Voices of the Peace Corps COVID-19 Evacuees by Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security

Voices of The Peace Corps COVID-19 Evacuees May 2020

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WCAPS I have a great respect for the Peace Corps. I planned to enter the Peace Corps after college, but other events took me away from that goal. However, the idea of having young people go abroad to work in countries to partner with people around the world on activities that would promote peace fit into my existing commitment to public service and learning about diverse cultures. When WCAPS was founded in 2017, we established the Young Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Program (YAP). One of the first YAP leaders is Marieme Foote. After a few months with WCAPS, she departed for her Peace Corps assignment to Benin. I was very excited for her and stayed in touch during that time. However, along with other Peace Corps Volunteers, she was evacuated because of COVID-19. Upon hearing her story about the evacuation, and then being introduced to other amazing Peace Corps Evacuees, WCAPS decided to help elevate their voices on the challenges they face now that they are back in the United States. As a person who sees the value of Peace Corps and the skills acquired by young people who want to make the world a more peaceful place for us all, as well as the dedication of WCAPS to peace and security, I am happy that WCAPS can present their stories. Sincerely,

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins Executive Director and Founder Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Edited By: Neda M. Shaheen, Esq. Fellow, Young Ambassador Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security

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A LETTER FROM MARIEME FOOTE, PEACE CORPS EVACUEE For the first time since its inception in 1961, Peace Corps evacuated its Volunteers worldwide because of COVID-19. This virus has changed our lives, prospects, and realities across the board. No one has been left untouched, as we are all facing the new realities of life with COVID-19. From September 2018 until March 2020, I served as a Sustainable Agricultural Systems Volunteer in Benin. Many country offices, including Benin's, went to great lengths during evacuation to support and keep Volunteers safe during these unprecedented times. However, there are growing needs within the Peace Corps evacuated community. COVID-19 has offered various sets of challenges that Peace Corps Volunteers normally would not face upon returning to the U.S., and it is important that we find ways to address these challenges and explore channels to support Peace Corps evacuees who can and want to continue serving their country in some capacity. When I returned, I received a call from Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, who I had worked with previously in the WCAPS Young Ambassador Program. Ambassador Jenkins wanted to know more about the realities that Peace Corps Volunteers were facing after the COVID-19 evacuation. In order to look at a variety of perspectives and better understand the Volunteers different situations post-evacuation, I created a Peace Corps Evacuee-led Task Force made up of Peace Corps members who served for various time periods, in different sectors, and with diverse communities around the globe. I would like to acknowledge the group of members who helped provide information and perspective throughout this process. Nina Boe Anna Cron Rok Locksley Alexander Orta Joe Ruvido Chloe Smith Zach Witkin

Laura Chant Azura Fairchild Tabetha Miller Dorothy Peck Lindsay Salem Pedro Valencia

I also want to give a special thanks to everyone who shared their stories and assisted with the report. Your contributions have been enormous. Sincerely,

Marieme Foote 3|Page

INTRODUCTION Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins in September 2017 to advance the leadership and professional development of women of color in the fields of peace, security, and foreign policy. Issues within these areas include global health security, climate change, peacekeeping, weapons of mass destruction nonproliferation, national security, and the intersection of other areas of international security, such as water and food security, and biodiversity. We base our work on the concept of the WCAPS initiative Ambassador Jenkins continues to champion, which is the need to redefine national security to meet todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenges. At WCAPS, we believe global issues demand a variety of perspectives. The organization continues to highlight diverse perspectives in policy making and on decisions that affect women and girls both in the U.S. and around the world. When there is a failure on issues of peace and security, women and girls of color suffer the most long-term impact. However, women of color are often not at the decision-making tables to be a part of discussions on how to make change. For that reason, WCAPS created a platform devoted to women of color that cultivates a strong voice and network for its members while encouraging dialogue and strategies for engaging in policy discussions on an international scale. Through our dedication to mentorships and partnerships, and our passion for changing the global community landscape, we remain committed to achieving our vision of advancing women of color in promoting and sustaining peace. Peace Corps Volunteers were evacuated from over 60 countries. They speak over 177 languages and are highly skilled in food security, public health, economic development, and education. Due to COVID-19, our brave Peace Corps Volunteers were evacuated from their posts with little to no notice and have been returned to the United States without sustainable housing, nor a long-term plan for healthcare, job security, or economic security. Due to the status of COVID-19 in the United States, most evacuees are unable to obtain sufficient physical or mental health care and are unable to find work. Many do not have alternative housing and are stuck in a dire situation of uncertainty. WCAPS has teamed with Peace Corps Volunteers from the Evacuee Task Force to develop a survey and gathered information from 461 Peace Corps Volunteers, analyzed below. These brave men and women dedicated their lives to serving our country and we, at WCAPS, believe it is important to elevate their voices and share with you their concerns. 4|Page

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS COS

Close of Service

Coverdell

Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program

EPCV

Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer

NCE

Non-Competitive Eligibility

Peace Corps

PCMO

Peace Corps Medical Officer

PCV

Peace Corps Volunteer

PST

Pre-Service Training

RPCV

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

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METHODOLOGY The survey consisting of eight questions was designed and administered with 461 responses. Question 1: Where did you serve? Country

Freq

Percent

Country

Freq

Percent

Albania

1.74

Malawi

0.65

Armenia

0.43

Mexico

3.04

Benin

8.68

Moldova

0.43

Botswana

1.30

Mongolia

0.43

Cameroon

1.74

Montenegro

0.22

China

0.43

Morocco

1.30

Colombia

0.87

Mozambique

3.47

Costa Rica

2.17

Myanmar

0.43

Dominican Republic

18.44

Namibia

0.65

Eastern Caribbean

0.65

Nepal

0.43

Ecuador

1.74

North Macedonia

1.08

Ethiopia

0.22

Panama

3.25

Fiji

1.08

Paraguay

0.22

Gambia

1.08

Peru

1.30

Georgia

1.08

Philippines

7.16

Ghana

0.87

Rwanda

0.22

Guatemala

5.42

Samoa

0.22

Guinea

0.87

Senegal

6.94

Guyana

1.74

Sierra Leone

0.87

Indonesia

1.08

South Africa

0.65

Jamaica

0.43

Tanzania

0.87

Kenya

0.22

Thailand

1.74

Kingdom of eSwatini

0.22

Togo

0.87

Kosovo

0.87

Tonga

0.43

Kyrgyz Republic

0.22

Ukraine

1.95

Lesotho

0.22

Vanuatu

0.87

Liberia

0.43

Zambia

2.82

Macedonia

0.43

Missing

1.95

Madagascar

0.87

Total

461

100.00

Respondents in this study have served in a total of 56 countries. 6|Page

Are you a COVID-19 Evacuated Volunteer, Evacuated Trainee, or former Peace Corps Volunteer? Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

371

80.5

12.8

6.1

Invitee

Total

461

100.0

Evacuated Volunteer Trainee Former Volunteer Medically Evacuated

Of the 461 respondents, the majority (80.5%) are Evacuated Volunteers, 12.8% are Trainees (in-country doing training), 6.1% are Former Volunteers (were not evacuated), 0.4% are Medically Evacuated (were in the United States receiving medical treatment but still a Volunteer), while 0.1% are an invitee (still in the U.S. preparing to leave).

Questions

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Mean

Std. Dev.

Min

Max

If you are an evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer or Trainee, how long have

13.6087

9.390617

2.198529

2.402353

you served (by month)? If you are an evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer or Trainee, how much notice were you provided before termination? If you were not evacuated, please write N/A.

For the evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees, the average service time is 13 months (SD=9.4), with the minimum and maximum service length at 0 and 39, respectively. The high deviation is because some Trainees were at staging (orientation) while others were only days away from being sworn in as Volunteers and sent off to their two-year project sites. For the evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers, the analysis shows that the average notice given was 2 days (SD=2.4 days), with the minimum and maximum notice at 0 and 30 days, respectively. This high deviation was further reinforced by respondents’ complaints regarding the very short time they had to pack their belongings between the notice time and evacuation. Comments from non-evacuated former Peace Corps Volunteers are written below: •

I mourned my service when I returned to the U.S. and I was fortunate to serve all 27 months. Had I had to leave my community without proper closure, I am sure I would have been a mess of emotions, which would have also had a significant impact on my job search and my reintegration into American life.

•

If I were evacuated suddenly, I do not know where I would have gone because my parents are older. I went to Peace Corps right after college so I would have had no money to pay for an apartment. I also would have had to leave my dog, which would have been absolutely wrecking.

•

I was very fortunate and able to get a job with the federal government using my NonCompetitive Eligibility (NCE), but it was quite challenging. I know of many friends who are exceptionally qualified but who have not been as lucky.

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If you are an evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer or Trainee, do you have supplemental medical coverage after the ninety-days that Peace Corps covers? Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

289

62.7

67.1

Yes

142

30.8

32.9

Total

431

93.5

100.0

Missing

6.5

Overall Total

461

100.0

The majority (67.1%) of the evacuated Trainees and Volunteers are without supplemental medical coverage after the ninety-days of coverage provided by Peace Corps. This is a very vulnerable time as noted by some of the respondents and it is difficult for them to cope with this uncertainty. Only 32.9% have supplemental medical coverage after the ninety-days that Peace Corps covers. Most of these evacuees depend on their parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; medical coverage, which is possible because the vast majority are within the coverage age (under 26 years old). Only a few are currently under Medicaid.

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Would evacuated and former Peace Corps Volunteers be interested in assisting domestic missions dedicated to public health, food security or economic stability?

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Would evacuated and former Peace Corps Volunteers be interested in assisting domestic missions regarding public health, food security or economic stability? Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Yes

435

94.4

95.2

2.4

Maybe

2.4

Total

457

99.1

100.0

Missing

Overall Total

461

100.0

The majority (95.2%) of the respondents are willing and interested in assisting domestic missions in public health, food security or economic stability, 2.4% are not while 2.4% are undecided. Further details of their decisions are categorized and summarized on the next page.

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Absolutely YES

Maybe

• Yes, Peace Corps Volunteers are fundamentally people who want to serve; we would be happy to help if given the opportunity. As I have heard several times lately, Peace Corps Volunteers (current or returned) are uniquely qualified to help our fellow Americans during this time of uncertainty and isolation. We have all lived in uncertainty in new and unfamiliar situations. We know how to create normalcy, routine, and joy when everything is upside down. We have been far from loved ones and isolated from everything that was once normal... and we not only survived but thrived. We want to be a resource. • Absolutely. Even though I was evacuated, I still want to serve. • Yes, aside from allowing me to serve my country even further, it would also save me from my hopeless unemployment situation. • Yes, I am currently helping with the local food pantry, but I plan to continue working with the food pantry. It is so important to support local organizations in any way. Yes, with condition

• Possibly, depending on exactly what and where • Potentially, though it would depend heavily on the intent of these missions. • Possibly, but I have my family's health to consider.

• Yes, if it can be done from home; many of us are in high-risk groups & required to stay home. • Yes, if not employed by then. • Yes, provided it does not interfere with possible reinstatement in the Peace Corps. • I come from a very poor family and do not have any savings to utilize for domestic missions, so it would have to be paid or include a stipend or something.

No • Considering current conditions, I am not concerned with putting myself at risk to contract the virus. • No, not domestically. • No, I have asthma and now it might be dangerous. • Not for myself. My focus is on education. I would rather work in community development focusing on education, but if that is not an option right now I will look into teaching jobs.

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Further Analysis A group of 13 Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees who served around the world, as the Peace Corps Evacuee-led Task Force, created the following list of potential recommendations and suggestions. As we consider ways to support Volunteers, we must keep in mind the different categories that Volunteers and non-Volunteers fall under to ensure a comprehensive response. This means including Trainees who have not yet sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers but have made a two-year commitment, alongside Response Volunteers (who serve a year in a specialized field) and Volunteers who were evacuated prior to the worldwide evacuation issued on March 15, 2020. This list highlights the need for extending existing benefits and programming that supports Volunteers and Trainees during the COVID-19 crisis. The Peace Corps currently provides Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers (EPCVs) with three months of health insurance coverage.1 We recommend that this health insurance be expanded, as many evacuees are having a difficult time securing employment during a pandemic and are unable to obtain health insurance at this time. We also recommend that the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program (Coverdell) continue and Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) benefits be extended to two years, given the economic situation, which has made it difficult for Volunteers to gain employment using NCE. The Task Force identified a strong interest among evacuees to create a COVID-19 Volunteer Response Corps, which could collaborate with AmeriCorps and local organization authorities to support communities and address needs on the grassroots level. Peace Corps members are service-oriented and skilled in project management, cultural humility, stakeholder coordination, and grassroots development. They have undergone training in areas such as economic development, health, education, and food security, which can be utilized to support and strengthen work going on nationally. Funding for such a program could also support Peace Corps members who are struggling financially, or with housing by providing a stipend and accommodations. What we can see from both the responses and also the recommendations put forth below by the Task Force is a need for extended health care insurance and also a strong drive to continue serving their communities both here and abroad. These members, if supported, could be a strong and dedicated resource to the United States of America during such difficult times. 1 All Returned Volunteers are entitled to three readjustment counseling sessions. If you return to the U.S. and are having difficulty readjusting, please reach out to the Post Service Unit for assistance in obtaining readjustment sessions. If you have questions or would like to take advantage of the three readjustment sessions, ask your PCMO to write you a PC-127C Authorization for the readjustment sessions.

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PEACE CORPS TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS Health Care Recommendations https://www.peaceCorps.gov/coronavirus/health-care-and-support-services/#what-should-ido-if-i-cannot-get-cos-exam •

Recommendation 1: Extend deadlines for Close of Service (COS) medical and dental for all Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) and Trainees. Currently, evacuees must complete a primary care evaluation, physical exam, and routine labs within 90 days of their COS date (in most cases this expiration date is June 15th). Given the pandemic, many doctors are not taking appointments or new patients until the fall of 2020, making it impossible for evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees to complete these exams and forms. It also puts EPCVs at risk in trying to complete these tasks during a pandemic. More flexibility is needed given the unprecedented circumstances

•

Recommendation 2: Extend mental health care resources. Currently, we only have access to three appointments over the phone that are restricted to a 90-day time period. Due to extenuating situations, many Volunteers have expressed a need for more support and flexibility.

Health Insurance Recommendations •

Recommendation 1: Extend health insurance for all EPCVS, Trainees until their initial projected COS dates, as these groups had expected to be covered for that period. During this pandemic Peace Corps Volunteers or Trainees impacted by COVID 19 will need health insurance and support.

•

Recommendation 2: Provide healthcare for EPCVs including Trainees who are working in a domestic AmeriCorps Response program.

•

Recommendation 3: EPCVs and Trainees should have access to Medicaid, even if they typically do not qualify.

Employment Recommendations https://www.peaceCorps.gov/coronavirus/allowances-and-benefits/ •

Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) Coverage and the Coverdell Fellows Program o Extend Coverdell and Federal NCE to all EPCVs. Currently, not all EPCVs have these benefits. Traditionally, you would have needed to serve at least one

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year (12 months) as a PCV to qualify for Federal NCE. It should be noted that there is precedence for a shorter term, as AmeriCorps Volunteers qualify for Federal NCE with an 11-month service. o Response Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees should not be put at a disadvantage when it comes to hiring or graduate school admissions due to their length of service being cut short for reasons beyond their control. Federal agencies are prioritizing EPCVs with NCE, but the demarcation will automatically pass over those who are qualified but lack the NCE documentation. •

Recommendation 1: Response PCVs generally serve eight to twelve months and should be eligible for Coverdell and Federal NCE.

•

Recommendation 2: Trainees should receive NCE status.

•

Recommendation 3: We recommend extending Federal NCE for two years from the date of evacuation. Due to social distancing and required restrictions, as well as uncertain funding and private hiring freezes, it is difficult for EPCVs to find or hold a job. Thus, NCE should be extended so that EPCVs can use it effectively and be supported career-wise.

•

Recommendation 4: All RPCVs should receive lifetime eligibility for the Coverdell Program. According to Executive Order 11103 of April 10, 1963, all evacuated RPCVs should be eligible to be appointed as a career-conditional employee in the competitive civil service on a non-competitive basis.

•

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11103.html

Peace Corps COVID-19 Response Corps •

EPCVs are willing to serve in a domestic COVID-19 Response Corps. Due to the large breadth of skills such as language acquisition, interpersonal skills and professional experience that PCVs have overall, it is highly recommended that if a COVID-19 Corps is created with AmeriCorps, and that EPCVs also be considered for positions of leadership or management within a COVID-19 Corps.

•

There are additional localized outlets to help in the response, such as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts partnership with Partners in Health, to do contact tracing. The Peace Corps/AmeriCorps/COVID-19 Response Corps should liaise with

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State and Federal-led organizations to help hire EPCVs in a rapid manner as EPCVs can assist in that work. •

In addition, increasing the size of AmeriCorps and utilizing that program to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, RPCVs could be an additional asset to local government offices in other ways. For example, there are local offices of the New York State Department of Health that are under-resourced in the face of the virus. Peace Corps Volunteers with public health experience could be of great use. The federal government should open pathways for RPCVs to Volunteer or work for these offices. Support from the government would add legitimacy to any outreach effort individual RPCVs may engage in with such offices.

Other Suggestions •

EPCVs have recommended a need for detailed guidance by the Peace Corps or the Federal Government on how to properly apply for unemployment under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The current application process largely varies by states and impacts whether or not EPCVs are receiving benefits or not.

•

EPCVs should have access to unemployment insurance based on the location where they currently reside. Some EPCVs may not be able to live at their Home of Record because they do not have sustainable housing available there.

•

EPCVs, regardless of what state they reside in, should receive back pay for unemployment based on the date of the mandatory evacuation of all PCVs.

•

The Peace Corps should be inclusive of all PCVs who were evacuated due to COVID19 when deciding post-service, and post-evacuation benefits. Not all PCVs were evacuated in March. For example, China and Mongolia PCVs were evacuated in the final days of January due to COVID-19. Peace Corps excluded PCVs evacuated before March from quarantine reimbursement due to wording that specifically includes only “March” evacuees. Those PCVs from China and Mongolia should receive quarantine reimbursement or stipend for the two-weeks of self-isolation if they had a family member or friend at high-risk.

•

PCVs who were on medical evacuation or on other temporary leave at the time their post was evacuated have requested more clarity on their status as evacuees and their eligibility for benefits. Country Directors and medical staff at Peace Corps have given

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conflicting information about PCVs official COS dates and the ‘Wellness Stipend’ notice did not mention those who were on medical evacuation and likely to return to post at the time of the global COVID-19 evacuation. •

We also recommend that housing accommodations be considered as many Volunteers have had difficulty finding housing since their abrupt departure from service. This could be included in COVID-19 AmeriCorps Response Corps.

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Peace Corps Evacuee Reflections As part of the survey conducted for this report, we provided an opportunity for the respondents to tell us in more detail their experiences about the evacuation and following the evacuation, their concerns about the individuals and the host country they left behind, and the future of the Peace Corps. The following pages contain some of those comments.

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What are the challenges you are facing after being evacuated because of COVID-19? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peace Corps Volunteers invest more than time. They invest their hearts.â&#x20AC;?

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Most of the respondents have serious concerns regarding housing, finances, employment, education, and healthcare, including mental health. Their comments can be found below: It was wrong to terminate and evacuate Volunteers from service. All Volunteers assume risks involved with service when we swear-in, that includes risks to our health. I was forced to lose my job, my home and my purpose in my country of service that has significantly less cases of COVID-19, and was forced to return through high-risk facilities, like multiple train stations/airports/hotels/countries, to my country with the highest risk of COVID-19. I have no home, no job, and no health coverage in the middle of a global pandemic with little hope to find immediate employment and affordable housing. It is a complete insult and more detrimental to my safety and health than staying in country as a Volunteer. I left my salary career job to serve and my service was terminated before I ever left the county. I broke my lease and sold many belongings to serve. The current situation leaves me unemployed and uninsured during a time of uncertain health. I had planned to utilize my Peace Corps service as a bridge to retirement. Now I still have two years until I can collect my retirement benefits with no job, no home and soon no healthcare. In the current environment, I have no real prospect for gainful employment despite my experience. I cannot even Volunteer to help with COVID-19 programs because I am in a highrisk category. For return and resumption of service to be a possibility it is necessary that evacuated Volunteers/Trainees receive adequate support in this interim time. Becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer is only achieved through great economic and personal sacrifice for these Volunteers. We give up our jobs, our homes, our families and friends, our health coverage, our means of transportation, and much more to serve our home and host countries. As we return to the U.S., months or even years before our planned return, many of us are left without these things and without a plan or means for how to come by them. Under normal circumstances, finding new employment would not be so difficult for returned Volunteers/Trainees. Unfortunately, our current economy faces skyrocketing unemployment and overall economic instability with many companies weary or averse to new hires. Finding stability is harder than it has ever been for the 7,300 Peace Corps evacuees in this country. I am currently unemployed and residing with my parents in a city that I have not lived in since 2012. I have no job prospects within my field of study and can only stay here temporarily, as any job I do get could expose me to the virus and my parents are high risk.

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A lot of the programs and fellowships in international relations recommend or even require two years minimum of international experience, but I only have 18 months. I left many projects uncompleted so my CV is not what I thought it would be. My mental health has also gone way down since leaving and it has made it hard for me to find a new job right now and move on. It feels like no one is thinking about us delayed inviteesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;many of us scheduled to leave in March/April and quit our jobs before we were given notice of delays. We are not eligible for unemployment benefits, NCE, or Peace Corps medical coverage and we are left without many resources at our disposal to find a new job or support ourselves financially. Personally, I am an educator and have student loans and federal grant qualifications I must take care of now. Completing the Peace Corps during the time frame I had was in the perfect range for what I hoped to do. Now though it pushes me to almost miss completing my federal grant requirements I must complete otherwise my grant is reverted to loans. Therefore, I most likely will not be able to reinstate once operations reopen. It is rather unfortunate, how people who had this scaled out for their lives, must restart them in a pandemic and with no time frame for when operations will reopen. I would like to reinstate my service when given the opportunity. I am concerned with the timeline. How long can I wait? Will PC countries want Americans to come to their country given the national response and impacts of COVID-19 in the US? Will that delay return more? Could there be a mission to end Peace Corps permanently? This is a huge hit to the international community and to Peace Corps, especially because we pride ourselves on how the institutional knowledge of our posts benefits the sustainability of our work. Since 1963, we have had Volunteers in Senegal, each departing group passing on information to the incoming group. It is a huge blow to lose that continuity. I have so much work I wanted to do at my site so am really interested in reinstatement if it is possible. I think it will be vital to the future of our mission in Senegal to have Volunteers who know the area and our work to return, potentially there could even be PC Response positions created for this. But I need some financial security and stability in the US during evacuation for that to happen, or else I will just need to get a well-paying job. Many Volunteers who are passionate about our mission are in this position of anxiety and instability. On top of that, it feels like we have lost our purpose when we must just be quarantined at home and cannot help to address the dire needs of our own country during this crisis. Peace Corps Volunteers have a diverse array of skills and are compassionate and resilient. Creating domestic missions would give us both income and allow us to still be of service, so I really hope this can happen. 21 | P a g e

Many, including myself, have opted to find work as reinstatement seems mythical at this point. I hope some will go back or that we can be used as resource Volunteers for incoming cohorts I am not planning to re-apply at this point, but I hope Peace Corps is able to restart with a minimum of interference once it is safe to do so.

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What are your thoughts concerning the continuity of host country missions? interrupted by COVID-19?

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Their comments can be found below: I am concerned for the diversity of the program; I worry it will not reopen simultaneously in all countries, and those with the most benefit to receive from the Peace Corps will have their Volunteers return last. I also worry for the robustness of the program coming out of COVID19, as many Volunteers early in their service may choose not to return after such a long period back in the U.S. and pursuing alternative opportunities. My primary concern now, I am sure like many others, is the community that I was a part. Prior to COVID-19, Mozambique and Peace Corps were having issues obtaining and retaining visas for Volunteers. I am concerned that due to COVID-19 and the timing of it all, Mozambique will no longer accept Volunteers, which would in turn end all funding of primary and secondary activities such as JUNTOS, REDES and English Theater. I believe the Peace Corps will not be the same as prior to COVID-19 because the communities are going to look much different and have much different needs. I believe there are more countries that will request Peace Corps aid and the countries who are already partners are going to have different needs for positions and Volunteers. I am concerned that the different posts will not be able to start back up as normal. Having Volunteers out of country for so long will be difficult for communities to welcome back Peace Corps Volunteers. I understand the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak both in the U.S. and in Peace Corps host countries across the globe, however, the entire Peace Corps system is built around the relationships Volunteers have with their communities. The longer Volunteers are absent from their communities, the greater barrier to re-entry we will face and the less effective our efforts will be upon return. My concern is how this will affect the way my community not only sees me but sees all Peace Corps Volunteers after me. I was the first Volunteer at my site. They were so excited to have a Volunteer and for me to pack up all my things and leave must have been heart breaking for them. I did not get the chance to say goodbye to most people because I had just come back from IST (in-service training) and only had a few hours to pack all my things and leave again. I would not be surprised if I have lost their trust. I promised them 2 years and only gave them 3 months. Not only that, but the privilege we hold became evident to everyone. Before we had been given the notice that we would be evacuating, Morocco had decided to close its border. Everyone knew that airports were now closed and that there was no way out. It was hard to

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explain to them that we had been given special privileges to leave the country despite the closure of the borders. I worry that my students will not receive the quality literacy education they deserve because of the interrupted service. I am afraid the people and connections I met and made will lose the chance to bring solutions to strengthen the community My biggest concern is when posts will be reopened. Since I only served nine months, I wanted to do my full service of two years. I want to serve. I had purpose in my service... now I no longer have that. PCVs should have been given the option to stay and educate or assist our communities where needed. We left when we could have provided the most support. I am very passionate about the work Peace Corps does and want to do everything I can to make sure the agency can continue serving in communities that request them. I can check in with my youth over messenger and I am very grateful for that. It also makes me so concerned about the communities we had to leave suddenly. My youth are struggling, and I know other communities around the world are too. How do we maintain relationship building and communication while we are struggling to cope with this pandemic? I am worried about the global economic impact. I am worried about global access to health care, especially the most marginalized populations. I am worried about my host community that survives day to dayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;how are they supposed to survive a long quarantine and/or stay at home order? My host community, with so much less in resources than my home country, took social distancing very seriously, set up temperature monitoring stations outside markets and schools, and took drastic measures to shut down transportation in order to stop the spread of the virus. With things being handled so differently here, and the U.S. now being the epicenter, I am afraid that we will not be able to contain it for a long time. I am afraid our host countries will not be able to invite us back for fear that Americans would bring the virus back to their countries. My fear is that the Peace Corps will not be able to maintain funding if Volunteers are not deployed or that it might get put under the umbrella of another agency and lose autonomy. My hope is that Peace Corps can remain an independent agency, deploy Volunteers to serve communities domestically in response to COVID-19, and eventually return to international service when our host countries asks us back. I am incredibly moved by the community fostered by RPCVs and their willingness to act and offer support. I am ready to join their ranks and engage with communities at home to build resiliency and recover from this disaster. And I hope it won't be too long before I can go back 25 | P a g e

to my home in the Philippines, even if it isn't as a Peace Corps Volunteer, to visit my youth partners, my friends, and my host family. To me, it is unfortunate that we have experienced this, however, it is not truly about us. EPCVs and others involved with Peace Corps need to realize that the countries we serve in are about to be hit far harder than us, and that their medical infrastructures are not prepared. While many would like to go back as soon as possible or are concerned about their next steps, it is nothing compared to the situations that our host countries will be facing. That said, I do think we should continue to make a push for the Peace Corps to be supported by the U.S. government in perpetuity, as the Peace Corps is a great organization that I hope my future children will be able to serve in, should they so choose. I want to get back as soon as I can. If boarders are open and transportation is open within the country, I see no reason that I cannot be back. However, I am not sure if Peace Corps sees it the same way. The longer they wait the more people they are going to lose and the more Volunteers in these countries, the better. I sincerely hope that the same individuals who got evacuated can return to their specific homes and projects in Host countries. I am concerned that the PC will just start over from scratch and leave all sorts of projects unfinished and leave people without closure. The evacuation seriously affected personal relationships with host country counterparts, families, and friends. I am concerned that if not managed correctly, PC could get the same reputation as the organization Time to Teach did in Ecuador I think it would be great if Volunteers could return, but I do not think it is realistic at this point. I hope that Peace Corps will be able to reopen countries and very much hope that the pandemic is not used as an excuse to close posts. I think following the economic and social turbulence (especially in the health, education, and youth in development sectors), it is all the more important that we return to the field as soon as it is determined to be safe for Volunteers to return. I know many people in my community and country of service were very sad to see us go and did not understand why we had to go so fast. I wholeheartedly support Peace Corps resuming operations, but I am aware that it could take some time for operations to resume. Please continue supporting and funding Peace Corps in congressional legislation!

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I worked with an organization on gathering donated materials for future projects and I do not know where those items are or when my community will see them. I think it will be a long road going forward for Peace Corps. It will take time to re-establish some working relationships. I created a home and a life there. I was ripped away from people I consider family at a momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notice. I want to be back, and my community wants me back as soon as possible. I have a lot to accomplish there and I hope they are working to get us back as soon as possible. We left when they needed us most. As this global state of emergency calms, it will be imperative that the Peace Corps be incredibly intent on listening to the stated needs of our host communities as COVID-19 may have revealed or created new ways we can empower and support them. As an evacuee who was committed to 27 months of service, I am eager to return and continue working sooner rather than later. I believe that my communities could have higher demand now for their Peace Corps partners than before, given the devastating effects COVID-19 has on a nation's economy, education system, health, and more.

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What are your thoughts concerning the future of the Peace Corps after COVID-19?

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Their comments can be found below: I think that this is a perfect time for the Peace Corps to consider its future and how to make improvements going forward. Many of my main problems with the organization itself and its performance in my host country are on issues with efficiency and the program implementation seemed quite outdated. For the Peace Corps to perform better and come into this modern age it seems important that there is an acknowledgment that change needs to occur. I am concerned that this temporary shutdown of programs will be used to re-evaluate Peace Corps as an agency and move it under Congressional direction. The Peace Corps has always been an independent agency; it was designed that way for good reason. I worry that the necessary isolation we are engaged in now will continue to be the norm when we will need global engagement more than ever in the future. Peace Corps is a life changing experience and I hope it can continue. I have not known any RPCV who isn't deeply changed by the experience as well as community members whose lives have not been radically changed by someone who mentored them, gave them a different perspective or inspired them to be more. Please continue to support service abroad, it is the cheapest and best diplomacy. Right now, I am not doing anything because I still had another year left of service. I want to go back to my original country of service, and I still speak with my host family daily and they also want me back there. But six months is a long time to wait for a tentative return date, and one that could potentially be pushed back even further. I have seen firsthand the importance of the Peace Corps—we are the people who make the connections on the ground, who let others know that the United States isn’t just a “global powerhouse” but a nation of people doing their best, the same as the host countries in which we serve. The soft diplomacy that the Peace Corps provides is essential for creating connections, and the Americans who serve come back to the US with essential skills for the American or international job market. I would love to see the Peace Corps return to all 61 countries and even more in the future. And ultimately, I want to be back with my host family and in my community. The abrupt goodbyes (and the ones I did not get to say) break my heart and I am devastated to have left my home so quickly. I worry the budget will suffer more cuts and that programs will be downsized or closed, completely impacting Volunteers and local staff. I hope that when posts reopen, they allow evacuated RPCV priority to go back first and for those Volunteers to go back to their original sites if possible. I hope this crisis highlights a need for more options for roles like PCVs domestically. 29 | P a g e

I think our relationships are strong on a personal level, but I worry about the reputation of Peace Corps around the world after such a large-scale evacuation. I am concerned that Peace Corps will not have the proper funds to bring Volunteers back or that the situation with the virus will not allow international travel for some time. I worry that the financial strain placed on Peace Corps when evacuating ~7,300 people, and then providing readjustment and evacuation allowances and medical coverage, could be too much of a monetary loss to bounce back from. I also worry that due to COVID-19, the Administration may cut or suspend Peace Corps funding making it impossible for us to reinstate or allow invitees to depart. I am concerned about the continuity of Peace Corps programs worldwide, funding for Peace Corps programs from the current U.S. leadership, relationships with partnering countries and counterparts, and how they might perceive Peace Corps and Volunteers after suspending service during a pandemic. I want an assurance that Volunteers will be going back into the field as soon as possible. I hope Peace Corps develops some policies so if something like this happens in the future it will be handled better. Peace Corps should enact global re-entry as safe and responsibly as they can. They also need to support current evacuated Volunteers with remaining costs, bills, and other administrative tasks. I hope that it will be continued in the future however, with so many of the places we serve affected who knows when it will be safe for Volunteers to return and how countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs will be shaped. I worry after several years of Congress trying to defund Peace Corps that this will be an excuse to drastically shrink or do away with Peace Corps altogether. I think there will be a huge learning curve for the next cohort because there will not be Volunteers already there to share information or assist in the transition. A lot of programs I was involved in will take over a year to get back up to previous operational capacity. Additionally, a lot of Host Country National students will lose out on the ability to participate in the Peace Corps summer camps this year, which provide small grants and learning opportunities for students. I believe that we need re-entry solutions for the Peace Corps Volunteers who want to finish their programs. Our job is to build relations and sustainability through the work that we do. 30 | P a g e

In order to continue the quality of future trainings (usually assisted by Volunteers) and the level of trust with community members, one of Peace Corps top priorities when they are ready to send people back should be to get as many evacuated Volunteers to return as possible. I am worried they will force Peace Corps Volunteers to start their service again from the beginning, which will likely dissuade a lot of Volunteers from returning. There also needs to be clearer communication and transparency when they do reach decisions regarding reinstatement. Some Volunteers were in the middle of ambitious grant products and I think it is important to do everything possible to get a Volunteer back to these sites, whether it be the original Volunteer or not, to maintain Peace Corps' integrity with regards to the commitments made to these communities and the investments already begun with these projects. I'm not that worried about Peace Corps losing its funding, but I do think headquarters needs to be clear and communicative to evacuated Volunteers about the timeframe and procedure for reinstatement so they can make informed decisions about their futures. Each of us pledged 27 months of service to our country. Is it unreasonable to ask that our country show the same commitment and support to us in this time of need? We need to have a plan for how we implement these types of evacuations in the future. PCVs and country staff, along with Peace Corps, should factor in more economic contingency planning, as it pertains to evacuation, during trainings. Up until now trainings have focused on evacuation but not on the aftermath of evacuation. As someone who was given no time or emotional support to wrap up my service and to say goodbye to my community, I understand the shock and sadness a PCV experiences from sudden interrupted service. Peace Corps could do a much better job at preparing PCVs for unexpected departures and assuring good communication between PCVs and their communities during and after evacuation. Having a plan in place for reduced or altered service in each community would be very helpful and could provide some peace of mind to PCVs. PCVs invest more than time. They invest their hearts. I believe it is a great time for PC to re-evaluate how it treats and cares for their invitees, Trainees, Volunteers, and RPCVs, and everyone in between. Many people were evacuated to an unknown life situation without much support and guidance besides a paid ticket home. Granted, we (Volunteers) received the better end of the bargain but many Trainees were left without PC benefits, which makes little sense considering the time and money invested into clearances. Furthermore, even those who were Volunteers at the time were shorted in financial support depending on their length of service, as though the evacuation was in their control.

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I think that the Peace Corps is so important to our national interests, now more than ever. We are living in a volatile, rapidly changing time where open-minded, service-oriented individuals are needed to move this country forward. Over 7000 Volunteers fell into your lap a month ago, ready to serve, and we have been sitting at home just wishing we could do something to help, wishing we were back in our communities, and worried for our futuresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;our jobs, our healthcare, our sense of purpose. Put us to work, and please provide us with health insurance until the economy is stabilized. We need to consider these factors in the future. I strongly believe Peace Corps should resume operations as soon as possible. I also believe that reinstatement should be an option to all evacuated PCVs. They should not have to reapply.

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Thank You!

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