Peace Corps Response
My service here in Panama has been such a wonderful experience on so many
levels, that I’d like to put in a plug for the Peace Corps and Peace Corps
Response.
I’ll bet that many of my friends have been following my adventures over the
last few months and thought, “Gee, Greg sure seems like he’s having a swell
time. I wonder if I could do that.”
The answer, very simply is : YES, You Can !!
In the 67 Peace Corps countries all over the world, there are requests made by
NGOs and governmental agencies for very specific needs. If you have such
skills, maybe there is a Response position just waiting for you. If not, maybe
a regular Peace Corps service, where language and technical training are
provided, would suit you.
Right now PC Response is looking for organic gardeners, physical therapists and
other medical folks, English, math and science teachers and folks with
experience in forestry, construction and fisheries. Plus many other openings.
Response is quite different from a regular Peace Corps service, yet shares many
good attributes. There is the same excellent administration and 100% medical
care and security. The same sense of adventure and satisfaction of helping
others. And the same excellent support from Peace Corps in-country staff and
other Peace Corps volunteers. Of course, there are the same opportunities to
explore your host country, not as a tourist, but as an insider.
What you won’t get is any language or tech training. Response volunteers must
know their stuff and hit the ground running. It is a high impact, short term
kind of service, where skilled professionals bring needed abilities to a
specific task or project.
The other huge difference from Peace Corps service is the time commitment. 2
years, 3 months vs. 3 to 12 months for Response. A shorter time to make friends
and feel a part of the community, to be sure. But, I found many friendships and
community connection in just 5 months.
You can either submit a resume of your skills and experience and wait for Peace
Corps to contact you, or scan the list of Response positions available. These
listings are VERY specific about what is expected. I chose my current
assignment because I had exactly the skills and experience they wanted. This
means I go in confident that I can get the job done. This is quite different
from regular Peace Corps service, where you sign up for a country and program,
but won’t know until you get to your site just what is needed.
The application process seems a bit onerous at times, full medical and dental
exams, background check, lots of questions to answer and an essay to write.
This can take up anywhere from 45 days to 6 months. Don’t worry about less than
perfect health – if you can climb some stairs and walk a couple of miles,
you’re fine. Peace Corps will take care of any meds or medical issues you might
have.
So, have a look at the open positions and see if something sounds like you. If
it does, then give it a shot. If not, check out the option of regular Peace
Corps service. Either way, you are in for a very satisfying and enlightening
adventure. And you get to have the best job description ever – make peoples’
lives better. Every day.
As a bonus, you get to show folks in other countries how nice Americans can be
and show Americans how very lucky they are.
Click
on the link below, scroll down and click Search and Apply, bypass the filter
and click Search to see all available assignments.
Service Report –
Global Brigades of Panama
Robert “Goyo” Plimpton
Peace Corps Response
April to September, 2016
Preface : It has
been my pleasure to work with Global Brigades for the past 5 months. I have
truly enjoyed working with this group of excellent people. Global Brigades has
been willing to listen to ideas, make quick decisions and been totally
supportive of my service and needs.
PROJECTS
Ipeti Banos – 30 Bano
Units were constructed in Ipeti Choco (Embera) and 6 more are under
construction. Global Brigades did all the heavy construction. Two units were
abandoned very near completion. My contributions included :
Design – addition of urinal, plastic seat insert, urinal drain and rain
collection gutters.
Accessories – hangers, sawdust scoop, flush bottle, temporary privacy curtains,
posters and some bottle bulbs
Most of this work was completed by Global Brigades volunteers
Education and supervision of Global Brigades volunteers – I provided
education on basic sanitation options and more specific information on composting
toilet use and maintenance to each of the Global Brigades groups that visited
Ipeti. Also helped supervise and guide their efforts. In addition, the
excellent laminated posters that Global Brigades provided were attached to each
unit.
Education of Bano users – Personally visited every Bano
family and demonstrated to them the proper use of the composting toilet and
described the needed maintenance. I did two follow-up visits to each Bano to
ensure proper use and ascertain problems (sawdust in urinal , empty sawdust
bin). Compliance was generally good.
Ipeti Water Committee
– This has gone from a non-functioning entity to a well organized and fully
functioning group in just a few short months. Achievements include:
Organizing and promoting a community meeting – achieved by
printing written notices of the meeting and distributed to every home. Over 90
people attended.
Election of a new Water Committee – All positions were
filled at the community meeting above. The new members have all proven to be
competent , enthusiastic and hard-working.
Training of Water Committee – I trained the Water Committee
in basic funtions and guidelines, accounting and administration. This was
greatly aided by the provision by Global Brigades of a branded version of my
PPT presentation and the gift of a complete set of record books and
accessories. Written documentation was drafted and provided.
Chlorine production – 8 community members were trained in
the theory, use and maintenance of an existing Chlorine Producing Unit. This
unit cheaply converts salt and water into liquid chlorine solution. Written
documentation was drafted and provided.
Chlorine drip unit – An existing chlorine drip unit was
rehabilitated and the system operator trained in operation and calibration. Written
documentation was drafted and provided.
Chlorine test lab – Test kit was purchased and the same 8
community members (including the system operator) were trained in how to test
for chlorine concentrations in produced chlorine solution and in the water supply.
Written documentation was drafted and provided.
Water tank cleaning and disinfection – 2 members of the Water
Committee and the system operator were trained in cleaning and disinfection of
the community water tank. Written documentation was drafted and provided.
(note; complete system disinfection and repair of tank
cracks were not completed)
Pueblo Nuevo Water
Committee –
Training of Water Committee – I trained the Water Committee in accounting
and administration. This was greatly aided by the provision by Global Brigades
of a branded version of my PPT presentation and the gift of a complete set of
record books and accessories. Written documentation was drafted and provided.
Water tank cleaning and disinfection – 3 members of the Water
Committee and the system operator were trained in cleaning and disinfection of
the community water tank. This had not been done in years and was a big part of
the cloudy water experienced by the community. Written documentation was
drafted and provided.
Rehabilitation of sand filters – Two existing sand filters
were cleaned, disinfected and re-charged with commercial sand. System operator
and one other were trained in operation and back-washing of filters. Written
documentation was drafted and provided.
Design, fabrication and installation of air release valves –
to solve the constant problem of air entrapment in their water line, I designed
a simple air release valve. These were fabricated by Global Brigades volunteers
and installed by the water team.
Toma intake design – I designed a new water intake design
for the toma, but we were not able to install, due to the onset of heavy rains.
Written documentation was drafted and provided.
(note: the sharing of responsibility for the water line with
Amarae and the pirating of water near the source need to be resolved)
Production of
training and educational materials – the following materials and manuals
were created
PPT training for Water Committee
PPT training for Bano users
Accounting training for Water Committee
Chlorine production Guide
Sand filter operation guide
Flush toilet option -
As described in a separate document, I urge Global Brigades
to consider switching to and/or converting existing compost toilets to flush
toilets.
SUMMARY : I feel
that we have accomplished a lot together in just 5 months. From my side, it has
been a great partnership. Projects for the future might include : working with
other water systems, investigating procedures for JAAR status and water
testing.
