The president of CARV’s parent organization, Glenn Blumhorst, met with CARV members to bring us up to date on the status of the Peace Corps and on the ways in which NPCA is supporting the agency and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. NPCA has adopted three main goals for 2019: “Help the Peace Corps be he best that it can be, Empower members and affiliate groups to thrive and Amplify the community’s global social impact.” (For a complete list of the goals and objects, see the page attached to this article.)
As Glenn reported, the Peace Corps continues to be very active, with 7,300 volunteers, a budget of $410 mm, a strong applicant pool with only 1 in 7 applicants being accepted and many countries requesting volunteers. Unfortunately, Congressional support for the Peace Corps appears to be weakening, with only three RPCVs currently serving. There have been various recent attempts to defund international programs in general and the Peace Corps in particular. NPCA uses sophisticated communications to amplify our voices in support of the Peace Corps in thee cases. For example, a recent bill to defund the Peace Corps and transfer monies to domestic programs that originally had the support of 110 out of 435 members of Congress was defeated after NPCA mobilized over 10,000 contacts in opposition.
The second goal is to empower members and affiliate groups such as CARV. For example, we have benefited directly from these efforts with support from NPCA to help us create and support this website. NPCA also helps individual RPCVs overcome challenges and move into successful careers.
The third goal is to amplify the community’s global social impact. NPCA addresses the need of currently serving PCVs as well as RPCVs and affiliate groups. The organization has donated $1 mm to the Peace Corps in support of Peace Corps Partnerships which are organized by Volunteers in the field. It also supports RPCV entrepreneurship, such as Water Charity, working on water and sanitation projects in Togo and The Gambia with a goal of “Water for Everyone.”
A great way to stay in touch with NPCA activities and calls to action is through their newsletter. Subscribe by clicking here.
Of course, CARV was also able to tell Glenn about our group activities and those of our individual members in support of these very same goals. We appreciate this chance to meet Glenn and thank him for his critical work on behalf of the Peace Corps and over 235,000 RPCVs. Check out the Photos tab for additional pictures.
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