All over the world Peace Corps volunteers, their host country national co-workers and families in the USA people are celebrating the legacy of the amazing organization that Kennedy put into place. Thank you for your vision, and your belief that we all have something to share and to learn, and that development is all about empowerment. I am a firm believer and hopeful optimistic in the core values of Peace Corps. I bet you can tell, since this is my second time around… It means a lot to me to be here, as a Peace Corps Response volunteer in the country I served in originally during the 50th anniversary year. It is the perfect return. So let the festivities begin!
September 22, 2011 was the opening ceremony and swearing in of the new 47 Peace Corps Volunteers for the education sector as well as agriculture. They arrived in country in June and swore in at an amazing reception where the primary minister of Burkina Faso spoke and welcomed them into the country. Our current US Ambassador swore them in and then we began a weekend long fair! Peace Corps volunteers from all over the country left their posts with their Burkinabe counterparts and had awareness building talks on various topics including hygiene, family planning, nutrition, deforestation, and more. There were artisans associations selling locally made goods, educational/informational booths on just about any topic you can think of, a fashion show, games including a dunking booth, music, food folks and fun. The fair went through Sept 24th and the closing ceremony was graced by the presence of the first lady of Burkina Faso, Chantel Compaore. There was a photographer who took my picture while shaking her hand, once I get it I will share J.
The highlight of the closing ceremony for me, however, was Floby, a local singer who is making a name for himself internationally. He wrote a song to thank Peace Corps. It is so beautiful and sent chills down my spine as he sang it for the first time publically at our ceremony. He has had a unique relationship with Peace Corps volunteers and also with everyone he comes in contact with. He is a very simple person and his fame has never gone to his head. I can think of more than one occasion of him just being around and hanging out with people. I assume that this record will be around for many years to come. I am not sure how long this link will work, but click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUO2ZPiwMRM
It was an amazing time of celebration and I am proud to be included amongst the names of some of the most interesting American citizens. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are everywhere and doing various things. They are doctors, lawyers, housewives, non-profit founders, teachers, CEOs, softball coaches, mentors, students, researchers, sisters, brothers, neighbors, and more. No matter what they are doing, and where they are now, I am connected to them, in a kinship that I cannot describe in words that one would understand, but I love them, and am proud of them. They have an interesting perspective about life, its challenges, and the possibilities that life holds. So congratulations to every current and returned Peace Corps Volunteer. You are my (s)heroes!
Also, thank you to every country that has openly accepted and worked with each of us. Our adjustments were at times hard, and our perspectives were sometimes off the mark, but you are and were patient through our process of learning and growing. And we have all benefited from your teaching, and our hope is that each country has benefited from our exchange. And I hope the exchange continues beyond the time that Peace Corps volunteers are needed in each country. The hope is that through mutual understanding and respect, positive relationships and peace will be spread throughout the world. Finally, to those of you who have ever considered being a part of this organization, I firmly suggest that you look it up, and start the application process, you will be amazed by the growth that you will experience, and the things you will be able to share with your hosting communities. And if you cannot leave the country and serve somewhere else, the Peace Corps’ guiding goals can be applied to whatever communities you work in. Let’s spread peace all over the world!
For more information about Peace Corps go to: www.peacecorps.gov and for info about Peace Corps in Burkina Faso: http://pcburkina.org
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