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There’s a buzz in the air about service. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us that “everybody can be great…because everybody can serve.” All over the country, all kinds of people, from school children to seniors, are looking for ways to answer the call to service. Last month, President Obama emphasized service in his inaugural address: |
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“What is required of us now is…a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
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This month, Coverdell World Wise Schools honors those who serve their communities, whether those communities comprise the neighborhood, the country, or the globe. We also provide a host of resources for fostering a spirit of service in your classroom. With a spotlight on Peace Corps Volunteers, we bring you stories about different kinds of service. To one volunteer, service in the Republic of Georgia meant teaching and becoming a part of a host family. To another, serving her Jordanian community meant addressing challenging water issues. And for one very special volunteer, Peace Corps service meant three tours—in Lesotho, Malawi, and Botswana—tackling health, agriculture, and education problems with her communities. |
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“The Last Drop”
This film explores Jordan’s water situation through interviews with national and local officials, water researchers, and average Jordanian people.
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“Of Brooms and Filmmaking” by Susan Miller-Coulter
Listen to the story of the making of “The Last Drop” by a crew of Jordanian girls and Peace Corps Volunteer Susan Miller-Coulter.
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“A Lifetime of Service” by Mary Ann Camp
Hear an interview, see photos and videos, and read stories about this remarkable Peace Corps Volunteer’s service in Lesotho, Malawi, and Botswana.
Inspire your students to serve with Coverdell World Wise Schools' service-learning resources.
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| Correspondence Match Tip of the Month |
When writing to your volunteer match, please remember that most volunteers have limited access to the Internet, so relying exclusively on e-mail may be detrimental to your correspondence. The most successful matches integrate both e-mail and traditional mail to ensure a successful stream of communication.
Additionally, make sure that your volunteer's e-mail address is not being blocked by your school's spam filters and that the volunteer has the best mailing address for you. If you have any questions or concerns about your correspondence match, contact us at wwsinfo@peacecorps.gov. |
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Q: What inspired you to volunteer for two years of service in the Peace Corps?
A: The truth is, I wanted to be a more interesting person at dinner parties. I wanted my life to count for something, and to look back and not feel like my youth was wasted. I wanted some real, raw experiences. I hoped to become fluent in a language and to learn to navigate another culture. And now that I have, I can casually throw out in conversation, "Well, when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer…"
—Emily Crawford, Public Health and Sanitation Peace Corps Volunteer, Guatemala
More
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PEACE CORPS! Celebrate 48 years of bringing the world home during Peace Corps Week, February 23 – March 2.
Want to see the new administration's agenda for community service? The White House has plans for service-learning, the Peace Corps, and volunteer opportunities at home and abroad.
Celebrate World Thinking Day with the Girl Scouts on February 22. Check out resources for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
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