On Sunday 15 March 2020 Peace Corps announced an unprecedented evacuation of over 7,000 volunteers from 60 countries – in less than a week – as hygiene and travel restrictions were put in place across the globe due to the spreading of COVID19 virus.
15 March 2020 Letter to Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees Worldwide
As a Peace Corps volunteer, I remember welcoming volunteers to the country who were evacuated from Niger and Mali in 2011 and hearing their stories. Those who chose re-placement, whether they had been rattled or unfazed by the incidents in their host country, wanted to continue their service with conviction.
At that same time, Boko Haram was getting stronger in northern Nigeria. In 2013, the terrorist group kidnapped a French family of 7 visiting a remote National Park, home to one of the country’s last pride of lions.
The Peace Corps volunteers in that region, where I served, were evacuated less than 3 months after I had left. Another 8 months later, the French priest in the closest town to mine, the only foreigner remaining in the region, was kidnapped by armed terrorists.
You don’t feel danger until it is upon you.
French Priest kidnapped in rural Cameroon village – BBC News
French priest freed after kidnapping
An evacuation can be an emotional time, being forced to change location and lifestyle at a moments notice whether you want to or not. Is it not better to leave before the danger is already there? Currently, volunteers at different stages in their service all have a different reaction to this, after committing their time to serve and abruptly being forced into a different life plan.
First time in Peace Corps history – evacuation of all volunteers
Did Peace Corps just fire all their volunteers?
We are all in this together and we are with you. En es ensemble. Welcome to the RPCV Community because today, there are no Peace Corps Volunteers. Don’t let the spirit of service die.
Don’t forget, you can always (and often) let your representatives know that you support the continuation of Peace Corps by emailing your representatives.
