Fifteen Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) from around the world shared experiences with Illinois State students during Peace Corps Week.
During Peace Corps Week (February 26 to March 4), RPCVs across the country celebrated the many ways to make a difference in local communities and around the world, focusing on a renewed commitment to service. This year the theme was “Highlighting Hospitality: How does your Peace Corps Country Make People Feel Welcome?”
The ISU event on March 4 used a “speed dating” design. Students rotated among tables organized by regions of the world. Each table had several RPCVs from that region. After just an hour, students had visited every region where Peace Corps Volunteers serve.
This “one-hour trip around the world,” as Peace Corps Campus Recruiter Vanessa Soto put it, gave students and guests an opportunity to ask questions of experienced volunteers to better understand what to expect while abroad. In addition to Stevenson Center staff and graduate students, Redbird RPCVs who attended the event include:
- Kerri Calvert, Samoa
- Mike Dougherty, Guatemala
- Jim Jones, Gabon
- Katie Simpson, Panama
- Dane Ward, Senegal
Students interested in joining the Peace Corps can contact or visit the Peace Corps Campus Recruiter. The new Peace Corps Prep program helps undergraduate students prepare for Peace Corps service.
Kaitlin Pavsner is the Stevenson Center’s public relations intern.
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