‘Too Many Innocents Abroad’ in the Peace Corps?

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  01.15.08 | 2:19 PM ET

Former Peace Corps volunteer Robert L. Strauss argues so in a recent New York Times opinion piece, writing that the “overwhelming majority” of people who join are recent college graduates who too often “lack the maturity and professional experience to be effective development workers in the 21st century.”

Any volunteers have a rebuttal? Maybe some of you University of Washington or University of Wisconsin-Madison alumns out there? The Peace Corps just released its list of top feeder schools for 2007, and the Huskies and Badgers finished 1-2.  (Via Travelers’ Tales)



2 Comments for ‘Too Many Innocents Abroad’ in the Peace Corps?

Brian Handly 01.16.08 | 10:23 AM ET

PCV Tunisia 1979-1982.  While age brings experience it frequently reduces wonder, appreciation, flexibility- three critical attributes of a successful peace corps experience.  PC is not most effective as a hard core development agency.  The number one value is cross-cultural exchange.  It is more important to achieve little of economic or technical brilliance than to get to know and to be known by host countries residents that would otherwise know us only through available media (radio, church, school).

There is a place for older PCVs (I hope so as I am considering a return tour) and for recent college grads (or even young people without college degrees).

Those were the days my friends!

Erica Burman 01.16.08 | 8:38 PM ET

If you’re interested in what some members of the Peace Corps community are thinking about the Strauss piece, visit the National Peace Corps Association’s blog, Peace Corps Polyglot.

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