Albania: Balkan Gem of Sage, Raki and a Brutal Past If just for one day you tagged along with a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) serving in Albania, you would likely learn from more than a few Albanians that: Albanians lived under Ottoman rule for 500 years, and Albanians were isolated from the world for 50 years during the 20th century while ruled by a dictator. To hear such statements as an American in the 21st century would probably baffle you. How do you begin to imagine the impact of these intense and traumatic periods in the Albania you see today? RPCV/W member Chris Chaulk, pictured in Albania

Do you want to apply your talents to the growth of a membership organization? Do you want to be part of a community that embodies the spirit of Peace Corps? Do you want to be challenged, learn a ton of stuff, have a lot of fun, and make a significant impact? Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. (RPCV/W), a nonprofit organization, is looking for stellar leaders to take on volunteer roles on committees and its board of directors. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants not just a volunteer activity, but a long-term opportunity to empower the RPCV community, support returning volunteers, and build a network with volunteers from the last six decades.

Author, Dr. Ronda Ansted, is an RPCV (South Africa) and the founder of Be the Change Career Consulting. Her career coaching mobile app, My Career Design Studio, was created for those without the resources to work one-on-one with a career coach. Her mission is to help people who want to make a difference in the world to design and create their right-fit career based on their strengths and passions. I'm a career consultant who primarily works with clients in the international development and social impact fields. This means that a majority of my clients care less about money than personal mission. They may recognize that both are important to making a true impact, but salary isn’t necessarily their main concern. Salary negotiations, a difficult topic for most people, can be especially challenging for those who aren’t significantly motivated by money. Yet making a comfortable living is crucial for people in the social impact fields. 

About the author of this post: Evelyn Ganzglass is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) who conducts interviews on behalf of the RPCV Oral History Project. She served in Somalia, 1966-1968.  Peace Corps friends, I urge you to get involved in the National Peace Corps Association-affiliated project, the RPCV Oral History Archive Project (OHAP). Its mission is to preserve the U.S. Peace Corps legacy, since the program’s inception in 1961, as experienced and articulated by individual Peace Corps volunteers and staff. “The toughest job you ever loved” is a slogan that resonates with many volunteers. There are good days. There are great days. There are bad days. Some volunteers want to stay in their host countries forever; others can’t wait to come home. We all have stories to tell.  

Devex is a membership organization and online media platform that connects the global development community. The organization’s annual flagship conference, Devex World, brings together actors from government and NGOs, businesses, the tech world, finance, and more. It focuses on the future of global development, how the industry is changing, and how the world’s most innovative practitioners and enterprises affect the way global development work gets done. Thanks to Devex’s generosity, a few lucky members of RPCV/W were able to get complimentary tickets to this year’s sessions. These can cost upwards of $1,500! 

This June, RPCV/W is partnering with Health Justice for Peace Corps Volunteers (HJPCV) to encourage RPCVs to care for their physical, mental, and sexual health. This partnership includes multiple events throughout the month culminating in National Peace Corps Association’s (NPCA’s) Health Advocacy Day and Story Slam on June 28, 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Tortilla Coast on Capitol Hill. Below, Jennifer Mamola, an advocate for HJPCV and RPCV from Uganda 2012-2013, shares her story about mental and physical health struggles and solutions during and after Peace Corps.

As part of RPCV/W's #Adulting series we asked 2017 holiday gala sponsor, Leslie Riehl, State Farm Insurance Agent, to share advice on why renters insurance is so important.  There are two big myths about renters insurance. One is that it’s too expensive and the other is that it’s not needed. Not having renters insurance is a pretty big gamble considering that without it, you face the cost of replacing your personal belongings after an event such as fire or theft. What’s more, you could face the prospect of defending yourself in a lawsuit because of some accident for which you might be held legally responsible, whether it happened where you live or elsewhere. In many cases, for less than a couple hundred dollars a year you can protect your valuables, like your furniture and clothes, from loss by fire, theft, wind, and water damage or other covered hazards.  But many renters still don’t believe they need such insurance. A survey conducted by Cambridge Reports, Inc. for the Insurance Information Institute found that fewer than three out of 10 renters purchase renters insurance.

Women Empowering Women launched back in March of 2018. Interested members have since then held two successful meetings resulting in the formalization of our committee and we established the following vision and mission statement:   Vision: WEW will address current challenges women face, enhance lifestyle support for women, and support the longer-term success of women within the RPCV/w community. In pursuing these goals, WEW will promote monthly events and discussions that combine participation and greater unity. WEW will cover areas such as, but not limited to: wellness, mentorship and gender equality. Mission: To facilitate spaces, opportunities, and resources to empower and support RPCVwomen and the DC community  

Overview Do you want to apply your talents to the growth of a membership organization? Do you want to be part of a community that embodies the spirit of Peace Corps? Do you want to be challenged, learn a ton of stuff, have a lot of fun, and make a significant impact? Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. (RPCV/W), a nonprofit organization, is looking for stellar leaders to take on volunteer roles on committees and its board of directors. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants not just a volunteer activity, but a long-term opportunity to empower the RPCV community, support returning volunteers, and build a network with volunteers from the last six decades.

We are thrilled to announce a new RPCV/W initiative, Women Empowering Women. WEW will address current challenges women face, enhance lifestyle support for women, and support the longer-term success of women within RPCV/W community. In pursuing these goals, WEW will promote monthly events and discussion that combine participation and greater unity. WEW will cover areas such as, but not limited to: health, mental health, work-life balance, gender parity, and sexual harassment/assault.