly life-changing experience. Travis recalls his time in “the Real Africa” as eye-opening from the second he stepped off of the plane, knowing nothing about Zambia. “Everything was foreign to me,” he says, from the everyday sights and sounds to the tribe’s customs and “gibberish” language, which he was sure would be impossible to pick up. However, after three months of intense training and a chicken-slaughtering welcoming ceremony, Travis was thrust into village life as a bonafide, Bimba-speaking Zambian. The only other English-speaker in his village (besides the prankster chief) was James Bond, an educated Zambian who would help Travis transition into African life (every Peace Corps volunteer has an English-speaker nearby to help out). Travis spent two years roughin’ it in rural Zambia, educating villagers primarily about HIV/ AIDS, and now speaks to potential volunteers in order to dispel myths about the Peace Corps and hopefully recruit others to follow in his footsteps.

A Peace Corps volunteer spreads AIDS awareness (and Rock n' Roll) to orphans in Namibia

The Corps’ mission is comprised of three steps: one, to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; second, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and finally, to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. One point that Travis made that I found particularly significant is the fact that, unlike the United States’ reputation holds in many nations throughout the world, the Peace Corps does not seek to institute its own programs or tell countries what to do. “Theoretically, you’re working for the host country’s government,” Travis said, “so you know you’re wanted.” In a chaotic and unfriendly global arena, it’s inspiring to see people from different nations work together to fight poverty and promote unity.

References:

Peace Corps Website: www.peacecorps.gov

Peace Corps brochure

Speech by Travis Axton, 4/10/08

Airplane! 1980 Film, Paramount. Clip: http://vocaro.com/trevor/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/airplane-peace-corps.mov