Chapter 156
The pursuit of happiness requires that we work for peace,
because peace and happiness are not separable.
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Rogue Valley Veterans for Peace
Chapter 156
The pursuit of happiness requires that we work for peace, because peace and happiness are not separable. |
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Alternatives to Military Enlistment - Peace Corp Go to Basic Facts MISSION The goal of the Peace Corps is to promote world peace. Peace Corps Volunteers: Help the people of interested countries meet their need for trained men and women. Help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. Help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. QUALIFICATIONS To be a Peace Corps Volunteer, you must: Be a U.S. citizen. Be at least 18 years old, though applicants under 21 are rarely accepted. Meet legal and medical requirements. Have a skill (degree or work experience) requested by one of Peace Corps' host countries. Be willing to live and work overseas for 27 months (3 months of training plus 2 years of Volunteer service). TRAINING Peace Corps provides 10 -14 weeks of training in: Technical Skills: Skills needed for your Peace Corps assignment, specific to your host country. Cross-cultural Knowledge: Customs, manners, protocol, religious beliefs, history, laws, and other important information integral to becoming a contributing member of your host community. Language: Instruction and immersion in the national and/or local language(s) of your host country. Medical: Information that will help you keep yourself healthy and safe for two years in your host country. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT While you serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will receive: Living Allowance: A monthly stipend, paid in the currency of the host country (and equivalent to what a local would be making), that covers the costs of food, housing, and personal expenses such as clothing and transportation. Medical and Dental Coverage: Provided by Peace Corps health professionals in every host country. All necessary immunizations are included. Travel Expenses: To and from the host country. Leave: 48 days of vacation leave, plus a monthly leave allowance of $24, during the two-year period of service. CAN I PICK THE COUNTRY? Peace Corps places Volunteers at the request of host countries, so our main priority is to place you where your skills are needed. If your preferred country requests someone with your skills we make every effort to place you there. Though you can indicate your geographic preference, being geographically inflexible may limit your placement possibilities. WHAT KINDS OF SKILLS ARE COUNTRIES LOOKING FOR? We get a wide variety of requests. We're always in need of people with degrees or experience in agriculture, vocational education, physics, and chemistry. Liberal arts graduates need experience in at least two of the following: French or Spanish; significant leadership; gardening/farming; health; and/or teaching. DO I NEED TO KNOW A SECOND LANGUAGE? No, but some countries requires people who have studied one year of college level (or two years high school) French or Spanish within the past ten years. You should, however, be prepared to learn another language in the country where you serve. DO I NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE? Not all programs require degrees, but you must have skills that are requested by host countries. In lieu of a degree you should have significant work experience (2-5 years) in a specific area and have the ability to train or supervise others. Programs not requiring a degree include agriculture, construction and vocational arts, mechanics, and business management. HOW COMPETITIVE IS IT TO GET IN? Your competitiveness depends on the types of programs for which your education and work experience qualifies you and the number of those requests we receive from host countries. Your competitiveness can be enhanced by foreign language study, especially in Spanish and/or French, teaching or tutoring experience in English, math, or science, paid or volunteer work experience, and your ability to lead, organize, and motivate people. HOW LONG DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKE? Generally it takes 6-12 months from the time an application is submitted to the time you go overseas, depending on what skills are being requested and whether your skills qualify you for these requests. We accept applications year-round. ISNT THE PEACE CORPS FOR PEOPLE JUST OUT OF COLLEGE? The average age of volunteers is about 29. The median age is closer to 26. Since Peace Corps allows one to build on current skills and learn new ones, many use Peace Corps to transition between careers, as well as to start out after college. DOES PEACE CORPS ACCEPT MARRIED COUPLES? Yes, and both must qualify for programs. The placement process,may take a longer (1 year or more) because we must find a country requesting two people, with different skills at the same time and in the same place. DOES PEACE CORPS PLACE FAMILIES? We are currently unable to accommodate families. We cannot guarantee health, education, visas and/or housing for families. WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO YOU GET? Every Volunteer is trained for 1-3 months, usually in the country where they will serve. It includes language, cross cultural and technical training. WHEN DO VOLUNTEERS GENERALLY GO OVERSEAS? It varies. A large number of programs, however, begin training overseas between April and September. We accept applications year-round.
From practical benefits such as student loan deferment, career benefits like fluency in a foreign language, and the intangible benefits that come with making a difference in people's lives, there are a variety of rewards for the dedicated service of Volunteers. Rewards that last a lifetime.
Career Skills: You will gain international experiences that are valued by employers back home and develop leadership, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills necessary for success in today's global marketplace. In addition, you will receive what is arguably the best language and cross-cultural training anywhere in the world.
Educational Benefits Student Loan Deferral and/or Forgiveness: If you began borrowing on a Perkins Student Loan after July 1987 you may be able to cancel 15 - 30% of your debt in exchange for Peace Corps service. Most other federally funded student loans may be deferred while you serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Medical Benefits From: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.howvol.qualify Is there a place for you in the Peace Corps? Take a minute to read through this page, answer a few quick questions, and get a feel for your chances of becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. You may already know that all Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens of at least 18 years of age. Here are a few things that might surprise you: * There is no upper age limit. In fact, the oldest Volunteer ever to serve in the Peace Corps was 86. * You don't have to know another language. * Having a four-year college degree by the time you're ready to leave for the Peace Corps will help your chances of acceptance. But it isn't absolutely necessary, and for some programs work experience, relevant skills, and/or a community college degree can qualify you. To see if you might qualify to join the thousands of Volunteers who serve in the Peace Corps each year, take a minute to complete the following questionnaire. While this form is not a substitute for the official Peace Corps application, it will provide you with a general sense about your chances for acceptance. It will also give you ideas for what you can do now to strengthen your application. 1. Are you 18 or over? * Yes * No Note: The average volunteer age is about 29, the median age is closer to 26. 2. Are you a U.S. citizen? * Yes * No 3. What is the highest level of education you will have completed when you submit your application?
Note: Although a college degree is generally preferred, not all programs require degrees. However, you must have skills that are requested by host countries. In lieu of a degree, you should have significant work experience (2-5 years) in a specific area and have the ability to train or supervise others. Programs not requiring a degree include agriculture, construction and vocational arts, mechanics, and business management. 4. Select your major field(s) of study in college and/or graduate school. Check all that apply.
5. Select your area(s) of work experience. Check all that apply.
6. Do you have experience volunteering? * Yes * No 7. Do you have a medical condition which could hinder your ability to serve? * Yes * No 8. Identify your level of proficiency with the following languages. Language skills are not a prerequisite for applying, but may be required for certain assignments. Check all that apply.
Results (for a high school graduate with some agriculture or business experience): The minimum requirements for Peace Corps are: * 18 years of age or older * U.S. citizenship * A four-year college degree, or solid work experience in an area such as agriculture, business management, or a skilled trade. A community college degree paired with specific skills or work experience may also qualify you. Having a college degree by the time you're ready to leave for the Peace Corps will help your chances of acceptance. For applicants without a college degree, there are opportunities to work in several program areas, provided you have the appropriate work experience or knowledge of a skilled trade. To find out about these opportunities, call your regional recruitment office at 800.424.8580. |
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