The Peace Corps

Have you ever wonder about the Peace Corps (PC)? Have you ever though if it is right for you? If you are unsure about it, then here is some information that might satisfy your questions. Travis Axton, the west coast representative for the Peace Corps and also a volunteer in Zambia, South Africa, came to Chico State University, Chico California to give some insight on his experience in Zambia and also how to become a volunteer for the Peace Corps.

Straight out of college Travis did not know what he wanted to do with his life. He heard about the Peace Corps and thought it would be a good idea. He went through the necessary paper work and about a year later he was off to Zambia. He did not know anything about the place especially the language. When joining the PC you commit to a 27 month term. For the first three months, you are given formal training on the language, the culture, safety and security, and about diseases such as HIV and Malaria, so he can teach his village about it. After the three months of training, he was sent to his village where he would spend 2 years living, teaching, and doing project with in his village.

Upon arrival to his village, he was given a mud hut with a grass roof to which he would live in and a couple of hundred dollars so he could by some necessities, stove, charcoal, and a mattress. In every village there is a chief, which is the highest power in the tribe, and the slaughtering of chicken is considered the highest honor. His first day there, a group of women did hours of native dances for him and also slaughter a chicken for him, symbolizing they were honored for him to be there. For the next two year, he created everlasting friendship, taught these people about common diseases, and worked on project that would help them to better themselves.

The PC is just not all work and no time off. Out of the two years of service, you are allowed 48 days of vacation time of which you can use them how ever you like. Each month you are given about $100 dollars for food and necessities, which is not much, but is enough for one to survive. Once your service is up, you are then given $6,000 for your readjustment back into society.

The PC has their own website, http://www.peacecorps.gov/, which will give one in depth details of how to register for service. It also gives more detail about what the PC is all about, where you will go if you volunteer, about safety, tax breaks, the benefits of volunteering, and how to volunteer. The PC is a good opportunity for somebody to see different parts of the world, how developing countries live, and how their cultures differ from ours. The application process takes anywhere from 6 months to a year before you are given your assignment, so it is advised that you apply a year in advance before you want to serve. So go to http://www.peacecorps.gov/ to sign up today to experience a change and self satisfaction that the Peace Corps can give you.