Peace Corps News

Maryland Returned Volunteers to screen "American Idealist" at UMBC on March 3

Maryland Returned Volunteers to screen "American Idealist" at UMBC on March 3
Maryland Returned Volunteers invites you to a special advance screening of the inspiring documentary American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver on Saturday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at The Shriver Center, UMBC.

Discussion and social will follow the film. Outgoing Peace Corps Volunteers will be honored. This event is free, however, your donation will benefit a local service project. The Shriver Center is located on the first floor of UMBC’s Public Policy Building. For directions and parking please visit: www.umbc.edu. Parking is open on streets and lots during this event. For more information contact: Joby Taylor at 410-455-6398 or joby.taylor@umbc.edu

American Idealist tells the story of Sargent Shriver
Sargent Shriver has arguably touched more lives than any American since Franklin Roosevelt. Television journalist and former LBJ aide Bill Moyers calls him “the best all-around politician I’ve ever seen.” Yet, Shriver remains unknown to most Americans today.

During his tenure in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, Shriver created the Peace Corps, directed the War on Poverty, and served as U.S. ambassador to France. The programs he created—including the Peace Corps, Head Start, Legal Services for the Poor, VISTA, Job Corps, Foster Grandparents, and Special Olympics—have improved the lives of millions. Sarge’s story offers both a guiding paradigm and a source of inspiration for those who wish to serve.

Learn more about Sargent Shriver, founding Director of the Peace Corps.

Peace Corps Documentary "Jimi Sir" now available for free viewing on the internet

Peace Corps Documentary "Jimi Sir" now available for free viewing on the internet
Filmmaker Claude von Roesgen announces that "Jimi Sir," an original and intimate portrait of Peace Corps volunteer James Parks' experiences as a high school science, math and English teacher during the last 10 weeks of his service in Nepal, is now available for free viewing on "Google Video" at: Google Video: Jimi Sir. The film is also available for purchase on DVD at Amazon. "Jimi Sir" has been called the best movie ever made about the Peace Corps experience.

Take a journey to the rugged terrain that separates the barren Tibetan plateau and the plains of India. Live alongside Jimi, a Peace Corps volunteer in Melung, a days walk south of the trail from Kathmandu to Mt Everest base camp. Delve into the ways of the Tibetan Buddhist people living and farming side by side with the Hindu Sanskrit culture. Witness the Buddhist prayer wheels and flags alongside the Hindu puja rituals. Understand the challenges facing Nepal as its citizens struggle with overpopulation, deforestation, and drinking water quality. Celebrate the festival of Tihaar, a tribute to the animals. Watch Jimi as he strives to finish a water quality and educational development projects before the deadline of his completion of service.

Benefit from Jimi's two years of Peace Corps experience in Nepal as a high school math/science and English teacher by seeing Nepal through his eyes. Jimi speaks Nepali fluently and brings you into the culture. Come to understand what it means for a Westerner to spend two years in the Middle Ages where there are no roads, vehicles, electricity, plumbing, telephone or radio. Experience Jimi's unique perspective on our Western way of life.

A must see for anyone interested in visiting Nepal or has traveled there themselves. You'll feel like you're back in this enchanting land of mountain peaks that reach as high as the highest thunderheads. With rivers that churn their way furiously through narrow valleys flanked by rice paddies rising thousands of feet above the river bed. If you're a returned Peace Corps volunteer, interested in becoming a Peace Corps volunteer, or know anyone who did Peace Corps service you'll definitely want to watch "Jimi Sir."

Read more about Peace Corps Nepal.

Read more about RPCV Documentary Filmmakers.

Guatemala RPCV RJ Harper Produces Award-winning film "Typecasted"

Guatemala RPCV RJ Harper Produces Award-winning film "Typecasted"
Shine-Box Productions, LLC. is very proud to announce that their latest short film: “Typecasted”© has today been awarded “Best Comedy Short Film” at the 2006 NY International Independent Film & Video Festival (NYIFVF). Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Guatemala), Robert "RJ" Harper co-produced and acted in the comedy short entitled: "Typecasted." The award-winning film stars Frank Fata, Adam Piacente and RJ Harper.

Guatemala RPCV RJ Harper co-stars as the zany Vietnam War veteran turned eccentric film casting director. Director Robert Roberts (Lion’s Gate Entertainment) latest film is on its very successful film festival run and will be headed to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for international feature film development consideration. The multi-talented cast and genius directing team have received rave reviews from film critics on both coasts. “Typecasted”© was shot on High Definition (HD) and is a cinematographer’s paradise of lush imagery. Typecasted’s© team of producers have generated major indie buzz and are now slated to begin work on a major feature film. Watch the film online at: www.Current.Tv/watch/13498343

In the search for top-quality comedy, there is truly only one short film to see that single-handedly represents the Italian streets of New York and it is the undisputedly hilarious short film: “Typecasted©.”  The film demonstrates a complicated and comical series of internal connections to both the fictions and the reality of that popular Hollywood subject, the stereotype of Italians and the Mafia in film. Rated the 2006 “Best Short Film” at NYIFVF, the film marks the “unofficial official silver screen debut” for actors Frank Fata, Adam Piacente and RJ Harper. Through allusion and parody, “Typecasted©”  practically hits on the whole history of the Italian stereotype in film, quite literally following the form through generations of Italian actors from Little Caesar through The Godfather to “The Sopranos” to “Meet the Gottis.” 

Read about other RPCV Filmmakers and Movies by RPCVs.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers dispute Borat image of Kazakhstan

Ryan Morris who volunteered with the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan from 2000 to 2002, said he never saw anti-Semitism there
"I don't recall them ever having any sort of difficulty at all about their religion or their heritage," said Morris, now a photographer and Peace Corps recruiter in Tampa, Fla. In an ironic turnabout, many Kazakhs have misimpressions about life in the U.S., he said, such as their tendency to believe that all Americans are rich, fat and happy. Ultimately, said Morris, the countries share similar patterns of regional variation. "Just like Appalachia, you find communities and families (in Kazakhstan) that don't have everything that's up to modern times," said Morris. The former Peace Corps volunteer said he was "humbled, almost intimidated" at times by Kazakhs' knowledge of history and geography. "By no means are they an uneducated group of people at any level," Morris reported.  Read more and leave your comments.

Kazakhstan RPCV Bob Kellett says: I wish Borat would have chosen a fictional place instead of giving a bad name to a country that doesn’t deserve it
"I am saddened by it. Most people know next to nothing about Kazakhstan and after they watch the movie they will think it is a backwards place with ignorant people. Nothing could be further from the truth. The country has its share of problems but it also has a 99% literacy rate. The people are warm, compassionate humans who in no way resemble the stumbling fools you see in the movie. I wish Borat would have chosen a fictional place instead of giving a bad name to a country that doesn’t deserve it."  Read more and leave your comments.

Spotlight on Peace Corps Guinea

RPCV Micah Schaffer has produced a feature length documentary called Death of Two Sons about Amadou Diallo's slaying and the car-crash death of Peace Corps volunteer Jesse Thyne, an American who lived with Diallo's family in Guinea
Micah Schaffer's moving, stunningly shot documentary juxtaposes the deaths of a Guinean in America and an American in Guinea. The Guinean in "Death of Two Sons" was Amadou Diallo, senselessly gunned down by four New York City policemen with 41 bullets. The American was Peace Corps volunteer Jesse Thyne, who lived with Amadou's family in Guinea and died in a car crash there. The two men never met, but their destinies are intertwined in this unique film. Jesse's California family is mainly represented by his father, Rick, whose generosity spiritually allies him to the indomitable Kadiatou Diallo, Amadou's mother. Though the film contains TV coverage of the spontaneous protests that arose after Amadou's death, and many of his kinsmen weigh in on the injustice of the absence of punishment meted out to his killers (in contrast, the Guinean taxi driver whose speeding contributed to the accident killing Jesse was sentenced to three years in jail), it is Jesse's father who delivers the most telling political indictment: He states his son's death was a tragedy, but Amadou's was also a travesty caused by the "worst of our armed, racist, hostile culture." Read more.

Guinea Peace Corps Volunteer Jennifer writes: What do you do when you are bed ridden for 4 days due to a painful sinus infection leading to a horrible earache?
Go see a doctor. My doctor is a 10 hour taxi ride from Labe if I can get out of my non-car containing village. Call him. We have no telephones. Radio him. The radio is 5 km away. I didn't even attempt to. It was the weekend, a very difficult time to find access to the radio, very difficult to get an answer on the other end. It is under such conditions that self-made decisions, self-reliance, self-understanding, self peace and calm become extremely important. Panic is not the answer. Being able to meditate through pain and suffering to come to a good decision is. Read more.

Peace Corps Volunteer Melinda writes: The Guinean Life
"Trip to the Market: Walk past street venders seeing numerous items in search for what you need. All the while you are fighting mobs of people wanting you to buy their items. 1. Find what you need; 2. Bargain price which takes loads of patience; 3. Price still too high; 4. Move on to another vender; 5. Repeat steps 1-4 several times until you realize the first guy gave you the best price; 6. Humbly return."  Read more.

Guinea Peace Corps Volunteer Andrea writes:   Riding on Taxis
"The taxi pulls over, a few words are exchanged, I hoist my bike on top with the 2 other guys and I climb up the back of the car. The car takes off as I am finding a place to settle. I strike the pose of a cowboy trying to ride a bull. I grab the metal bar mounted on the top which happened to be in between my legs. As I am getting settled, I realize it is not a bull that I am sitting on but rather a live goat. The goat seems to agree with the situation so I settle in and enjoy the beautiful valley views for miles until I am forced out of my admiration to deal with the present." Read more.

Guinea Peace Corps Volunteer Devon writes:  Middle America vs the African Bush
Village life is laid back, relaxing and more slow paced than I have ever seen. Every day I see Guineans laughing and enjoying the simple pleasures of life; sitting in the shade of a front porch on a particularly hot day, chatting in the local tea bar or singing as they work in the rice fields. Yet the Guineans in my village live without electricity, refrigeration or plumbing. They have limited knowledge of French, no concept of sanitation or preventative health-care and yet they still function and live happy lives. I don’t mean to paint guinea as some kind of 3rd world utopia, or spout some back to nature Emersonian propaganda. There is certainly more than an ample amount of discontent and unhappiness here, as is dictated by human nature and socio-economic conditions. However, my goal is merely to illustrate the contrast between unhappiness that is justified and one borne out of a culture consumed by materialism. Read more.