Bridging Differences

The Peace Corps welcomes all qualified, U.S. citizens over the age of 18 to apply and volunteer alongside counterparts and community members in 60 countries. The Peace Corps fosters an environment where all Volunteers, staff, and host country partners bring their lived and professional experience to address challenges together. Worldwide, the Peace Corps holds that together we grow through intercultural relationships that are built on mutual respect, trust, and openness.

When working abroad, Volunteers make many personal connections with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. The Peace Corps’ approach prepares Volunteers to bridge differences; partner with communities through people-to-people collaboration; strengthen individual and collective capacity; and use available resources, knowledge, and skills to achieve locally defined goals. The Peace Corps recognizes the importance of continuous learning and growth and offers training on building cultural ties, and other essential topics throughout service.

General considerations

Accommodations for physical disabilities

Compared to the United States, in many countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, there is less infrastructure to accommodate individuals with physical disabilities such as barrier-free sidewalks or entrances, assistive technology, braille, or elevators. In addition, some people may hold cultural beliefs toward individuals with disabilities that might impact the Volunteer’s comfort or ease in navigating their role in the community. Where possible, Peace Corps staff will provide to Volunteers accommodations that help promote Volunteer success throughout the service journey and equip Volunteers with the strategies necessary to promote understanding and improved accessibility. Training, housing, assignments, and other Volunteer support are available to enable individuals to serve safely and effectively.

Dynamics between men and women

Dynamics, norms, and attitudes related to men and women may be different from the U.S. in countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve. For example, in many countries, women hold traditional roles that focus primarily on caretaking responsibilities. Some women may also work in the fields, run businesses, and care for their household’s assets.

Female Volunteers’ conduct and behavior may be scrutinized or criticized more often by host community members than male Volunteers, especially, if they dress or behave in a manner deemed unacceptable by the elders in their host family or in their workplaces. Female Volunteers often find success by first establishing a rapport with both older and peer generation females in their families and workplaces, and by dressing and behaving more conservatively until they have a clearer understanding of the consequences of stepping outside of local cultural norms and expectations.

Peace Corps staff deliver tailored training to orient Volunteers to the norms and customs specific to their country of service. Through coaching, staff partner with Volunteers on strategies to effectively navigate the cultural terrain, including cultural dissonance. Additionally, Volunteers learn to analyze development projects from both male and female lenses to better understand community priorities and how different roles impact what people can contribute both personally and professionally.

Volunteer service as a couple

In host countries with more traditional roles for men and women, heterosexual Volunteer couples may face pressure to conform to corresponding relationship roles. For example, couples who share household responsibilities equally or who do not have children may receive questions from community members.

It can be helpful to discuss how pressures to conform challenge people differently and consider how each partner is affected and what, if any, aspects of the relationship could be adjusted to reduce stress. During training, staff will share strategies for respectfully integrating into the community as a Volunteer couple. The Peace Corps also supports couples in training, housing, job sites, and other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. The same support is extended to same-sex couples in host countries where it is safe and legal for same-sex couple Volunteers to serve together.

Sexual orientation laws and norms

Attitudes and laws around sexual orientation in countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve may be different than in the U.S. No service experience is the same, but for Volunteers who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, it will likely take time to build relationships and trust before deciding whether or with whom to safely share their sexual orientation. Staff are trained and available to support Volunteers as they navigate these decisions and consider the potential safety and community integration implications. Volunteers who choose to share their sexual orientation with community members may experience differing and nuanced reactions, depending on the cultural and legal environment. Therefore, some Volunteers may choose only to share their sexual orientation with other Volunteers or staff.

During training and throughout service, Trainees and Volunteers can learn from staff and other Volunteers on how to safely express their sexuality within the norms of their host country’s culture.

Perceptions toward different racial and ethnic backgrounds

Lacking positive exposure, some host community members may hold certain assumptions about a Volunteer’s race or ethnicity that come from various sources including social media, music, movies, and local lore. Many community members may expect American Volunteers to be white and might question the race or nationality of Volunteers who are not white. Some community members may make comments, or jokes regarding race or ethnicity to non-white Americans and some may also encounter verbal harassment on the street—often more acutely when away from their communities. At the same time, white Volunteers will stand out in certain countries and may receive unwanted attention throughout their service.

During training, Volunteers will learn strategies for navigating perceptions related to their race or ethnicity during service. Volunteer cohorts learn together about supporting each other in this effort. Additionally, all Volunteers will learn about the current and historical racial, ethnic, and tribal dynamics that may be present in their host country to ensure a more seamless integration process.

Assumptions related to wealth and age

As Americans, Volunteers may be perceived as wealthy or from a higher socioeconomic class, which may make them targets for petty crimes or scams. This may make Volunteers uncomfortable, especially, as they receive a modest stipend that allows them to live at the level of their host community during service.

In many countries where Volunteers work, community elders are well respected. Therefore, older Volunteers may find their age to be an asset in-country and will often have access to a higher social status or receive greater social recognition than is shown to younger Volunteers. At the same time, some older Volunteers may be the only person in their age group within their Volunteer cohort, which may make them feel less connected to other Volunteers.

Specific challenges for older Volunteers most often are related to their adaptation to the living conditions of their country of service. Older Volunteers may need to take special health precautions to stay healthy during service.

Religion and spirituality

In countries where Volunteers work, there may be a dominant religion or expectation that Volunteers participate in religious ceremonies or other spiritual practices. In some countries, there may be more religious tolerance than others where divisions may exist across religious lines. Volunteers may experience pressure to participate in or convert to a religion or practice, which they may find uncomfortable. Other Volunteers may find that attending religious observances, as a cultural behavior, can aid in community integration.

During training, Volunteers will learn more about religion and spirituality in their country of service and how best to balance their own religious or spiritual practices and beliefs with the expectations or desires of their host community.