A Call to Peace - Civic Enterprises

While RPCVs recognized the need for reforms, theyalso defended the basic model of the Peace Corps onwhich their experiences were based. Most proposals wetested with our survey enjoyed wide support—the twoexceptions were shorter-term assignments for PeaceCorps programs and enabling private organizations toadminister Peace Corps projects overseas (figure 23).While these responses are negative as it relates tothe Peace Corps itself, they do not oppose these ideasbeing advanced outside the Peace Corps.By wide margins (net favor minus oppose), RPCVssupported recruiting more experienced volunteersto offer technical expertise on projects and mentoryounger volunteers; providing better technical trainingfor entry-level volunteers to improve impact; anddefining projects more clearly both for effectivenessand accountability purposes. RPCVs also supporteddeveloping reciprocal programs to bring talent fromother countries to volunteer in the U.S. and partneringwith other international service and developmentprograms to send more American volunteers abroad.volunteer service, such as Volunteers for Prosperitythat was created by Executive Order in 2003 andbecame law in 2009, specifically recognize the needfor highly-skilled volunteers to target urgent needssuch as HIV/AIDS, malaria, clean water for the poor,and other issues of high importance. Inviting privatesector administration of Peace Corps projects is largelyopposed by RCPVs, as is shortening the service periodin the Peace Corps. RCPVs supported increasing theopportunities for overseas service outside the Peace Corps.Figure 24: Proposals to Expand the Numberof VolunteersFigure 23: Proposals to Strengthen theRPCVs from the first three decades are slightly moresupportive of reforms, with majorities supporting PeaceCorps partnerships with other private sector programsto send more Americans for service overseas and moreopportunities for Peace Corps Volunteers and others totake on shorter-term assignments through other lowcostfederally funded positions.Peace Corps ExperiencePresident Kennedy wanted the Peace Corps to have100,000 volunteers serving every year. The Peace Corpshas scarcely reached a tenth of that number for most ofits history, apart from 1966 when there were more than15,000. Our survey also asked RPCVs which proposalsthey would favor to get to 15,000 again (figure 24).By wide margins, RPCVs supported increasing federalfunding for the Peace Corps to double the numberof Volunteers, and to increase other federally fundedpositions for volunteers such as for HIV/AIDS andmalaria control as a complement to the Peace Corps.Efforts have been made over the last decade tomobilize Peace Corps Volunteers to meet needs intargeted areas, such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. Andother federal initiatives to promote internationalA CALL TO PEACE SEPTEMBER 2011While more recent RPCVs are more critical of the PeaceCorps, and more likely to describe their experience as“frustrating” (figure 7), they are paradoxically moredefensive of its basic structure and less inclined toreform (figure 25).“T HE ‘70’S WERE TURBULENT AND PEACECORPS WAS NOT IMMUNE, FINANCIALLY ORPOLITICALLY. LITTLE DIDI KNOW WHEN I WASCONFIRMED THAT PEACE CORPS WOULD BEUNDER ATTACK FROM THE ADMINISTRATIONWHICH TRIED TO SUBMERGE IT WITHIN ACTIONAND EVEN TO ABOLISH THE TITLE OF PEACECORPS DIRECTOR. WHILE I WAS PROUD TOHAVE GROWN THE PROGRAM ON MY WATCH,IT IS A MATTER OF GREATER PRIDE THAT NONEOF THOSE INITIATIVES SUCCEEDED, THANKSTO A RESERVOIR OF GOODWILL ON THEHILL PLUS A MARVELOUSLY CREATIVE ANDDEDICATED STAFF.”—Nick Craw, Peace Corps Director 1973-197427|