Rotary

Partnership in a Crisis: Humanitarian Aid in Bakhmut, Ukraine

By Natasha Wanchek 

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in eastern Ukraine from 1999-2001, I was the first volunteer in Bakhmut (then Artemivsk) and worked for a small NGO called the Environmental and Cultural Center Bakhmat. My projects included an eco-tour for teen reporters that focused on the “wonders and horrors of Donbas”, a teacher partnership with sister city Omaha and support for Local Environmental Action Plans. I also participated in events at local orphanages and facilitated a teen “eco-club.” I was welcomed by NGO volunteers and the community. 

When I was a PCV, few people outside of Ukraine would have known where Bakhmut was located. It was a charming city of about 70,000 people with nearby salt mines and a champagne factory that both offered tours. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, however, people know the name. As seen in news stories throughout 2022 and early 2023, Bakhmut has been part of the frontline in the war with Russia for months, and the situation - especially in winter - has been catastrophic.

In spring 2022, I started raising funds for Bakhmut Ukrainian, a local organization with a strong track record since 2014. Before the full-scale invasion, their funding came from within the community. After the invasion, they were up against a tragic situation: infrastructure was destroyed by Russia, and there was limited food, water, heating and basic supplies. Needs they identified included medical supplies, medicines, food, sleeping bags, clothing for people in hospital, generators, solar battery chargers, water filtration straws and more. 

I was exploring joining a local Rotary club or an e-clubs for peace (when time permitted) when Partnering for Peace introduced me to Rotary’s Disaster Response Grants. I was grateful to hear of the funds that Rotary members had raised throughout the world in support of Ukrainians and its refugees. I met with a Rotary club in NYC near me and with District 7710 who were familiar with the Disaster Response Grants. We completed a DRG proposal in October with support of the Dnipro City Rotary Club and Bakhmut Ukrainian NGO as the beneficiary, 

Bakhmut Ukrainian had opened an aid warehouse with humanitarian supplies in Dnipro. The Dnipro City Rotary Club met with NGO members and stayed in contact throughout the project, including after delivery, to review receipts and delivered products. An additional partner was brought on with the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC) assisting with logistics. 

The $25,000 DRG provided food, medicine, generators, sleeping bags, lights, and other humanitarian aid supplies for the benefit of Ukrainians who stayed in the Bakhmut region or became internally displaced due to the war. Supplies were received by the NGO in Dnipro in January and February 2023, which eventually supported 400+ families and multiple communities. 

Comments from Andrei Atlantov, Dnipro City Rotary Club

“We have invited the guys which represents Ukrainian Bahmut. They told us about their activities, and I was really impressed, also like everyone in the room. Guys are real heroes, they have been delivering supplies to the most dangerous places in the country since 2014.” (Oct. 14, 2022) 

This project had cooperation and support from the many Rotary members in NYC, Raleigh, NC and RI, Dnipro City Rotary Club, with Partnering for Peace pulling it together, logistical help from the UAC, and the dedication of an amazing Ukrainian NGO. The result was humanitarian aid for hundreds of families in eastern Ukraine when it was most needed. 

CAROL SPAHN, ACTING PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR, SUPPORTS PARTNERING FOR PEACE: FRIENDS OF PEACE CORPS AND ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

Carol Spahn, Acting Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, recently met with the executive committee of Partnering for Peace (PFP): Friends of Peace Corps and Rotary International.  Spahn addressed the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations, and discussed additional ways PFP and Rotary can continue its support of the Peace Corps and of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) abroad, as they begin to return to the field.

Kim Dixon, president of PFP stated, "Carol was very open to the opportunities that the Rotary/Peace Corps partnership can offer; from local integration of staff, support of PCVs in the field, projects supported by Returned PCVs, and opportunities for PCVs to collaborate with Rotary in their primary or secondary projects, it all adds up to a win-win for Peace Corps."

Peace Corps/Rotary Week is being planned for later this year. Steve Werner, founding and immediate past president of PFP, provided an overview of the plan with examples of how the week will galvanize attention of the joint goals and projects of Peace Corps and Rotary in the field to a continuation of service by RPCVs as members or friends of Rotary clubs back home. Rotarians are also good candidates for Peace Corps assignments, and the week-long event will allow Rotarians to learn more about what PCVs do and how they can work together.

Rotary International currently boasts over 1.2 million members and 35,000 Rotary clubs worldwide. Joint projects between the two organizations have been documented to the tune of over $700,000 USD, and the Partnership continues to collect stories of additional projects. The missions of Rotary and PC are almost identical, and examples of collaboration include support of English libraries; healthcare; education; to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects. The relationship between Rotarians and Peace Corps is mutually beneficial, and local communities reap the rewards.

There are numerous ways for PCVs and Rotary to further the partnership in the field, and back home, which PFP can help identify. Kim shared her own recent Peace Corps experience of gaining support from a Tbilisi, Georgia Rotary club that helped with transportation, and printing of health pamphlets for the ethnic minority in her region. PCVs responded by helping with Rotary’s rural health fair. Another example of recent partnership is a Give-a-Book program in Costa Rica and several other countries, where PCVs identified the needs and Rotarians helped collect, ship, catalog, and set up libraries in PCVs schools. These are just a few of many examples that highlight the collaboration between the two organizations. Upon completion of service, PCVs can continue their partnership with Rotary upon return to the US.

PFP is hoping to find current Rotarians in the RPCV ranks. Please let us know by signing in and gaining more information at  www.partneringforpeace.com,  

Hold onto your hats folks, because Richard Pyle has a fantastic joint project to share with us! Through the cooperation of the Rotary Clubs of Negril and Lucea in Jamaica, and the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C., they were able to deliver conflict resolution skills to over 200 participants in a two-day workshop. The project targeted senior and emerging leaders of various civic groups in western Jamaica, an area suffering from a lot of violence.

Richard Pyle was a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica from 1966 – 1968 and the relationship with Jamaica became generational when his daughter Kim continued one of his many projects there.

As a PCV, Pyle worked as a school counselor and helped establish the school guidance program in Lucea,. His neighbor in Lucea was Arthur Wint (1^st Jamaican to win an Olympic gold medal) and together they established a chamber of commerce which evolved into the Rotary Club of Lucea, chartered in 1974. Wint, a physician, was the only resident doctor in the parish of Hanover, in which Lucea is located.

But that was just the beginning of his relationship with Jamaica. Pyle joined the faculty of Alma College in Alma Michigan in the late 1970s and began organizing 3-week service projects with students from Alma to Jamaica. After leaving Alma for the University of Texas in Austin in 1983, he started student service projects with the University in Austin in 1988. The teachers in Jamaica asked for student aids to help in classrooms with 80 to 100 students in a single classroom. When Pyle left the University of Texas in 1990, the program ended to restart in Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia where Pyle's daughter Kim was a student. Pyle shared the idea of a service project in Jamaica with the Dean of Students and together they implemented it with Kim as one of the participants. The University liked it and have gone every year in coordination with the Lucea, Jamaica Rotary. Pyle observed that a “lot of teachers have been understaffed. These service projects helped students learn to swim and have recreational and arts and crafts projects which would coordinate with independent studies.”

Unfortunately, Jamaica, in recent times, is having its share of crime, violence and domestic abuses. In an effort to begin to combat this growing problem, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC along with the Rotary Clubs of Negril and Lucea came together to offer solution to the growing problem. Under the Theme: “Bringing Back The Peace”, over 100 students, youths and community leaders were in attendance at the Conference. The Objective of the Initiative was to create knowledge and awareness of strategies and resources for resolving Conflict.

“The Rotary Clubs of Negril and Lucea, Jamaica contacted me since I had served in western Jamaica as a PCV and have a long history of projects with their clubs and Rotary Clubs in Austin and D.C.” The focus was on delivering conflict resolution skills to key members/stakeholders. Both senior and emerging leaders of a variety of civic groups participated.

The project received rave reviews from over100 participants who reported feeling better prepared to meet violence issues. The atmosphere of collaboration was very positive and had a significant impact on building peacekeeping and conflict resolution skills. If you're thinking about replicating this project in your club or country, be sure to reach out to Richard for all the juicy details!

We are delighted to highlight the multifaceted contributions of Ed Pettitt, a dedicated Board Member and Social Media Chair for Partnering for Peace. Ed is not only a Ph.D. student in the Urban Planning and Environmental Policy program at Texas Southern University but also an influential figure in various spheres of community development, environmental justice, and international collaboration.

Ed's academic journey includes a B.S. degree in Human Biology, Health, and Society from Cornell University and an M.P.H. degree in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Global Health from The University of Texas School of Public Health. His commitment to global health is evident through roles such as an HIV/AIDS Community Capacity Builder with the U.S. Peace Corps in Botswana from 2006-2009 and a Senior Project Coordinator with Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children's Hospital.

In Houston, Ed has been a key technical advisor for initiatives like The Trust for Public Lands’ Park-Smart Precinct 1 program, the City of Houston’s Complete Communities initiative, and Nature and Eclectic Outdoors’ Healthy Outdoor Communities project. His impact is tangible in the Third Ward neighborhood, where he has spearheaded initiatives like a tactical urbanism chess park and the transformation of an illegal dumpsite into a pocket park.

Currently serving as the President of the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline and Environment Chair for Rotary District 5890, Ed's leadership in environmental sustainability is evident through his involvement with Friends of Columbia Tap, the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group, and RPCVs for Environmental Action.

In addition to his remarkable contributions, Ed has been instrumental in mentorship. Notably, his guidance has extended to Diyar Talal, a trailblazing U.S. Department of State Community Solutions Program (CSP) Fellow from Iraq placed with the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline. Diyar's fellowship marks a groundbreaking collaboration between the CSP and Rotary, introducing fresh perspectives and fostering international cooperation.

As Ed's influence continues to expand globally, we applaud his unwavering dedication and leadership in the pursuit of a more equitable, sustainable, and connected world. His commitment to mentorship exemplifies the power of collaboration, learning, and shared values in fostering positive change. Together with those he guides, Ed contributes to a global community driven by the principles of equity and sustainability, shaping a future where impactful leadership and collaboration pave the way for a better world.

As Ed's influence continues to expand globally, including his mentorship of Diyar, we applaud his unwavering dedication and leadership in the pursuit of a more equitable, sustainable, and connected world. Together, they exemplify the power of collaboration, learning, and shared values in fostering positive change.

In the heart of the Double Lake Recreation Area, amidst towering trees and the symphony of nature, the Service Above S'mores camping trip unfolded, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of Rotarians and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) alike. Co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline and the Houston Peace Corps Association, this rendezvous in the wilderness became a testament to the power of collaboration and shared values.

Nature's Symphony and Campfire Chronicles: Crafting Memories in the Wilderness

The adventure kicked off with check-in on Friday, October 6, 2023, and campers quickly discovered that this wasn't just a camping trip; it was a VIP pass to the great outdoors. Pro tips were exchanged, tents were pitched, and the anticipation of escaping city chaos heightened. As the sun set, the camping crew found themselves immersed in a weekend of laughter, camaraderie, and nature therapy.

"Rotary and Peace Corps are grounded in similar values, which is why the partnership between the two service organizations makes so much sense," remarks Josh Spencer, President of the Houston Peace Corps Association.

The nights were adorned with Campfire Chronicles, where marshmallow-roasting, jokes, and off-key renditions of camp songs created bonds among the camping crew. Stargazing became an extravaganza, with the absence of city lights offering a front-row seat to the galaxy's greatest show.

International Flavors: Breaking Bread and Bridging Borders

Amidst the rustling leaves, an unexpected delight awaited the camping crew. Diyar Talal, Rotary Skyline's Community Solutions Program (CSP) Fellow from Iraq, brought a touch of international flavor to the adventure. Alongside his Iraqi guests, Diyar curated a culinary experience that transcended cultural boundaries.

"Camping in the United States was a must-have experience for me, and I was fortunate to fully enjoy a memorable Peace Corps-Rotary camping trip," shared Diyar Talal. "It served as a bridge, connecting me to American culture while also providing me with the opportunity to share my own cultural heritage."

As the sun cast its first rays, the aroma of Middle Eastern spices filled the crisp morning air. Delicacies from Iraq adorned the breakfast table, creating a cross-cultural tapestry against the backdrop of the Double Lake wilderness. The breakfast gatherings became a celebration of friendship, food, and the shared love for the great outdoors.

Josh Spencer, President of the Houston Peace Corps Association, expressed, "I’m happy that such kindred spirits were able to enjoy each other’s company and the outdoors. The Houston Peace Corps Association and I look forward to many more of such productive engagements with Rotary."

Cristian Saldivar, a recently inducted member of the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline, shared, "My experience was very joyful, and I left the camping with a bunch of good friends that I expected to keep in touch with for a long time."

Diyar Talal encapsulated the essence of the experience, stating, "Interacting with people from diverse travel backgrounds was a true delight, and I was thrilled to introduce my fellow participants to the flavors of Iraqi cuisine during our breakfasts."

Steps for Co-Sponsoring Camping Trips in Your Locale

1. Identify Common Interests: Find common ground and shared values between your Rotary Club and local Peace Corps Association.

2. Establish Clear Communication: Open channels for effective communication between the two organizations to coordinate logistics and plan the event seamlessly.

3. Select an Ideal Location: Choose a camping site that offers a retreat into nature, providing an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. If you have multiple Rotary Clubs or RPCV groups involved, find a site that’s easily accessible for all.

4. Organize Diverse Activities: Plan a variety of activities, from campfire rituals to kayaking adventures, ensuring there's something for everyone. Consider providing family-friendly entertainment and outings.

5. Encourage Cultural Exchange: Embrace diversity by incorporating elements of cultural exchange, such as sharing meals and stories from different backgrounds.

6. Promote Early Registration: Encourage participants to register early to ensure smooth logistics and adequate preparation.

7. Create a Shared Spreadsheet: Set up a shared spreadsheet where campers can sign up to cook one of the meals and coordinate camping equipment. This fosters collaboration and ensures everyone is well-prepared for the camping experience.

8. Capture Memories: Document the experience through photos, videos, and participant testimonials to share the impact of the collaboration.

By following these steps, Rotary Clubs and Peace Corps Associations can create memorable camping experiences that strengthen bonds, foster cultural exchange, and embody the spirit of service above self. The Service Above S'mores camping trip stands as a beacon, illustrating the potential for collaboration to create lasting connections in the great outdoors. As the embers of the campfire glowed and stars glittered above, the camping crew vowed to return, ensuring that the memories of this collaborative adventure endure until the next call of the wild.

Join fellow members of Partnering for Peace, Rotary Club members, RPCV’s and others September 18-22 for the third annual Rotary-Peace Corps Week to celebrate our connections, accomplishments and hopes.  The event is an exciting time to get together virtually in a series of a 60 to 90 minute panel discussion each day highlighting the goals, activities and projects of our unique organization and its role as a service support organization for the formal Rotary International-Peace Corps of the United States collaboration. Click here for the full list of events. Be sure to register for each individual event to receive the Zoom links. Be prepared to Zoom in and participate!

Your planning committee has worked on the RPCW for months to bring you a series of informative, fun and stimulating sessions that will deepen your commitment to world peace and whet your appetite for being involved in projects that enhance your Rotary and Peace Corps experiences.

The five sessions start at different times each day so if you are unable to make one live session, you can make another! If you miss any of the sessions, they will be recorded and available on the PFP website at partneringforpeace.org.

Here is the lineup for each of the days:

Monday, September 18, 5:30 p.m. EDT

Keynote Panel: Peace Through Service, Action and Diversity, featuring Jody Olsen, former Peace Corps Director, and Pat Merryweather-Argis, RI Vice President

REGISTER HERE

Tuesday, September 19, 8:00 p.m. EDT

How to Make the Rotary-Peace Corps Connection Work.  Learn how Rotary Clubs, RPCVs and current Peace Corps members work together, featuring PFP members Alan Kusonoki, Ellen Young and Charlie Hunt.

REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, September 20, 9:00 a.m. EDT

Connecting In-Country Rotary Clubs and Peace Corps Posts. Examples of how Rotary Clubs can add benefit and help support Peace Corps and  Rotary projects in countries where PCVs from the Club’s or District’s home base are actively serving. 

REGISTER HERE

Thursday, September 21, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Successful Examples of Joint Rotary-Peace Corps Projects, featuring Rotarian-RPCVs:

• Bob Roberts, RPCV Peru

• Natasha Wanchek, RPCV Ukraine

• Steve Werner, RPCV  S.Korea and Georgia

REGISTER HERE

Friday, September 22, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Rotary + Peace Corps: A Global Force for Peace. Group discussion focusing on Rotary Action Group for Peace, Rotary Peace Builder Clubs, including joint projects and peacebuilding activities. Kim Dixon, President of PFP will host along with Featured guests:

• Al Jubitz, Co-Founder Rotary Action Group for Peace

• Erin Thomas, RPCV, Peace Fellow, Co-Founder Rotary Action Group for Peace

• Barbara Muller, Rotary e-club of World Peace

• Mike Caruso, RPCV, Founder, Rotary Peacebuilder Clubs

REGISTER HERE

So there you have it! This event promises to be chock full of information and ideas for you to parlay into action to build the Rotary-Peace Corps partnership through Partnering for Peace. Be sure to attend as many sessions as you can so that you can build your personal and your organizations’ goals of fostering peace and strengthening the lives of individuals throughout the world! Once again, sign up HERE to make sure you are registered for a front-row seat!

Discover the power of service at Peace Corps Connect 2023 on Friday, September 8 at 8 p.m. Eastern and Saturday, September 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Drawing inspiration from JFK and Sargent Shriver's call to serve,the theme "Answer the Call: Serve, Serve, Serve" aims to reignite the spirit of service that once defined our nation and communities abroad. We'll explore how storytelling can reshape the narrative of national and global service and inspire more individuals to serve. Amid declining interest in service among younger generations, the need for Americans to serve is crucial. Register today

With the dawn of a new era of partnership, Diyar Talal's pioneering fellowship with the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline sets the stage for a world united by shared values and collaboration. As the first-ever U.S. Department of State Community Solutions Program (CSP) Fellow placed with a Rotary Club, Diyar is trailblazing a new era of cooperation between these two impactful organizations. This collaboration not only introduces fresh perspectives to Rotary Clubs but also amplifies the reach and impact of the CSP. The aim is simple yet profound: to encourage Rotary Clubs and Rotary Action Groups to host CSP Fellows, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas, skills, and visions.

Diyar's journey exemplifies the transformative power of international professional development exchanges. Hailing from Iraq, Diyar is a beacon of hope and change in his community. As a CSP Fellow, he is tasked with an array of responsibilities, including contributing to the social media and marketing efforts of Partnering for Peace and Rotary-Peace Corps Week 2023. This role allows him to combine his passion for peacebuilding with his knack for strategic communication.

The Community Solutions Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX, aims to empower community leaders worldwide to tackle complex challenges in their communities and become agents of positive change. Diyar is a prime example of such leadership. His work in environmental issues, peace and conflict resolution, and civic engagement has earned him the opportunity to expand his impact on a global stage.

At the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline, Diyar's tasks are diverse and impactful. His involvement includes participating in and supporting intercultural dialogue events, furthering his understanding of activity implementation in an American context. Diyar is also set to deliver persuasive presentations on subjects ranging from global citizenship to peacebuilding. Through these presentations, he aims to captivate audiences and convey critical messages that transcend borders.

Another key facet of Diyar's role is his engagement in community service projects. By actively participating in such projects, he gains valuable insights into the local context, challenges, and opportunities within Houston's diverse community. This experience not only enhances Diyar's personal and professional growth but also serves as a bridge between cultures, connecting the dots between different communities and their shared goals.

Diyar's journey doesn't end with his CSP fellowship. Upon his return to Iraq, he plans to use his newfound knowledge and skills to enhance his Iraqi Travellers Cafe and "Conversation Beyond Borders"  initiative. This initiative, aimed at promoting peace through intercultural dialogue, is set to expand its impact within Iraq and internationally. The story of Diyar's journey, from a CSP Fellow in Houston to a catalyst for change in Iraq, exemplifies the power of collaboration, learning, and shared values in fostering a more harmonious world.

The partnership between CSP and Rotary is a beacon of hope and a testament to the potential of international collaboration. Through pioneers like Diyar Talal, who bridge cultures, break barriers, and inspire change, we witness the true essence of diplomacy and global citizenship. As Diyar's journey continues to unfold, we can only imagine the ripple effect his efforts will have on communities and individuals around the world, reminding us all that, together, we can build a more peaceful and connected planet.

From Monday, September 18th through Friday, September 22nd, Partnering for Peace (PFP), with Rotary International and Peace Corps, will host its third annual collaborative, week-long event to celebrate the opportunities and successes of the formal Rotary/Peace Corps partnership.  

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), first signed in 2014 between Rotary International and the U.S. Peace Corps, is aimed at providing Rotary connections and support to Peace Corps Volunteers in the field and the US and connect Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and clubs with Rotary and Rotaract Clubs upon completion of service.  

Rotary – Peace Corps Week’s goal is to foster wider awareness of the MOU, and this year’s event is designed to build on that success with the theme “Celebrating our Connections".  Through daily Webinars/zoom calls, we will discuss:

• How our PC and Rotary leaders view the Partnership opportunities

• How Rotary Districts are working with the PC Community, 

• How Peace Corps country staffs and volunteers are working with Rotary.

• Sharing Indepth Joint Project examples that you can replicate

• Celebrating the cause related groups in PC and Rotary (Climate, Refugees and Peace)

You’re invited to participate in Rotary-Peace Corps Partnership, during the week and throughout the year:

• Invite a speaker.  

• Invite Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) or Rotary members as guest speakers to share about their service at club meetings. Find a Peace Corps speaker HERE. or email info@partneringforpeace.org Find a Rotary Club near you here.

• Share a summary of a Rotary-Peace Corps partnership project you worked on 

• Organize a joint activity with your local Peace Corps group or Rotary club 

• Promote the partnership by publicizing it and sharing successful partnership projects in: 

• Rotary District newsletters 

• Local media 

• RPCV affiliate group newsletters 

• Attend sessions and activities during the week-long event.  Registration coming soon

For more information about this event, and more ideas of how to participate, please visit our website or contact events@partneringforpeace.org.  

On June 5th Rotarians Vana Prewitt and Kelsey Mitchell presented to the Gulf Coast Florida RPCV Organization on what Rotary is and how Rotary can work with Returned Peace Corps Organizations at the grassroots level.  Prewitt also has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer twice.   This was sent to them by one of their members, in response to the presentation.  

Almost six decades past I was a PCV stationed in San Pedro de Macorís, a port city on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic and the site of the nation's oldest Rotary Club. Rotarians were quite helpful to me in achieving the construction of 5 multi-purpose basket/volley ball courts around town. In fact, one of their members, a prominent lawyer, helped me to establish a non-profit entity to collect funds for the project. Such was the importance of Rotary assistance to my efforts that our country director came to a special meeting of the club to explain the purpose of the Peace Corps in general and to describe the work of volunteers nationwide.

Teaming with local organizations like Rotary is an excellent way for PCVs to become known among influential leaders in their communities who could provide material help as well as influence with local authorities in pursuit of their projects and activities -- not to mention substantially furthering the second goal of the Peace Corps Act.

Fred Kalhammer

DR#5, 1962/64

It has been my pleasure to be part of the Rotary International – Peace Corps partnership for the last three years as the Outreach Chair for Partnering for Peace: Friends of Peace Corps and Rotary.  As the partnership grows and increases in scope, our outreach committee is currently focused on connecting local Peace Corps Recruiters with local Rotary Club programming chairs through our database of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Rotarians and district leaders who fully understand the opportunity of working with the Peace Corps community.  The outreach committee, under the lead of Reggie O’Brien, has made introductions between Peace Corps Recruiters and 80 Rotary Districts around the country who are in our database.  The purpose of the introductions is for Peace Corps Recruiters to do presentations in as many Rotary clubs across the U.S. on what it is like to be a Peace Corps Volunteer and that it is never too late to be a Peace Corps Volunteer.

I can attest to that as I was sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer when I was 55 years old.  The inspiration came when I happened upon the Peace Corps website and the home page celebrated a volunteer who was celebrating his 80^th birthday during service.  As Rotarians, this is a great way to fulfill “service above self”.  Personally the experience changed my life as a Rotarian serving overseas and I would suggest to everyone that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are idea candidates to become Rotarians.  There are two opportunities to be a Peace Corps Volunteer:  the classic two year commitment and Peace Corps Response, which is a project specific volunteer opportunity that last for three to eight months.

If you are interested in having a Peace Corps Recruiter do a zoom presentation to your Rotary club, feel free to contact me.  I have a list of all recruiters around the country including my local District 5450.  I would be glad to help you make that connection for your individual club.

Charlie Masilae Hunt

Outreach Chair - Partnering for Peace - NPCA Affiliate Group

Peace Corps Rotary Alliance Committee – District 5450

Denver LoDo Rotary Club

RPCV Vanuatu 2006-2008

Mobile 720.822.1413

masilae@gmail.com

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) during their service occasionally have reason to  raise funds to bring their in-country project to the next level.  During service PCVs can raise funds through the Peace Corps website.  That came to a full stop when all of the volunteers were evacuated due to COVID.  Some of the evacuated PCVs had the support in place to continue those projects and were interested in continuing.  The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) has created that opportunity at their website.  Currently there are seven project needing financial support.  The countries with active projects are Moldova, Vanuatu, Columbia, two projects in Benin  and two projects in Albania.  

If you know of clubs or individuals who have connections to these countries, please encourage them to review the projects and consider offering financial support at the NPCA website. 

As the NPCA states at the donate webpage: In establishing the Peace Corps, JFK spoke of the “great common cause...of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace.” Today, people continue to be confronted by war, poverty, disease and a changing climate, and now when our own country is experiencing divisiveness, intolerance, and fear—that “great common cause” is more urgent than ever.  Support for NPCA and our partnered campaigns will deepen the Peace Corps communities' global impact by empowering members and groups to champion that “great common cause.” From advocacy for a bigger and better Peace Corps to supporting sustainable international development projects, we are building a better world dollar by dollar. Join us, and be a part of our community of changemakers.

When 7300 Peace Corps Volunteers were abruptly evacuated in March, a common first reaction was to mourn the untimely end of service.  But across the decades, Peace Corps Volunteers learn the importance of being flexible.
 

Elyse Magen's evacuation created two economic hardships:  loss of a critical Small Projects Administration grant, end of plans for a yet unfunded loan program.

Not one to be deterred by a 3000 mile separation or a pandemic, she reached out to the RPCV community and secured funding through Friends of Colombia and the National Peace Corps Association to replace the SPA grant.  Her successful campaign to replace the lost SPA funding is included below.  Then she worked with TCP Global to get loan funds to her site despite a quarantine and a bank that had initially sent the TCP Global funds back to the U.S. 
 

Within two months of arrival back home Elyse and four other Colombia evacuees are working together to continue their service on a global scale. They had witnessed the positive impact of TCP Global loans on small, underserved rural communities and jumped at the chance to help TCP Global replicate its success around the world. 

The Genesis of RYLA in Ukraine – A Beautiful Partnership

By RPCV Andy Lenec

There is an old saying, “Man plans, God laughs.”  Well, God was not laughing the entire time that the inaugural RYLA Conference that came off this year in Ukraine was being planned, but God’s plans included lessons in humility that I had overlooked when putting together the roadmap for my vision of an international youth conference as a part of my United States Peace Corps service there.

A bit of back story.  I had been a Rotarian for over 25 years before deciding to apply for the Peace Corps.  What can I say, some people retire in curious ways.  My parents had been political refugees from Ukraine and since I spoke the language and was familiar with the culture, I had high hopes of being accepted and assigned to serve in Youth Development in Ukraine.  As I said, man plans…  I was accepted and assigned to Ukraine, but as an NGO Advisor in the Community Development Division, and ultimately seconded as a volunteer to several organizations in the small city of Truskavets in western Ukraine, among them a small but enthusiastic Rotary Club! 

This was by design of course, based on my prior experience and the Peace Corps’ current needs, but regardless, my passion for working with youth would not be denied.  Actually, it was a pretty easy sell.  Who can deny that helping youth – any youth, anywhere, anytime – is not a worthy investment in our future?  What began as weekly English Clubs run at the local library (one of my partner organizations) and a local ‘gymnasia’ (an advanced high school), and enthusiastically endorsed by RC Truskavets, morphed into the dream of hosting an annual International Youth Conference.

This is excerpted from one of my original correspondences, floating the idea to potential participants and sponsors:

“The First Annual Truskavets International Youth Conference will take place in August 4 – 11, 2018, with the goal of promoting harmonious international cooperation between the future leaders of the United States and Ukraine, and potentially several other European countries as well.  With the knowledge that young leaders learn best from each other, especially in international settings, we will take young leaders ages 16-19 through a seven day journey of learning, working and socializing together, and experientially practicing and perfecting skill sets such as leadership, volunteerism, communication, conflict resolution and team building.”

That was the plan, but the lessons in humility and patience had not yet been served.  Once we all realized that the small club in Truskavets simply didn’t have the capacity to take this project on by itself, I began to seek out other Rotary Clubs with which to partner, and my dream quickly morphed yet again into the idea of turning this conference into the reintroduction of RYLA in Ukraine.

And that’s when the real magic (read: cooperation and collaboration) began.  During countless phone calls and meetings with the truly stellar leadership of District 2232, including then DG Serhii Zavadsky and DGE Mykola Stebljanko, with the eight Rotary Clubs in Lviv, and especially RC Lviv International, as well as with the benefit of some absolutely invaluable assistance and encouragement from US Rotarians, and especially P4P co-founder Steve Werner, we began to build the team and promote the dream, with more and more people at least listening to us as we took our story on the road and into cyberspace.

I must express my appreciation for the support I received from PC Ukraine staff, including then Country Director Denny Robertson, his replacement right at the end of my time there, Michael Ketover, my Regional Manager Oksana Shabas, and the truly exceptional staff at PCHQ in Kyiv.  No one threw anything but encouragement and wise counsel at me during the arduous process of making connections and gathering support for the project.  As you will see, a project of this magnitude simply could not be accomplished without the highest possible levels of support from both RI and the US Peace Corps, and ultimately we were able to secure that support from RI General Secretary John Hewko and Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen, who both electronically forwarded messages of welcome to the first group of participants this past summer.

There is of course so much more to this story, but I come back to my opening line, “Man plans…”.  Much to my dismay and disappointment, but perhaps not to the detriment of the project, I took ill and was medically separated from PC a little over a year into my service.  It was literally, “Pack your bags, you’re going home,” and I had a week to prepare for an arduous journey home and a long and even more arduous recuperation, but that’s really not germane to this story.  Here’s what is.

By this point in my story, or the unfolding of my dream, we had moved a lot of people and created a momentum.  This was NOT an easy process for many reasons, not the least of which was the state of chaos so many sectors of the country were experiencing as a result of the systematic pillaging of this beautiful country by past regimes, and the difficulty of transforming from a corrupt, centrally planned economy to a truly free market.  There was a lot of inertia to overcome, a lot of people to convince that this project was not only worthy and possible, but necessary and destined to take place.

One of the phrases we often tossed around was ‘failure is not an option’, and it certainly wasn’t for the real hero of this story, current Peace Corps Ukraine volunteer Shannon Carter, who took over the leadership of this project upon my departure from Ukraine.  I was fortunate to participate in weekly Skype conference calls from my home in Colorado, and I was floored by how much energy and enthusiasm Shannon put into this project.

Shannon also assembled a great team of her fellow PCVs to plan and staff the inaugural RYLA conference, which took place in Lviv, Ukraine this past July to the delight and benefit of the 23 participants from three countries, plus the many Rotarians from several countries who also attended and supported Shannon and her team.

The story gets even better, though, as Shannon is not only already underway planning RYLA Ukraine 2020, but has also convinced the powers that be in Rotary International and the Peace Corps that this relationship should be formalized, with the creation of a PC Response Volunteer position to assist in this process.  From my personal perspective, my dream was rescued from potential disaster and given not only new life, but it seems it now has legs as well.

This is only the first part of the story, and since I wasn’t there to witness it, I’m not the writer to describe the actual event.  Nevertheless, I can speak to the phenomenal success of the partnership that was sought, nurtured and ultimately blossomed between the Peace Corps and Rotary in Ukraine, and to the patience and persistence required to bring a good project home.  I hope this can serve as a model for other such partnerships, and Shannon Carter a model for an extraordinary young woman who also happens to be a Peace Corps volunteer, and perhaps some day a Rotarian as well.