Worldview Magazine - Fall 2007 - (Page 12)

Life is calling. So is SPEA. “One of the big draws for me to consider SPEA for graduate study was its Fellows program. SPEA has had a long history with Peace Corps and supports a large RPCV community. The Fellows program not only offers a merit aid package but an opportunity to invest in the local community while making the tie of classroom learning to realworld scenarios. Plus, Indiana University and Bloomington offers such cultural diversity— all within a quaint college town.” Stephanie Waldman, RPCV Tashkent, Uzbekistan SPEA Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program Kindred spirits, a stellar education, and the new Peace Corps Fellows Program— just some of the beneﬁts awaiting you as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University. Contact us for information on our Master of Public Affairs (MPA) or Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES) program. www.spea.indiana.edu speainfo@indiana.edu (812) 855-2840 • (800) 765-7755 SPEA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS Smart Policy. Sound Science. Stronger Communities. 12 Fall 2007 the country. To Tschetter’s surprise a May recruiting event at the University of Washington attracted a standingroom-only crowd of nearly 300 people, the majority over 50. Meanwhile, Peace Corps has started to look at all its operations through the lens of older volunteers, and this new perspective may lead to changes that beneﬁt all volunteers. In March, the agency began receiving the results of a February 2007 survey sent to the 382 currently serving 50-plus volunteers. Some suggestions culled from the survey are already being considered. To develop best practices and lessons learned, Peace Corps is also compiling actuarial data on 50-plus volunteers who have served since 1961. At the top of the list is the medical clearance process, which Tschetter concedes can be “onerous, long, and drug out.” He says that anybody who is 50-plus is going to have more “yes-es” on his questionnaire. “It’s just a given. And so every yes answer leads to followup examinations and clariﬁcations.” Is it reasonable to expect that records of a broken nose incident would have been maintained for 15, 20, or 30 years? e director wants to streamline the process without compromising thoroughness and the health and safety of the volunteers. Another area is language training. Older volunteers can learn new languages, but research and anecdotal evidence–including the Peace Corps survey–ﬁnds that those who are 50plus learn languages diﬀerently than their younger fellow trainees. “Many of them tell me that it’s almost intimidating sometimes.” Peace Corps has hired outside consultants who are experts on older-learning to provide language training in a way that boomers can learn. Nine countries that already have experience with older volunteers (Cameroon, Lesotho, South Africa, Ukraine, Romania, ailand, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Panama) will serve as pilot posts for the 50-plus initiative. By sharing concerns and promising practices within the agency, Peace Corps will be able to evaluate the integration and support of this older demographic, and review their impact. In programming, for example, are some sites more suitable for the 50-plus volunteer because of proximity to medical centers or more moderate temperatures? Is regular interaction with same-age peers helpful? Data from these pilot countries should provide some answers. e survey also indicates that communication is another area in need of attention. Older volunteers say that the Peace Corps should be more sensitive and respectful in communicating policies and regulations to adults who have been independent far longer than the average 20-something. Peace Corps says it is working with training, staging, language and post staﬀ on better communication techniques. Finally, recruitment will be reexamined. As Tschetter puts it, “When you’re recruiting 20-somethings, you know what your market is and you go to the college campuses and they’re there. is is going to take a somewhat of a more focused approach.” Peace Corps has begun talking to groups such as AARP and associations such as the National Association of Retired Teachers to see how they can collaborate. Another problem to solve is that once nominated, older volunteers usually have more complex personal aﬀairs to handle: investments, houses or other assets to sell, manage or store; jobs from which to retire. Peace Corps is drafting recruiting materials and hiring 50-plus recruiters to better address 50-plus questions and concerns. “You know, this the third inning of a nine-inning game,” says Tschetter. “We’ve made progress, a lot of progress in the last three to four months.” e director thinks the Peace Corps does a better job of matching skills to hostcountry needs than it did in the 1960s when he was a volunteer. And that, he says with certainty, speaks well for the Peace Corps and for future of the 50plus initiative. Erica Trafas Burman is NPCA news director and served in e Gambia from 1987 to 1989. http://www.spea.indiana.edu http://www.spea.indiana.edu

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Worldview Magazine - Fall 2007

Worldview - Fall 2007 Contents Presiden'ts Note Lafayette Park Introduction Interview Commentary Editor's Note Letter from Rumbek, Sudan Listings Letter from Yekaterinburg, Russia Letter from Codaesti, Romania Letter from Catia La Mar, Venezuela Letter from Gumare, Botswana Letter from Ridder, Kazakhstan Letter from Rincon, Cape Verde Letter from Port Au Prince Another Country Community News Giving Back Opinion

Worldview Magazine - Fall 2007

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