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7/20/1961 - The Peace Corps II, Selection and Orientation by Ian Michael Wright

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS On board The Peace Corpm II Selection Orientation S S Rhodesia Camtle July Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affair Madison Avenue York S Y Dear Mr 1olte In opinion flurry interest Peace Corps prospective projects obscured immed iately important problems selecting training volun teers Their going tremendously difficult Therefore large extent success program depend selection training highly qualified volunteers In newsletter I compare different approaches these questions CARE Peace Corps project Colombia American Friends Service Committee AFSC VISA roject Tanganyika I chosen these projects comparison because similar several First organized private luntary organizations first Peace Corps project contracted private agency other totally independent similar motivation IMW Becond within field community development raise standards village The underdeveloped usually refers neglect local community where needs urgent desperate Both projects directly relate daily lives people their villages Lastly volunteers regularly group stationed flung villages independently local counterparts supervision general The points would indicate orientation programs would similar objectives Below I discuss project briefly method selecting volunteers composition orientation program I project separately conclusion I comments For everal years CARE Cooperative Am erican Relief Everywhere Inc moved increasingly field community development Last couragement government President Alberto Lleras Camargo CARE staffed carried equal financial support National Federation Coffee Growerm Colombia survey community development activities potentials Colombia The Peace Corps project origins report interest generated Colombia On August sixty volunteers leave Bogota undertake assignments drilling laying water sewage lines working local crews building projects organizing youth clubs introducing audio visual information health production problems explaining tools suggesting efficient local materials In booklet prepared especially prospective volun teers CARE The Peace Corps Volunte technician imagination experience training recognize local problems opportunities He trained where technical Colombian ministries agencies U S experts located country Most important volunteer alone In cases working partnership Colombian similar training He counterpart opportunity share their thoughts problems technicians admini strators consultants different fields Each volunteer receive counterpart equivalent month An additional month accumulate until volunteer terminates contract Each person provided clothing tools covered dental surgical dismemberment insurance Medical provided thirty leave annum extra during period Local administration carried CARE Project Director The Peace Corps provide liason officer report directly U S Ambassador Peace Corps Headquarters Since CARE experience selection volunteers since wanted project operation quickly possible cooperating Peace Corps choosing quali The process stages Those initially selected basis their application blanks Peace Corps scores personal references invited training program Rutgers University At training program final sixty volunteers chosen basis their performance during orientation CARE wants their volunteers broad educational ground basic knowledge Spanish limited technical knowledge Most lived least their rural areas CARE timetable selection volun teers follows June CARE review application folders potential volunteers A letter outlining program approximately permons indicating those invited orientation contacted later June CARE sends telegrams approximately volunteers inviting participate training program emphasizing invita guarantee final selection June Volunteerm arrive Rutgers June August Selection process continues physical pychologlcal tests psychiatric interview reports academic performance interview selection committee volunteer peers August Final selection sixty volunteers basis ofeperformance orientation evaluation staff personnel More twice number possible appointees invited training program Those obviously unfit assignment Colombia dreppd stated iterval spite constant attrition pected peopl complete training program atimfactorily appointed Colombia Those person placed following categories ContinuingTrainem Thse consider further weeks study another CARE Peace Corps program under negotiation another Latin American country Corp Reserve active status These volunteers Caiied Up0n training other kinds Peace Corps projects almost immediately Peace Corps Reserve inactive status These perormed satisfactorily because their qualifications fUlfill requirements currently developed Peace Corps proectm In considering orientation CARE volunteers constantly borne forms selection process therefore somewhat different ordinary training program Orientation begins June lasts eight weeks ending August CARE stated objectives program follows To insure basic reading speaking knowledge Spanish To provide basic knowledge Latin America Colombia To deepen capacities interpreting U S attitudes history problem relate other peoples To provide basic knowledge Community Development significant technique progressive social change To provide general knowledge technical pecial necessary community improvement where technical To physically train condition Volunteers guidance problems adjusting environment The program itself extremely rigorous There little scheduled roughl seven morning evening Sunday until evening study hours The basic courses ncompassed Rutgers program Spanish Conversation Reading hours Latin American Colombian History Geography Demography Culture Economics Politics hours The American Heritage Relation Foreign Affairs hours Community Development Related Technical Problems hours lectures discussion hours lectures technical subjects Physical Training Conditioning hours This include briefing personal health safeguards while Colombia Testing hours Scheduled Study Hours hours Thus spent attending classes academic atmosphere A large number instructors called assist venture At training period those finally chosen service Colombia visit United Nations CARE offices New York befor being given eight leave In Bogota undertake additional month study lectures seminars Spanish field trips community development projects practical instruction technical problems tools equipment Colombian institu tions customs Altogether process takes about three months I believe program serve prototype futume Peace Corps programs reason I described detail The AFSC VISA program Voluntary International Service Assignments sending eight women Tanganyika years There under direction Tanganyika Community Development Department presumably Chagga Meru tribes which slopes Kilimanjaro Again volunteers alone different villages It hoped however spend their weekends ether order discuss their experiences doing increase their effectiveness group In VISA emphasis equally development individual commu VISA volunteers receive compensation supply their clothing pocket money If proves undue hardship volunteers however policy reversed The AFSC provides transportation medical insurance although outset volunteer asked contribute could pobable expenses estimated A Field Director liason officer Tanganyika Government carry field administration generally supervise volunteers Although particular program AFSC considerable expeience choosing people similar projects The applicant first fills lengthy application which questions factual nature philoso phical approach certain questions Several personal references required If applicant seems promising brought Philadelphia AFSC expense series interviews He meets members personnel committee VISA staff physical psychiatric examinations After proceedure final decision accepted given specific assignment several VISA projects planned Most volunteers recent college university graduates inexperienced community development As CARE orientation training divided sections There month training United States June July seven training course Tengeru Moshi Those Tengeru advised against inclusion language training Swahili United States ground single intensive cours effective courses using different methods Most American training program place Pendle Hill Quaker retreat Philadelphia Basically orientation quite different CARE There I understand center where Peace Corps volunteers trained later academic involved instead numerous classes devoted lectures discussion Thus orientation depends quality volunteers atmosphere seminar The U S orientation divided parts The first devoted uaker philosophy AFSC background activities abroad special emphasis current Africa Between June group Washington round talks people varied fields foreign policy United Nations special problems East Africa Gordon Hagberg Peace Corps Congressman Henry S Reuss proposing legislation Peace Corps interracial housing Washington Robert Weaver Food Peace program George McGovern violence integration William Coffin From first fifteenth July volunteers intensive study which included African especially Tanganyikan history geography culture The devoted seminars community development concepts rather techniques which Tengeru Their three United States July spent New York visiting United Nations serving workings Friends Neighborhood Group Harlem Today arrive London their Moshi Physical labor included program there sports volunteers spent AFSC clothing warehouse In future AFSC orien tation groups hoped community development perhaps several weeks program It difficult perhaps unfair judge these orientation programs until possible evaluate their influence volunteers performance I would attention however questions about certain assumptions methods In programs about three twenty month active service spent orientation Since qualified people field possible length these programs could although necessarily excessive In qualified American technicians proved suitable foreign countries since received little orientation before commonly assumed their failure This IMW cases I think unwise assume The usual problems peopl prsonal involv difficulty communication problem length orientation improve In opinion crucial point receives mphasis should People either communicate others different culture I believe capable prson benefit orientation program Th important thing exprienc cultur personally rason volunteer should field possibl What orientation ncssary I includ language technical training could btter achieved becaus gives individual become acclimated Ten years there probably emphasis orientation swung other today I think objective American orientation should volunte develop their potential living working people different culture orient different I pople perince development those taking training receive I futur programs burden their orientation programs psychological strains inherent process At present I think develop methods determining those The psychiatric inter views decisions still ordinary Just before I United Stats I attended first VISA orientation program going Tanganyika Although young inexperisncd I impressed their intelligenc their motivation I anyon succeed Vry sincerely yours Ian Michael Wright Received New York August