TAKE ACTION: Peace Corps Staffing Cuts Coming
Peace Corps Delivers for America. Now We Must Deliver for Peace Corps. News is emerging today that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is ordering a weakening of Peace Corps staff and operations that puts at risk the national service program’s ability to adequately support the thousands of Americans currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in 60 nations worldwide. The National Peace Corps Association is alarmed at initial reports that DOGE is demanding a drastic removal of Peace Corps staff vital to the recruitment and preparation of Peace Corps volunteers, and to supporting them as they work in often remote...
Arab American Heritage Month: Shifting the Narrative
To future Arab Americans considering service: Know this—your identity is not a burden to carry. By Deena Duwaik (RPCV Morocco 2016-18) My name is Deena Duwaik—a proud and unapologetic Palestinian American woman, systems thinker, and lifelong advocate for liberation and equity. I’ve spent my life bridging worlds, uplifting the voices of the marginalized, and reimagining what justice looks like in action. From 2016 to 2018, I served in Morocco as a Youth Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps, living in a small town tucked into the Middle Atlas Mountains. I arrived with a deep desire to build community and cross-cultural...
Advocacy Update: Victory in North Dakota
Victory for North Dakota RPCVS North Dakota has become the latest state – following recent, similar victories in Maryland and Colorado – to pass legislation allowing Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to receive in-state tuition when attending state graduate schools. Governor Kelly Armstrong signed the legislation (HB 1529) into law on March 25, 2025, after it was passed unanimously in the North Dakota House (on February 11) and Senate (March 12). In-state tuition legislation passes in the North Dakota State Senate Public Testimony The legislation was introduced by State Representative Mary Schneider of Fargo. As she presented the legislation...
This Earth Month: Take Intergenerational Environmental Action
Because youth have the most to lose from climate change and the most to gain from climate action, they deserve to have a leadership role. By Brady Fergusson (RPCV Kiribati 2006–08) One shared value across the divides we see today is the desire to improve the world for future generations. However, climate change puts our ability to achieve this goal at severe risk. The impacts of climate change are an intergenerational injustice because if we do not solve this existential challenge, the youngest people who have contributed least to the problem will be the most negatively impacted. My experience serving...
Lesotho: The Mountain Kingdom the World Should Know
By Annabelle Vanderwerf, RPCV (Lesotho, 2019-2020) From September 2019 until the global Peace Corps evacuation in March 2020, I had the privilege of working as an education volunteer in a small Basotho village. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced by a community that welcomed me as one of their own. My host mom during training had a way of making every day an experience—whether it was waking me up by yelling “hlatsoa!” (“wash!”) or dancing with me to Christmas music in the kitchen. My permanent site host mom knew exactly how to lift my spirits, frying up makoenya...
Making an Impact: NPCA Board Member highlights Service and Advocacy at Columbus Peace Corps Day
NPCA Board member Mike Roman highlighted Peace Corps advocacy and the impact of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) during a public viewing of the documentary A Towering Task, organized by the Central Ohio RPCV Association at Columbus Peace Corps Day. by Michael Roman (RPCV Kiribati 2000–02, NPCA Board Member) Columbus, OH — As Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, community leaders, and local officials gathered to celebrate Columbus Peace Corps Day, I had the honor of representing the National Peace Corps Association as a guest speaker alongside the city's mayor. The event was filled with energy, warmth, and a profound sense of...
Peace Corps Week by the Numbers
Thanks to YOU, our NPCA community, we saw an incredible response in celebrating Peace Corps Week! Your enthusiasm, stories, and support made this week unforgettable. Let’s keep the momentum going. 🕊️🕊️ Our Highlights: ✅ 138,000+ interactions with our newsletters ✅ 78,000+ total interactions on social media to celebrate Peace Corps Week ✅ 3,000+ social media shares celebrating Peace Corps Week ✅ 35,000+ interactions on our website ✅ 2,500+ messages sent to Congress over the past three weeks ✅ Over 25 meaningful stories shared on our website ✅ Over 20 published letters to the editor—and newspaper/television interviews appeared in a dozen states, reaching...
What I saw in the Peace Corps
This Washington Post article brings together firsthand accounts from former Peace Corps volunteers who have witnessed the incredible impact of U.S. foreign aid programs in countries around the world. From the resilience of Ukrainians facing Russia's aggression to the life-saving efforts of USAID's PEPFAR program in Africa, these stories are a testament to the importance of humanitarian work. One volunteer recalls their time in Ukraine, where they formed deep bonds with locals and saw firsthand the power of community in times of crisis. Their words ring even more true today, as we see the U.S. shift its stance on Ukraine....
Peace Corps & NPCA Updates: February 2025
02/13/2025 NPCA National Call-In Day to Congress—through March 1! 📢 On February 13, the first of two nationwide call-in actions to Congress will take place in anticipation of Peace Corps Day on March 1st, urging lawmakers to show their support for the Peace Corps. To get involved, visit our call-in page for all the information you need, including step-by-step instructions, resources, and links to help you take action. Learn more here. 02/12/2025 NPCA launches Stand Up For Service campaign NPCA unifies the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community and its allies. In response to community concerns, we’ve launched the Stand Up for Service campaign. Our...
A Personal Reflection on Foreign Assistance and USAID
My experiences have taught me that while U.S. foreign assistance is often criticized and complicated by political motives, it can also be a powerful catalyst for positive change when implemented with genuine community engagement and respect for local cultures. By Dan Baker Many discover during Peace Corps service a calling toward a career in international relations, policy, humanitarian assistance, and relief work. Indeed, Peace Corps has produced thousands, if not tens of thousands, of foreign service officers and development practitioners, whose work is enhanced by hard skills gained from Peace Corps, including language and intercultural skills, project management, resource identification,...