As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I was pleased to read Andrew Prozorovsky’s opinion about Peace Corps service remaining underappreciated. I was a Volunteer in Panama and Nicaragua from 1969-1972 and worked in home economics, agricultural extension and health as well as in setting up handicraft cooperatives.

As a person who grew up in a small community in rural Illinois, it was an incredible experience to live and work in other countries and cultures. It expanded my worldview and gave me new insights into how we can work together to promote peace and international understanding. It has also expanded my professional opportunities and is always a conversation starter in job interviews and social settings.

Peace Corps Volunteers were evacuated during the pandemic, but as countries meet health standards, invitations are being sent to Volunteers to return and new applicants are being selected for service.

In today’s troubled world, serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer can be a way to learn more about other perspectives and ways of living. By living and working in another country and sharing expertise and ideas, it is possible to promote peace and international understanding while learning and sharing with others. I would encourage all students to look for opportunities to expand their global perspectives, and one way to do that is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Fifty years later, I still value what I learned and the experiences I had. Explore the possibilities at https://www.peacecorps.gov.

Barbara is an alumnus from the class of 1973.

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