Sierra Leone
From Peace Corps Wiki
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US Peace Corps American Overseas Staff (FY2010): FP 03 (Nally, Thomas, S, $ 76,219), FP 01 (Metcalf, Gale, A, $ 123,156), FP 01 (Wallach, Joel, S, $ 126,851) Latest Early Termination Rates (FOIA 11-058):
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TBD 2010 | |
| Total Volunteers: |
3,479 | |
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The Peace Corps enjoys a rich history in Sierra Leone, having initially arrived in 1962 - just over a year after it had declared independence. Volunteers served the country in consecutive years until 1994, when the program was closed. Until that departure, 3,479 Volunteers had served in agriculture, education, and health.
Sierra Leone will welcome a new group of Volunteers in 2010. Education has been identified by the government as the most pressing need and Volunteers will provide English, math, and science teachers to help fill a shortage of qualified individuals. Peace Corps Response will also have a presence. Having already served as Volunteers, these contributors will arrive at their posts already in possession of the appropriate technical and cross-cultural skills needed to make an immediate impact.
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Peace Corps History
Main article: History of the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone
The Peace Corps program in Sierra Leone began in January 1962 as one of the first countries entered after Peace Corps’ launch in March 1961. In fact, Peace Corps signed an agreement with the new government of Sierra Leone just nine months after the country became independent from the United Kingdom.
The first group of Peace Corps Volunteers to arrive in Sierra Leone were 37 secondary school teachers in January 1962. They were joined by another 70 Volunteers in August 1962. For much of the 1960s, PC/Sierra Leone (SL) concentrated on education, with Volunteers involved in teaching at many levels and throughout the country. From the late 1960s to the early 1990s PC/SL branched out into the sectors of agriculture, community development, design-construction manpower development, and health.
In the early 1990s political turmoil and civil unrest in the region engulfed Sierra Leone and Peace Corps was forced to evacuate its 82 Volunteers as a result of a bloodless coup d’état that took place in Freetown on April 29, 1992. In July 1992 Peace Corps staff returned to reopen the program, with 15 former Volunteers; another 11 new agriculture trainees arrived in August 1992. Projects in Health, Education and Agriculture were re-established in areas not immediately affected by the civil conflict, but growing violence soon made it difficult for Peace Corps to continue. Following the evacuation of the remaining Volunteers, the program was finally closed in October 1994. More than 5,900 Volunteers served in Sierra Leone up until this closure.
Peace Corps conducted a partial assessment in 2001, hoping to utilize Peace Corps Response Volunteers. Agency finances did not allow a return, but full assessments were conducted in 2003 and 2007, both recommending that the security situation in-country was conducive to Peace Corps’ return and that there was a tremendous need for, and goodwill toward, the Peace Corps. With the availability of funding in 2009, the agency made the decision to re-enter Sierra Leone with a group of 40 Volunteers.
Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle
Main article: Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Sierra Leone
Before Volunteers arrive, Peace Corps/Sierra Leone staff, in collaboration with local partners, identify safe and secureVolunteer housing. Housing is provided by the school and/or community. Housing is in short supply in many regions of Sierra Leone, so be prepared for very basic housing. It is possible that you will share a house with another PCV, have your own house, or live with a host family. Electricity may not be available and water may need to be carried from a neighborhood pump. You must be prepared to accept the living conditions to which you are assigned as you will be living under the same conditions as the people with, and for whom, you work. Peace Corps inspects all potential housing to ensure it meets our standards for health and safety.
Most Volunteers are assigned to work in rural towns or large villages. The workplace will be within walking distance of your home, but it might be a long walk! Dependent on community need, Peace Corps makes every effort to cluster Volunteers within reasonable distances of each other in order to promote collaborative efforts and minimize isolation.
Training
Main article: Training in Sierra Leone
Pre-service training is the first event within a competency-based training program that continues throughout your 27 months of service in Sierra Leone. Preservice training ensures that Volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively perform their jobs. On average, nine of 10 trainees are sworn in as Volunteers.
Pre-service training is conducted in Sierra Leone and directed by the Peace Corps with participation from representatives of Sierra Leone organizations, former Volunteers, and/ or training contractors. The length of pre-service training varies, usually ranging from 8-12 weeks, depending on the competencies required for the assignment. Sierra Leone measures achievement of learning and determines if trainees have successfully achieved competencies, including language standards, for swearing in as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Throughout service, Volunteers strive to achieve performance competencies. Initially, pre-service training affords the opportunity for trainees to develop and test their own resources. As a trainee, you will play an active role in selfeducation.
Health Care and Safety
Main article: Health care and safety in Sierra Leone
Peace Corps News
Current events relating to Peace Corps are also available by country of service or your home state
The following is automatic RSS feed of Peace Corps news for this country.- NPCA Board Member Installed as Paramount Chief in Sierra Leone - Cocorioko - Cocorioko
[?]NPCA Board Member Installed as Paramount Chief in Sierra Leone - Cocorioko
Cocorioko
National Peace Corps Association board member Gary Schulze (Sierra Leone I 1961-63) was installed as an honorary paramount chief at an impressive ceremony in Shenge, Kagboro Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Sierra Leone on Saturday, May 4, 2013.- Former Peace Corps volunteer is asked to meet with African president - KeysNews.com (registration)
[?]Former Peace Corps volunteer is asked to meet with African president
KeysNews.com (registration)
After a look into their archives to see who was stationed in Makeni in the 1960s, Peace Corps administrators determined that the Sierra Leone president was referring to Alvarado. In late February, the Key Largo retiree received a call from Washington asking if ...- Awareness Times News Briefs from Sierra Leone - May 9th 2013 - Awareness Times
[?]Awareness Times News Briefs from Sierra Leone - May 9th 2013
Awareness Times
Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in Sierra Leone recently embarked on a week-long Stomp-Out Malaria Bike Ride. This was the first time that the PCVs in Sierra Leone, embarked on a campaign like this but the initiative has been ongoing in several other ...and more » - Peace Corps embark on a Stomp out Malaria Bike Ride - Awoko
[?]Peace Corps embark on a Stomp out Malaria Bike Ride
Awoko
Peace Corps embark on a Stomp out Malaria Bike Ride. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in Sierra Leone recently embarked on a week-long Stomp Out Malaria Bike Ride. This was the first time that the PCVs in Sierra Leone, embarked on a campaign like this ...- THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A RARE HISTORICAL DISCOVERY ? AN ACTUAL ... - Cocorioko
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CocoriokoTHE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A RARE HISTORICAL DISCOVERY ? AN ACTUAL ...
Cocorioko
Honourable Peter Bayuku Konteh, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, will introduce Mr. Gary Schulze, an American with a 51-year relationship with Sierra Leone. Schulze was a member of the first US Peace Corps group that came to this country in 1962.and more » - Peace Corps honors UTSA as top 10 volunteer-producing Hispanic Serving ... - UTSA Today
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UTSA TodayPeace Corps honors UTSA as top 10 volunteer-producing Hispanic Serving ...
UTSA Today
Ten UTSA alumni currently are serving as Peace Corps volunteers in Armenia, Malawi, Morocco, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Ukraine and Zambia. A total of 75 UTSA alumni have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. "I congratulate these ...and more »
PEACE CORPS JOURNALS
( As of Saturday May 18, 2013 )