At any
point in time, from the moment I type this and the second you take in reading
this, someone, somewhere, is doing a heroic service to the world. More
accurately, multiple people are doing multiple good deeds globally, and chances
are, several of those people are Peace Corps Volunteers
Volunteers teach young girls about how easily and invisibly HIV spreads without proper preventative care |
Peace Corps
was founded in the 60s midst the Cold War as America's belief that more than
wealth, security, and nationalism, that it's core foundation is in spreading a
global good will of aiding humanity. John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to
give up their comfortable lives for two years and serve those in disadvantaged
situations, learn the meaning of hardship, and take up a cause that is just and
pure. In juxtaposition of multiple proxy wars, mutually assured destruction with the
Soviet Union, and burgeoning materialism resulting from Post-World War 2
hegemony, the Peace Corps represented a living counterpoint to American real politick.
I say this
all now knowing that many will scoff at the near sugary coating I put of my organization,
from those who do not know the Peace Corps but hate the concept of foreign aid
to those who have served and have experienced extreme hardship, leaving them
bitter and disillusioned. To all of you,
I want to talk about something uncomfortable, I want to talk about something
that perhaps you are ashamed of feeling as I was a 21 months ago.
I want to
talk to you about idealism, and I want you to let yourself experience it.
Take a look
at the world today, the multiple wars happening among us, take a ponderance at
the future ahead of us, environmental conflict not being the only crisis to
likely worry about. We have a lifetime
of tragedy before us, and unless you're in a position where you are being
oppressed, there is something you can do
about it.
What was
the difference between the generation that first joined the Peace Corps and
now? Perhaps unlike growing up directly after two World Wars, we grew up after
two Gulf Wars. We've grown up in a Post-Vietnam era where we actively know that
the government is not necessarily always fighting against an enemy we can all
rally against. Perhaps as result of seeing that developing countries
post-colonialization are still developing afterwards even with the
establishment of the World Bank, US AID, and the IMF, there is question of the
effectiveness of altruistic reasons. Perhaps even more, having articles
labeling inexperienced privileged do-gooders as "voluntourists" that
focus, rather on constructive criticisms, to scrap the idea of interpersonal
interaction all together, have led us to wonder if we are doing more harm than
good.
But I can
tell you, the world has gotten better due to your desire to love, and not only
does it desire it, you need it too.
I certainly have, I'll miss this view |
Malaria rates have drastically reduced as a result of the Mass Bed Net Distribution in Sagalla |
Malaria
rates have drastically reduced within Africa
due to the Global Fund, the President's Malaria Initiative, and Stomp Out
Malaria, among many other partners. At my site alone, a mass bed net distribution in 2012 has reduced
malaria rates by over 60% in less than a year. Every year, Peace Corps Kenya
volunteer trains hundreds of youth to realize that they can make their own
healthy decisions when it comes to preventing HIV, STIs, and unwanted
pregnancy. Next month, for the first time in Kenya , PEPFAR is organizing
with Peace Corps to teach a Men As
Partners camp, focusing on training young men about domestic violence,
substance abuse, and healthy gender relations. This is work done by normal Americans, funded by normal Americans.
You are making a difference, and you will continue to the make a difference.
The Youth Center has been an epicenter for youth engagement in Sagalla |
Idealism is
a victim of the very enemies it is trying to defeat, which is indifference and
oppression. Of the two, the latter
cannot be defeated immediately and perhaps because of the amount of time taken
to combat it, the former breeds.
Indeed, I
am here to tell you to be idealistic, and be willing to live with it. Because
being idealistic is difficult, it involves having to deal with challenges,
failure, and the burden of having to humble and ultimately change
yourself.
Peace Corps is not just about helping people, it's also about letting other
people help and change your perception. Idealism
will break you, make you question your values, and ultimately put you at the
cliff ready to fall down into yourself, but as you peer down, I want you to
realize how far you have climbed because you believed you can.
The partnership between Host Country Nationals and Peace Corps Volunteers breeds a fusion of ideas and energy to make a difference, such as the restoration of this dam. |
One of the proudest days of my life |
I want you
to join Peace Corps, I want you to help people, more importantly, I want you to
believe that it's possible to make a difference. Because it is, if I could, why
can't you if you desired to. I will choose to believe in you, and will be continue
to attempt to be an example for those after me to follow.
Peace be upon you,
Tanim Awwal
March 20th, 2014
This post is dedicated to the thousands of Volunteers who have served in world, from JICA, VSO, and Peace Corps in particular. This post is also dedicated to the thousands more I hope will choose to volunteer in the future, for them, I wish you courage, leadership, integrity, grace, and Zen in your development.
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