The Peace Corps Goes to Paradise
Peace Corps (1982). The Peace Corps Goes to Paradise. Peace Corps.
- Has attachment: File:DUQCGMQL.pdf
Abstract: iscusses the involvement of the Peace Corps in Micronesia. Initially, Micronesia faced several challenges including understaffed schools, inadequate medical facilities, poor infrastructure, and communication difficulties due to the existence of nine languages . Recognizing these issues, the Peace Corps was requested by Micronesian leaders to help build the social, economic, and political foundations for self-government, as Micronesia considered its future status of self-governance.
The Peace Corps responded swiftly, developing an intensive program to send liberal arts graduates with specific Peace Corps training to assist the region. The deployment was planned in phases, with the first phase starting by October 1966, focusing on elementary education, public health, and community development. Volunteers were tasked with tasks such as curriculum development, English language instruction, and community problem-solving. The second phase, beginning in January 1967, concentrated on secondary education, vocational training, and further economic activities, including agriculture.
Throughout these efforts, Community Development Volunteers played a key role in helping locals solve community problems, contributing to projects like water and sanitation systems. Additionally, the Peace Corps’s health initiatives included control programs against malaria and tuberculosis, alongside immunization efforts. The Peace Corps sought to enhance living standards by introducing new agricultural and marine products, with a focus on local marketable products such as copra. The article details a comprehensive initiative to address the multifaceted challenges faced by Micronesia and support its journey towards self-sufficiency and improved living standards.
