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Peace Corps Guinea Regional House Closure URGENT ACTION |
Thanks to Cyn Follrich for compiling this page
Latest News: 3/20/03
We received a copy of the newsletter in which Lisa Ellis, Country Director of PC Guinea, explained much of the regional house issue. Here is that letter.
As a result, FOG is no longer involved in lobbying. Here is the text of FOG's letter to our members:
Dear friends,
In response to the controversy over the regional house re-configurations, Friends of Guinea's board of directors had considered a lobbying effort directed at the Peace Corps and elsewhere on this issue. We originally felt that the official explanation given by Peace Corps Washington was unsatisfactory and left a lot of questions unanswered. However, after reading the explanation by PC-Guinea Director Lisa Ellis in the volunteer newsletter, we now feel that our concerns have been addressed.
We realize that not every one may have been convinced by the newsletter's explanation. And we certainly support the right of unsatisfied members to express their opinion. However, the board has decided that we, as an organization, are not going to pursue this matter further.
The board appreciates the feedback it has received from members on this issue and we always encourage members to contact us on any relevant issue of concern.
Thank you,
Brian Farenell
Friends of Guinea's Advocacy Director
On behalf of the FOG board
We have learned of the Peace Corps Administration's decision to reconfigure several Peace Corps Regional Houses in Guinea (Labe, Kankan, & Boke). Despite our concerns, the PC Administration says that having volunteers stay in regional hotels will ensure their safety and well-being. We respectfully disagree.
Below we have indexed the reasons why we think that the houses should remain open for overnight lodging. Some of the actions you may consider are:
1. If you wish, write a letter to Peace Corps and/or your Congressperson
- Send it to me to send for you, or
- Send it yourself, or
- Send it yourself and send it to me, to make sure you get heard
2. Friends of Guinea is currently drafting a letter to send to the appropriate people. We will include this in a packet of letters.
Stephanie Chasteen
[email protected]Physics Dept., ISB
UC Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
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Information on the house closure
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FOG
Send your letters to FOG, either instead of or in addition to your Senators and Peace Corps. We will send it on for you, along with the official FOG response letter. Perhaps a large packet of letters will make an impact.
Stephanie Chasteen
[email protected]Physics Dept., ISB
UC Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Gaddi Vasquez, PC Director
Josephine Olsen, PC Deputy Director [email protected]
Henry McKoy, Africa Region Director (Kevin's supervisor) - [email protected]
Kevin Novotny, Peace Corps US West Africa - [email protected]The Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20526Any PC employee can be reached by email -- first letter of first name, last [email protected].
Lisa Ellis, Guinea Country Director [email protected]
Lisa Ellis
Country Director, Guinea
BP 1927
Conakry, Guinea, West Africa
Congress
The web site for information about your elected officials is: http://www.governmentguide.com
Senate majority leader Bill Frist, is very interested in Africa, and
I suggest that a deluge of letters to
his office might get some attention.
Letters to the editor
"You might also consider writing "letters to the editor" in your local papers or even a guest editorial. Letters and editorials usually grab the attention of organizations and politicians.
Sample letters to Congresspeople:
Chris Van Hollen
US Representative
US Congress
Washington, DCDear Representative Van Hollen:
Congratulations on your victory. When we met in Takoma Park, I had no idea I�d be calling on your good office so soon.
We recently returned from a visit to Guinea where we visited with our daughter Ellen who is a second year Peace Corp Volunteer (PCV). It was an overwhelming, mind-expanding visit. The work of the Peace Corp as ambassadors of good will was continually reaffirmed in our visits with Guineas throughout the country. We spent a week at our daughter�s rural site and several days in the Peace Corp Regional house in Labe among other sites.
We are writing you to seek your help in preserving an important part of the administrative support program for field Peace Corp Volunteers such as our daughter -- the regional houses. These are regional centers (a day or two travel time from the capital city, Conakry) serving approximately 40 volunteers who themselves live in isolated rural areas an hour, day or two days from the regional house.
The current Peace Corp country director plans to close the regional houses and replace them with a combination office and use of hotels for PCVs. We think the regional houses play a critical role in facilitating the mission of the Peace Corp and providing a safe environment for Peace Corp Volunteers. While this might seem to be a minor administrative decision, it has profound consequences for the Peace Corp volunteers, their ability to execute their programs and their ability to communicate with one and other and back home.
Let us explain.
Conakry is the capital of Guinea, one of the world�s poorest countries. Here the Peace Corp has a central administrative office and a staging house. It�s a large, magnificent, new facility overlooking the ocean. The "house" is used by the administrative Peace Corp staff in the capital city as an office and is used by volunteers while they are in the capital or in transit. In its bedrooms are multiple sets of bunk beds to house up to 40 volunteers who are being staged throughout the country.
In addition to this central facility, there are three regional houses in Labe, Kan Kan and Boke. The regional houses are a day or two time travel by car (which is how PCVs travel) from the capital city. As regional centers they serve approximately 40 volunteers who are staged in the surrounding communities up to a days travel away.
The regional house serves many functions. First, they provide a secure and safe central area within a day�s travel from Peace Corp Volunteers' sites. This is obviously important to parents and the Peace Corp.
Second as a regional center it houses resources unavailable to PCVs at their sites. This includes a computer with access to the internet, a short wave radio base station, seed bank, medical supplies, and library.
Third, it provides a means by which parents can communicate with their PCV children. Our daughter visits the regional center every 4-6 weeks. As a result, we can receive e-mail from her and when the phones work speak to her. Given the poor quality of communications, it is difficult to plan these calls. By having the house as a center, she can continue to work while waiting to receive a call. On our end, we can keep trying as we have over the course of a day, to keep calling her with some hope of success.
As a center and gathering point, the regional houses provide a secure spot for PCVs to meet and compare notes. This peer learning is a critical part of PCV experience. Our understanding it that in other countries that have closed regional houses, the early termination rates skyrocket because this critical support system for volunteers in the field is removed.
During our visit to the regional house over Christmas week we saw PCVs using these resources constantly. Every morning we saw PCVs up early working on the computer and sharing thoughts with one another and problem solving. Calls from parents came late at night and early in the morning. This environment can not replicated outside the structure of a regional house. The seamless blend between work and non-work activities that the regional house provides can not be replaced with a combination office and use of hotels to house PCVs
As we wrote earlier, the current country director plans to close the regional houses in response to an old Inspector General report that charged abuses of drugs and prostitution. This is a mistake. First, we saw no signs of drugs and prostitution while we were in Guinea. Second, the specific class of PCVs of which the IG complained have cycled through Guinea and their behavior shouldn�t destroy an important institution for this and future classes of PCVs. Third, it seems that drug abuse and prostitution in a Peace Corp house is a management issue that falls at the feet of the area directors and the house managers. Fourth, with the growth of the number of PCVs in Guinea, the internal infrastructure that the regional houses provide is necessary to support PCVs. There will be a loss of productivity, cross-fertilization and security as a result of closing the regional houses.
We have written directly to the Peace Corp and have received thank you but don�t worry we know what we are doing response. It is insufficient and unsatisfactory. We enclose their response to us as well as the insightful observations of other returned volunteers and parents.
We would urge you to contact the Peace Corp and ask that they put this decision on hold. Further, we would like you to propose an amendment to the Peace Corp authorization bill that regional houses be continued in Guinea.
We look forward to discussing this with you and your staff further. We have great photos and some film footage which bring alive the wonderful work our PCV are doing in Guinea. Everywhere we went, Guineans expressed their gratitude and appreciation for PCVs. We should support the volunteers in a like manner by maintaining the regional houses that provide key resource and emotional support.
Sincerely,
George Kohl Maureen Feely-Kohl
7000 Westmoreland Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-270-4018
Dear Senator Specter:
Several weeks ago you received a letter from Judith Viner regarding the
proposed closing of Peace Corps Volunteer Regional Houses in Guinea (I
have
enclosed her letter for reference). I am writing to reinforce the
request
in her letter, and to add a couple of additional comments to Mrs.
Viner's
thoughtful letter.Our daughter, Lia, served in the Peace Corps in Guinea from 1997-99,
and I
visited her there during her second year. I spent a couple of nights
in
two different Regional Houses during that trip, and my personal
observation
was that these serve a number of critical needs for the volunteers, and
for
the job that they are being asked to do.In addition to the issues discussed by Mrs. Viner (safety of the
volunteers, place to address health issues, communication with home,
support for and between the volunteers, etc), I also observed the
Houses
being used as a place for coordination of Peace Corps activities. When
I
was there, the volunteers from many different sites were meeting to
plan
and coordinate a regional Girl's Conference, where some fifty girls
were
going to be brought together for several days to discuss education,
health
issues, job and development opportunities, etc. I subsequently heard
that
this conference was very successful, and it has continued in subsequent
years.Given the many critical functions served by the Regional Houses, and
the
apparent inadequacy of the substitutes being proposed by the Guinea
country
director, I strongly urge you to do whatever you can do to encourage
Peace
Corps to maintain, and strengthen, if needed, the Regional House system
in
Guinea.Respectfully,
Richard Ernst
February 18, 2003
>
> [recipient address was inserted here]
>
> Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
>
> Dear Representative Cantor,
>
> I am writing to you about a situation where I need
> the help of our
> representative government. Our daughter, Dana
> Wiggins, is a Peace Corps
> Volunteer in Guinea Wes Africa. She loves her
> village and the work she is
> ding there to help the people of Guinea. Until now
> she has felt safe
> having a Regional House near by where she can be
> with other volunteers in
> a guarded facility that offers some comforts of home
> in the is faraway
> place.
>
> Unfortunately, the Peace Corps. has decided to close
> these safe havens in
> lieu of having the volunteers stay in hotels in the
> city. this puts the
> volunteers at risk and if there were a political
> problem, they would not
> be guarded or have the security that would be
> needed.
>
> In this unsettled time, where sentiment against the
> U.S. is so high on
> that continent, I cannot imagine a Federal Program,
> that puts our young in
> direct-contact situations with native people,
> putting them at further risk
> by elimnating their one safe place away from their
> village.
>
> Please help me with this matter. As a parent of one
> young person so far
> away from home, I'm terrified of the prospect of
> their losing this safe
> place where they can be together and protected, if
> need be.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Elizabeth Ann Walker
Dear Gaddi Vasquez, I am writing on behalf of my daughter, who is currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea, West Africa. She believes in action, in sharing all the good that our wonderful country stands for. Therefore, she is sharing her skills, her enthusiasm, her good old American know how with the people in a remote African village in Dalein. She is 30k from the nearest other PCV and 40k from the nearest town with any electricity, phone service, or basic supplies. I am writing with the hope that you will not allow the Peace Corps to let her down while she sacrifices so much to accomplish what she believes in.
We were recently made aware that Henry McKoy, the Africa Region Director, is planning to close all the regional PC houses for after business use. These regional houses are the only locations for remote village PCVs to congregate, spend the night in safety, and make contact with their parents and loved ones. It is also the only place for them to get together, research ideas, recharge themselves, and just share speaking English with other Americans. It takes my daughter about 4 hours by bike to get to her closest regional house in Labe. It would take her an additional 8-12 hours by bush-taxi to get to the capital in Conakry. If they close the regional PC house in Labe, it means she will no longer be able to sleep safely at the house and return the following day to her village. Labe hotels have no locking doors and are marginally safe. Heaven forbid if she needs medical attention and the Labe office is closed. It frightens me just to think about it. Also I know this is a small thing, but these regional houses are about the only place we parents can contact our children. It sometimes takes 50 tries and hours and hours of dialing to get a line free into Guinea. It is usually the middle of the night before we get through and can hear the voice of our loved one. If they close these PC houses in the evenings, the volunteers will lose their ability to talk to family and friends back home. I am afraid this will mean a terrible loss in morale for volunteers and an increase in the dropout rate. Let me tell you, we only get to speak to our daughter about once a month, but it is worth the world to us and to her.
I urge you to look into this situation and see if there is something that can be done to keep these regional houses open as oases for our most enthusiastic ambassadors worldwide. Help keep these American volunteers safe and sane. We must not hamper their efforts, but try instead to support them as much as we can. These PCVs need all the help they can get in order to succeed under these very difficult circumstances. We need to show the people of the world now, more than ever, just the kind of spirit that America stands for. Please, do what you can to help some of our brightest and boldest Americans create a better future for us all.
Yours sincerely,
Kathleen and Channing Reuschenberg
Relevant Points in PC House Closure
MEMORANDUM To: George Kohl and Maureen Feely-Kohl
Denise Kelly
Cindy and Ivon DIOUFFrom: Henry McKoy
Africa Region DirectorCC: Lisa Ellis, Country Director, Guinea
Date: February 11, 2003
Subject: Regional Houses in Guinea
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the closure of the Regional houses in Guinea. I would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns.Peace Corps/Washington and Peace Corps/Guinea together have been studying this issue for a long while, and in recognition of the importance of Regional gathering places, the Country Director has had very productive discussions about the rationale for reconfiguring the houses with the Volunteer Action Committee, Volunteers during in-service training, and new trainees. Consequently, working together, Peace Corps has developed a working plan that meets our needs without sacrificing the Volunteer experience or safety.
Peace Corps/Guinea is not closing the Regional houses, but is reconfiguring two of them into Regional facilities, and moving them to new locations. Regional houses currently have an Information Resource Center, a sick room, a kitchen, living room, bedrooms that sleep 15-20 Volunteers, phone and radio communications, 24-hour guard service, and a vehicle and driver. The Peace Corps Volunteer Leader also lives at the house.The new Regional facilities will retain everything that is currently found in the Regional houses except the dormitory facilities. The Country Director has researched safe lodging options in hotels and hostels in the Regional capitals and has determined that these accommodations are better suited for our needs. They are by nature better equipped to lodge large numbers of people, and supply them with the necessary facilities. They are safe locations, and close to the business centers that Volunteers use. The third house is not being reconfigured at this time specifically because appropriate public lodging facilities have not yet been identified. Volunteers currently receive a transportation allowance to visit their Regional capitals once a month for business purposes and will receive a lodging allowance as well to cover the cost of staying in a hotel or hostel.
It has been Peace Corps' experience that the Volunteer's site is the safest location in the
Host country. Volunteers become members of the community through their work, their
ability to speak the local language and their association with friends in the community.
Volunteers who leave their sites on a regular basis run the risk of not establishing these
vital relationships and of experiencing a disconnect from their community members. In terms of security concerns related to civil unrest, political instability and crime, experience has shown that Volunteers are much safer away from the Regional capitals and at their sites.However, Peace Corps fully realizes the importance of Volunteers leaving their sites for business and personal reasons, and in sharing their experiences with their fellow Volunteers. Peace Corps/Guinea has a policy in place that allows Volunteers two nights per month away from their sites without taking vacation time so that they may take some time to visit their neighboring Volunteers. The change in the structure of the Regional houses will not affect that.
Safety and security of the Volunteers remains Peace Corps' highest priority as does providing an environment in which Volunteers can accomplish the goals of their mission. We strongly believe that the new arrangement is safer for the Volunteers and that Volunteers will be better served in terms of their own work and personal security.
Again, thank you for your letter.
Notes:
IG Report - from Shad Engkilterra
The IG report is something filed by the Inspector
General. I have only been able to find references to
the report and not the report itself.From what I can gather - and again this is all hearsay
- there were reports of prostitution and drug use in
Guinea. The IG flew out, investigated and the two
men, who were accused, were seperated from PC Guinea.I was in Guinea until September 2000, and I am not
sure who the two people could have been - not that it
should matter.Anyway, I don't have any confirmation on that report,
and the IG web site doesn't have anything posted that
sounds like what we are looking for.
Guinea List eMail Dialog
2/05/2003
"We recently returned from a visit to Guinea where we learned that the new Peace Corp Country Director, Lisa Ellis plans to close the regional Peace Corp Houses. We think this is a big mistake as the regional houses provide a supportive and secure infrastructure that can not be replaced by an office and housing PCVs in hotels.
"We've attached our letter to the Peace Corp below and will begin writing our Senator's and Congressman urging them to intervene. We would urge you to do the same to express your concerns. There is an attachment letter at the end of this letter.
"The email addresses are:
[email protected] Lisa Ellis, Guinea Country Director
[email protected] Kevin Novotny, Peace Corps US West Africa or Guinea.
[email protected] Henry McKoy, Kevin's supervisor.
[email protected] Josephine Olsen, Deputy director"Please send us a copy of what you send and if you have any other ideas please let us know."
George Kohl [email protected]
Maureen Feely-Kohl [email protected]*********************************************
2/05/2003
"Thanks, Maureen, for alerting us to this situation! I also feel strongly that the houses shouldn't be closed -- for reasons of PCV well-being, security, happiness, etc. I was a volunteer in the Basse Cote region before we had a regional house in that area, and I felt like our region was much less cohesive than other regions. I was really jealous when I visited other houses and saw that those PCVs had the time and leisure to get to know each other and discuss their jobs and other woes, and even work together.
"I wonder -- is emailing all of these people the best way to get the message across? Might it be seen as antagonistic? Did you, Maureen, speak personally with Ms. Ellis about her decision and did she seem inflexible? What are the PCV's in-country saying about this, are they staging a coup?
"Whatever we can do stateside, I think, we should do! I'm just leery of turning away these people who have helped us, or have the potential to help up. For instance, Kevin Novotny (in charge of the Guinea Desk at PC Washington) currently helps FOG and FOG parents by sending out info on FOG to prospective PCVs and their parents. Lisa Ellis (Country Director of Guinea) may help us by distributing FOG's newsletter to PCVs.
"Of course, any action on the part of RPCVs and parents isn't officially linked to FOG, but it's all connected... I think they'll see it that way.
"I'm just wondering what might be the most effective, most diplomatic way to protest? And what kind of opposition are we up against? How much has this decision been thought through?"
Stephanie Chasteen
Friends of Guinea Web and Listserv Admin********************************************* TOP
2/06/2003
"Wow, Stephanie, that was a rational and reasonable email. When I compare it to my knee-jerk reaction, I am in awe at your sensitivity and tact.
"So, let me say that I agree with Stephanie. I have stayed at hotels in Guinea and most of them did not even rate a star. I mean, the Camayenne was great, but who could afford that.
"Anyway, please let me know if you would like me to draft a letter explaining in detail how the houses helped along the lines of the peer support network, along the lines of removing the mental pressure that comes with being psychologically guarded 24 hours a day, or anything else.
"I feel very strongly about keeping the houses open; just let us know the best way to approach the situation. (And to think I would have stormed the castle willy-nilly.)"
Peace
Shad Engkilterra,
Banko 98-00*********************************************
2/06/2003
"A few people have written to me asking how we might address the possible closure of the houses in a more diplomatic way, as I had suggested. I don't have any ideas at the moment, but I do know that PC Washington is working on some sort of explanation of what is going on, in response to our concern. I suggest we wait for a few days to see what comes of that, so that we can have all the information before we decide what we would like to do.
"I also feel very strongly about the closure of the houses. But let's not escalate a battle unless we need to!"
Steph
********************************************* TOP
2/06/2003
"I spoke with my first year PCV daughter by phone on Sunday regarding the possible regional house closure. She was told at a PCV meeting last week that Lisa planned to close the Kankan and Labe houses but leave the Boca house open. A new kind of facility/house would be available in several locations. Each would include a living room, library, office with phone and computer, a "sick" room, and perhaps, a kitchen but no bedrooms. Houses would be close to PC approved hotels where PCVs could stay in small groups. It wasn't clear to the PCVs at this meeting as to why the existing houses were being closed.
"The PCVs living in Guinea now are organizing to gather more information and to approach Lisa with reasons why the Regional houses should remain open, many of which are reflected in the emails posted on the Guinea List the last two days. A group of PCVs will be circulating a questionnaire, with Lisa's approval, to elicit input from all PCVs currently posted in Guinea.
"I agree with Stephanie Chasteen that, although we're understandably concerned with this abrupt news, we, as supporters of the PCVs currently in Guinea, may wish to support their efforts to resolve the issue internally."
Marilyn Pearson
Guinea List Admin
Guinea Parent Support Coordinator*********************************************
2/07/2003
Steph and others,
"I did send a letter to Rep Jim Leach and Senator Chuck Grassley about the closing of the houses. I definitely think they should stay open. However, I would like more information on a line from Maureen's letter:
> I understand that you are acting in response to
> recommendations of a
> three year old inspector general's report that
> complained about drugs
> and prostitution in some regional houses. Five
> observations on this report."Can anyone explain this? While I spent minimal time at the Labe house, and only visited the NZerekore house once and don't recall seeing drugs at either location nor can I think of how prostitution was being conducted. And what does this mean:
"Second, that
> specific class of PCVs of which the IG complained
> have cycled through Guinea"What specific class of PCVs have cycled through? What exactly were they accused of and when? I may have missed part of this debate and am just wondering if anyone out there knows/ would care to share more."
Thanks,
Cindy Diouf
Kankalabe 96-98********************************************* TOP
2/08/2003
Subject: PCVs Ask: Keep Regional Houses Open
"When we were in Dhukie at Christmas (a beautiful hiking area for those who don't know it) Peace Corp volunteers from across the country urged us to write to Peace Corp to preserve the regional houses. When we returned, we first wrote a letter to the country Director Lisa Ellis. We didn't receive any response...even an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter or an indication that the issues we had raised would be reviewed. (In fact we still have heard nothing.) Days later, we sent our letter out to Guinea list serve and to the list of parent e-mails we have accumulated. Since we think of ourselves as part of the Peace Corp family, we thought that we were keeping the issue internal to Peace Corp as of this time. We haven't gone to friends in the media, Congress and key committees seeking for them to raise the issue. However, unless Peace Corp indicates they are rethinking the decision to close regional houses, I don't see that we will any other recourse but to raise it outside the Peace Corp family. If Peace Corp intends to canvass PCVs and intends to follow their lead in assessing the value of the regional houses, that would be a fine solution. However, we've heard nothing from Peace Corp as to their plans."
Yours,
Maureen and George Kohl*********************************************
2/10/2003
Hello all,
"I have still heard nothing from PC Washington on the closure of the PC Regional Houses. Since I'm about to leave town for a week, I wanted to send a quick clarifier on my previous messages.
"When I suggested we 'wait and see' what PC Washington's response is to the Kohl's letter, that is just my personal opinion. THat's not the opinion of FOG, and is certainly not shared by everyone on this list. Everyone has to do what they deem to be fit and right.
"In the meantime, if anybody hears anything more, please do let us know!"
Steph
********************************************* TOP
2/11/2003
"After having read the allegations for closing down the regional houses, this left me with much disappointment and concern. As a RPCV it would be difficult to take a stand anywhere without more detail. Accusations of drug use and prostituition are not to be taken lightly, especially, given the fact that volunteers are guests in a country that struggles with gender equality and a poor economy. I know that many volunteers use the regional houses to escape their villages and the reality of being a volunteer which, I am sure, also raises questions about maintaing the houses. At the same time travelling from one's village to Conakry, particularly, when sick, can be unimaginable. I do hope for an agreeable solution for all those concerned, specifically, for those who are complying with the Peace Corps pledge that they took before becoming Peace Corps volunteers."
Tineka Archer
*********************************************
2/11/2003
"Thank you for your correspondence and interest in the Regional houses in Guinea. Attached please find Peace Corps' response to your inquiries regarding the situation in Guinea."
Lisa Ellis
Country Director, Guinea<<Guinea house letter-final.doc>> LETTER FROM HENRY McKOY
********************************************* TOP
2/11/2003
Dear Ms. Ellis:
My wife and I are quite concerned that you are planning to close the regional
houses in Guinea. We think the regional houses play a critical role in
facilitating the mission of the Peace Corp and providing a safe
environment for Peace Corp Volunteers.Our daughter Jeanette's travel time is 3hrs from Labe and Labe is eight
hours travel time to the capital, Conakry. She has no communications
in her village, or access to external resources, nor any safe haven
within a day's trip of her site.As a center and gathering point, the regional house provides a secure spot for PCVs to
meet and compare notes. This peer learning is a critical part of PCV
experience. Our understanding it that in other countries that have
closed regional houses, the early termination rates skyrocket because
this critical support system for volunteers in the field is removed.Importantly to us, the regional house provides a safe place where
parents can communicate directly with their PCV children. The ability
to communicate every 4-6 weeks back home will clearly be restricted as the
house provides an environment in which one can work as well as wait for
a returned phone call. It can take us parents up to eight hours to get
through to the House (if we are lucky and phones are even working) and
while we were there many parents calls came through either late at night
or early morning when an office would be closed. As a result the
ability for a PCV to work while waiting to receive calls is important to
Peace Corp as well as Parents. Without a regional house, this will be
eliminated along with the emotional security that comes from knowing its
possible.The regional house provides resources that the PCVs in the field don't
have. We understand that the regional house provides PCVs access to
the computer with internet access and sharing thoughts with one another
and problem solving. This environment can not replicated outside the
structure of a regional house.In the new age of addressing security concerns, it is reassuring for
parents to know that there is a secure gathering place within a day's
trip of site. Given the complexities of everyday life in Guinea, we have no
confidence that a similar situation can be replicated at a hostel or
hotel. The ability to arrive and be admitted is very valuable and
creates a significant peace of mind for any parent. Particularly in this time
of heighten concern for security, exposing field Peace Corp volunteers
to unprotected, insecure (in any sense of word) housing in various regional
city hotels in unacceptable. Our understanding is that this is one of the reasons that
the Conakry residence/office was just moved to a new location.Finally, the current political situation in Guinea, that of an impending
regime change seems to mandate maintaining regional houses and
providing a secure point to gather field volunteers in the event of a
social eruption, even a small one.We understand that you are acting in response to recommendations of a
three year old inspector general's report that complained about drugs
and prostitution in some regional houses. It seems to us that this is a
management issue that falls at the feet of the area directors and the
house managers. With the growth of the number of PCVs in Guinea,
the need to deploy management into an effective regional infrastructure
would seem to be required. We believe that we have entered a different era in
terms of security the merits maintaining the security that a gated
office/residence complex can provide.We understand that you plan to close the three regional houses by this
spring. We urge you to reconsider your decision. As we will be sharing
our concerns with others, please keep us informed of your scheduled
actions.Sincerely,
Tom & Chris Montour
Tom Montour RPCV-Uganda-1972
Jeanette PCV - Guinea Oct'02
Springboro OHPS. Find attached the memo that was sent to: Gaddi Vasquez, Peace Corps Director, US Representative from Ohio - Mchael R. Turner, US Senators from Ohio -Michael R. DeWine and George Voinovich.
*********************************************
2/12/2003
"Having briefly scanned the July 2002 GAO Report on volunteer safety I'm not sure whether de-centralizing PCVs may be a response to security concerns or not. While I agree that opportunities to network and be reassured are valuable, I'm thinking regional houses could also become targets?"
AZGriffen
Note: GAO report text is: "Many Peace Corps staff told us that it is sometimes
difficult for them to stay abreast of volunteers'
whereabouts when volunteers are away from their site.
Some staff also said that volunteers face safety risks
when they are away from their sites because the
volunteers are outside of their supportive network and
because public transportation may be unsafe."
pg 18
********************************************* TOP
2/13/2003
Dear Friends of Guinea,
I have great interest in the conversation that surrounds the closing of the regional houses in Guinea. My daughter is located in the region served by the Kankan house and will be directly impacted by this action. The decision to close that house, as far as I can judge, has been one-sided and has not included the opinion of the volunteers. I have not heard of any PCV who is in support of this change. In the letter from Henry McKoy, Africa Region Director, that was posted on February 11, he failed to offer a convincing argument for their decision. In fact, he offered no argument at all but rather made statements that reflect a foregone conclusion. The 'reconfiguration' does not appear to provide the necessary 'gathering place' for volunteers because, if I am correct, the 'office' would be open only during business hours and would then turn the volunteers out to fend for themselves in the evening and the nights. This shifts the responsibility for the safety of the volunteers away from the local PC administration and places it onto the individual volunteer. (Or will the 24-hour guard service follow the volunteers to the 'safe lodging options in hotels and hostels in the regional capital'?) I would certainly like to know how these accommodations are better suited for 'our' needs. I fear that this new system will alienate the volunteers in the field from the administrators in capital. There is little enough oversight and support from the administration as it is. I am not at all convinced that the safety and security is the highest priority of the Peace Corps in this case. If I am incorrect, I would like someone to give me a clear explanation of how this new 'reconfiguration' provides greater security to the volunteers. The decision to close the regional houses does not in any way aid the volunteers in the accomplishment of their mission. As far as I can see, it may well weaken the PCV community and in the end have a negative impact on the Mission of the Peace Corps.
"I can not say whether or not the volunteers spend too much time in the regional houses. I know that they do travel through on the way to meetings and workshops. I can attest to the fact that my daughter gets to the regional house once every one to two months. I am aware that she stayed one time for almost a week but at that time she was quite ill. Since she was at that time posted to a village that was 22K on her bike from the bush taxi and the radio to PC headquarters, it was sensible to remain at the house. She was totally assimilated into her community. She was placed in her village in January and not visited by the PC administration until July. She has learned the local language (on her own, I might add) and was making great strides with her projects until an executive decision was made to move her to another village -- this occurred six months after the incident (a break-in which had been properly written-up and submitted to the regional representative at the time that it occurred by my daughter but not followed up by PC administration. In fact, Ms Ellis was made aware of the incident by my daughter. At this point (6 months later), Ms Ellis made the decision to move her. My daughter was told that she either move to another village or go home to America. The village and my daughter were both devastated by this action. In the end after the move, MsEllis wrote to the village and explained that Julie had requested her "intervention". This placed the blame on the volunteer and not the PC. Not so!!! This action on the part of Ms Ellis bred confused and angry feelings in both the villagers and my daughter. I question the validity of such tactics. I am relating all of this because I think that it bears on the subject of the closing of the houses and the lack of wisdom that is being demonstrated by the country director.
"The rationale that the houses breed drug dealing and prostitution doesn't hold water. I ask what is it within the PC community that might foster such activity? Wouldn't such activity be more likely in a hotel where there is not PC supervision? The Peace Corps needs to have a more positive presence in the regional houses, not an absence. Mr McKoy tells us in his letter that the regional houses have both a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader living at the house and a 24-hour guard service. Tell me how, with proper management oversight, drug dealing and prostitution could occur? All of this sounds like a smoke screen for budget cuts with no concern for the volunteers.
"I was impressed by the fundraising for the Girls' Conference by the Friends of Guinea. If the houses are being closed due to the lack of funds, maybe the FOG can help here as well.
"Finally, as a parent, I have the need to have contact with my daughter and not just via email. I need to hear her voice once every month or two. This will be almost impossible if the phone is in a closed office during those hours that are available for American parents to place a call."
Judith Viner, mother of Julie Viner 01-03
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2/14/2003
Dear Friends of Guinea,
"I have received a number of responses to my letter that was posted to the Guinea list yesterday. One was from an ex-Country Director of Guinea (also - two times a PCV, two times a ACPD and two times a Country Director) who STRONGLY supports keeping the houses OPEN. He recommends that, if we want to make an impact, we need to write to our federal Senators and Congressmen. I am doing it today.
"I hope everyone will take the time to do likewise.
"I did not receive even one negative reponse to my letter."
Judith Viner
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2/14/2003
Hi all,
"I'm disappointed in the caliber of the response that we've gotten from PC so far, and I'm wondering if there is anything that we can do collectively to protest the closure of the houses?
"Many people have mentioned writing to our congresspeople. Is Congress the appropriate venue for our protest? Can someone send us a sample letter that we can send to our congresspeople, if that is the appropriate venue, as well as a link to find our congresspeople's addresses?
"Is there anything else as a group that we can do other than writing letters to key people in congress and PC?
"Is this an issue, do you all think, that FOG as an organization should do something about (if the members vote accordingly), and if so, what?"
Stephanie
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2/15/2003
"To my knowledge, no one has contacted the PC Director, Gaddi Vazquez or Deputy Director, Jody Olsen. I would suggest folks do this as well as contact their congresspeople. Any PC employee can be reached by email -- first letter of first name, last [email protected].
"I, like, others am outraged by this decision."
Lynn Kneedler
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2/15/2003
Hi,
"I am Donna Rose, my son Jeff, has been in service since Oct. 2001. I'm very up set about this subject. I HAVE sent e-mail to the PC Director and the Deputy director. I've also sent a letter to my state Rep. in DC. I am from North Carolina. I think that ALL the parents should send e-mail to see if there is any way we can help stop the closing of the regional houses. I know for us the only way to 'talk to Jeff' is when he is in Kankan. It is hard to get a phone line at times. But it is so worth the trying when you do get to hear the voice. Please, take time to write. Perhaps, if they see how 'up-set' this makes everyone, they will do something different. At this point, I'm ready to tell my son to come home, they don't care what happens to you over there.
"I'm not a 'political person,' but this is my child, and I'm not happy about what I've read from the Peace Corps about this action. So I feel we must do something to help the PCV's that are there."
Donna M. Rose
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2/16/2003
"We just returned from a wonderful concert here in Memphis, "Les Percussions de Guinee". Met with several of the members of the company afterwards. Joshua (RPCV, Kerouane 00-02) really enjoyed remembering his French and Malinke. We wore our Guinean outfits (boubous and mud cloth). They enjoyed having the 'white africans' in the audience :-).
"I have been following the discussions on the regional houses. The best way to contact PC people is through letters, then phone calls. emails are convenient, but not near as effective. The general standard for contacting people in Washington dictates that an email is worth about 50 votes, a phone call is worth about 150 votes, but a letter is worth about 350 votes. So a letter is at least 7 times more likely to get someone's attention. I have included the names of the current PC Director and the deputy and the address of the Peace Corps. Write them! Having visited my son in Guinea and seen the benefits of the regional houses, I can't imagine what it would be like to not have them. I agree that the number of ETs would certainly increase without the calm and community that these provide to the volunteers."
Jerry Bowman
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2/16/2003
Hi from Seattle
"I'm the mother of Jessie Israel, a return PCV from Guinea and know how critical those regional houses were to my daughter and to all of us who love her. I also have had the experience of staying at the Guinea-Conakry house as I have a project in Sierra Leone. I saw first-hand the role of the houses for volunteers.
"Jessie is in a lobbying action for our state reps on this issue, but it occurs to me that we need public media attention on this--or nothing will happen. Does anyone know politicos or other public figures--or have good national news connections-- to bring this subject public
"Also, I might add, if local hotel rooms are standard fare for PCVs in other countries, I think that this issue could also be addressed and maybe co-leveraged at some later point. Not good."
Linda Hawkin Israel
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2/16/2003
"Thanks, Linda. It's a good idea. I don't know anyone personally, but together we may be able to come up with someone who can get our voices heard."
Thanks,
Betty Walker
Parent of Dana Wiggins PCV in Sanmou*********************************************
2/16/2003
Re: Closure of regional houses
"You might also consider writing "letters to the editor" in your local papers or even a guest editorial. Letters and editorials usually grab the attention of organizations and politicians."
Best of luck,
Nancy Groves
Silver Spring, Maryland
[email protected]********************************************* TOP
2/16/2003
"Thanks, Betty. I have a further thought for this morning's discussion--and maybe a 'hook' to make this subject immediately relevant to both Peace Corp admin and our reps in Congress.
"Peace Corp volunteers represent the United States--really as young diplomats --in challenging situations--physically, emotionally, politically. This is a brave and usually life-altering experience and puts them at risk in a variety of ways. As parents we have often coped with our own losses over the years, are a step removed from their day-to-day realities-- so have time and perspective to consider their vulnerability, even as we reach down and pull up the courage to support them.
"Now there is an impending war in Iraq. My hunch is that there will be anger in West Africa regarding this action--no matter what our individual positions are on the subject.
"My own experience in Africa is that people are torn in their opinions about the US--a bully or a friend, who knows? In any case, as world headlines feature US about to attack Iraq and millions of marchers in the streets of Rome, London, Seattle and cities in between...PCVs (who are the face of America) are at increased risk, especially in the urban areas and 'after hours.' Late-night milling in small local hotels, going out for snacks when especially young people are on the streets (and generally in the midst of their own poverty and despair)--this is a recipe for problems that could also be headlines.
"One such incident would devastate us as parents and friends. It would also put Peace Corp in an international light of being politically short-sighted and cheap.
"That's my take on the matter; I think the essence of this should be included in our communications."
Linda Hawkin Israel, Seattle
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2/17/2003
"Who all on this list is in the region of Rep. Sam Farr? He is an RPCV who has been active in promoting Peace Corps. I'm in his district, and if anyone else is perhaps we can collaborate on a letter/phone call/meeting?"
Steph
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2/20/2003
Hi all,
"I usually try to not wear two hats at the same time (FOG member and advocacy director) but they do intersect from time to time.
"Personally, I agree with Steph Chasteen that the quality of the explanation of the closure of the regional houses leaves a lot to be desired. As Nate Whiteside, I believe, pointed out, PC's explanation said the new setup would better meet the needs of both PCVs and the administration but did not say what those needs were and how the regional house setup was lacking in that regard. It seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist... at least based on what we're being told.
"As a member, I would support FOG taking a formal organizational position against the closure and lobbying to change the policy.
"As advocacy director, I will contact the NPCA to see about the best way to proceed for individual members, modalities of who/how to contact and so on. I will pass along any findings as soon as I get them."
Best wishes,
Brian Farenell,
Friends of Guinea [FOG]
Advocacy Director - Directeur du Lobbying********************************************* TOP
2/21/2003
Hello to all the concerned family and friends of Guinea PCVs:
"In today's messages someone asked for a sample letter so that they might write to their own politicians. I am including my letter to Senator Arlen Specter from PA. You are welcome to use it as a skeleton for your own. I think that the suggestion to write to the Director of the Peace Corps would have an impact if everyone wrote or if one letter including all names was sent to him. My letter to my Senator is going to his attention by way of a close friend who is very close to the Senator. While this might get him to read the letter, he will have no real appreciation of the scope of the issue unless there is a tide produced by many others as well. Can we do something in an organized fashion? I misread Steph -- I thought that she was against using the Guinea List for this purpose but, if I am correct in interpreting today's message, she is encouraging us to do something collectively. Who has access to the names and email addresses of all of the current volunteers? I know that my daughter has the strength and resourcefulness to successfully complete her mission with the PC no matter what but I, as her mother, am extremely disappointed by the lack of concern shown for her well-being in all senses. I want the PC to protect all of the volunteers in their charge."
My letter to Senator Specter follows:Judith Viner
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2/22/2003
Hi all �
"As I read about closures of the regional houses and a letter writing campaign, I think there are at least two VERY important topics that should be addressed in each letter:
"The reason volunteers are allowed visits to the regional capital is to conduct banking. While the salaries are not huge, volunteers should NEVER be asked to stay in a hotel while having large sums of money on them. Furthermore, many volunteers keep trunks at the regional houses where they can lock up belongings (in addition to the fact that there's a guard at the gate!) and by forcing volunteers to stay in hotels, Peace Corps is jeopardizing the safety of volunteers and their belongings. To think that any article of clothing, money, etc. is safe in a hotel where volunteers are known to stay is unrealistic. There are problems of theft in regional houses as is... I cannot imagine what will happen in a hotel where anyone will have access to volunteer rooms.
"Regional houses are used 24 hrs. a day for phone calls to family in the US. Granted, we did not have internet service when I was a volunteer, but it still is very important to volunteer mental heath to be able to hear family in the US once a month!"
Thanks �
Tara McBrien (Gongore 98-00)********************************************* TOP
2/22/2003
"Momviner. Your letter on keeping the regional houses open was the greatest. Ours is gone too...a little more prosaic but out the door. It is posted below. We sent similar letters to our 2 Senators & should be able to get some friends to follow up so that they pay a little attention."
George & Maureen Kohl
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2/22/2003
"I really appreciated the letter below, and garnered a few extra ideas for my own.
"However, as Cynthia also mentioned in an email a few weeks ago, I find the reference to generalized drug use and prostitution highly questionable. As suggested in Judith Viner's letter, it sounds as thought the incident involved two male volunteers only. If this is true, we certainly should not make the mistake of considering other volunteers of that time guilty by association.
"I was a part of the group that has 'cycled through,' and never saw nor heard of such activity in the houses. Though I was in an area that did not have a regional house at the time (we lobbied hard so that subsequent generations would have one, I assure you), the nature of the Peace Corps grapevine is such that I doubt I could have finished my service without knowing such activity took place if indeed it had. While within every Peace Corps group in the world one can expect to see at least a little bit of 'deviant' behavior, it's impossible for that behavior to become as widespread as is suggested by some references of the IG report on this list serve, without it also becoming common knowledge.
"If indeed the current PC Guinea administration is basing part of its decision regarding the regional houses on that report, I believe this is yet another area of weakness in their argument. I personally would like to see the report, and understand in detail how the information was gathered and when. It disturbs me that those of us who are essentially being accused of this activity have never had a chance to respond, and troubles me moreso knowing it is being used to advance the argument for poor policy making within Peace Corps Guinea.
"I hope that others who join in the effort to write letters to their congresspeople and to Peace Corps Administration will take this into consideration."
Vickery Prongay (Tormelin, '97-'99)
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2/24/2003
I do not have the copy of the letter I sent, but also mailed one off last week to the Director and Deputy Director of the PC urging them to rethink the risk they are putting the very volunteers whom they have recruited. Thank you for the correspondence, the names and information.
Andrea Travers
(mother of Jillian Nichols, PCV)*********************************************
2/25/2003
In the discussion on the closing of regional houses in Guinea I thought a letter from a PCV in Guinea would be useful. I have been reading the letters and asked my son Josh Forquer what the real implications were for the current PCV's. It appears from Josh's comments that the concern is real.
regards,
Paul Forquer> I get a lot of emails about closing the PCV regional
> houses in Guinea. Is it a
> big problem/ Some people sound very upset about it.
> How does it affect you?
>
Hi Dad,
About the regional houses a lot of people are upset. Some people live 6-8 hrs from regional capitals and have transport to their site once a week, and they, meaning policy makers in DC and Conakry, think it is a good thing if we have to stay in hotels. They claim to always have our safety and security in mind, but when you face a minimum 8 hour trip from Conakry, which
means you are nearly always going to arrive after dark, your saftey is more comprised looking for a hotel where you don't know anybody, than going straight to the regional houses, where it is safe and secure. It is just one of those policies based on a complete lack of information, but which the policy makers feel they have all the facts. Which given the current administration in DC seems par for the course.
Well that is all for now Tell everyone I love them
Ciao
Josh********************************************* TOP
2/25/2003
It sounds as if PCVs in country are upset as well. If PCVs in-country would like to draft a letter to PC Administration, FOG would be happy to distribute it to those concerned. We are currently drafting an official response of our own to the house closure.
If any parents would like to work with their PCVs to coordinate the transfer of a letter on their behalf, please contact me.
Please someone post this to the parents listserv.
Stephanie*********************************************
2/26/2003
Hi all,
I haven't gotten much/any feedback on two of my ideas:
1. making up a webpage with the relevant arguments against the house closure
2. sending all the letters to Peace Corps/etc together wtih teh FOG official response
If people would like me to act in this capacity (organizing info, compiling and sending letters) I
will need both feedback and help.
I had asked if someone had kept copies of the relevant emails on the PC house closure and would like to compile arguments, info, and sample letters from those emails in a form that I can post on the web. I got a few responses, but nothing definite.
If someone wanted to help with that, or if people think that it would be good for me to receive letters and send them in one large packet to Peace Corps, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll assume it ain't broke and won't fix it!
Take care,
***************************Hi all -
As I read about closures of the regional houses and a letter writing campaign, I think there are at least two VERY important topics that should be addressed in each letter:
1) The reason volunteers are allowed visits to the regional capital is to conduct banking. While the salaries are not huge, volunteers should NEVER be asked to stay in a hotel while having large sums of money on them. Furthermore, many volunteers keep trunks at the regional houses where they can lock up belongings (in addition to the fact that there's a guard at the gate!) and by forcing volunteers to stay in hotels, Peace Corps is jeopardizing the safety of volunteers and their belongings. To think that any article of clothing, money, etc. is safe in a hotel where volunteers are known to stay is unrealistic. There are problems of theft in regional houses as is... I cannot imagine what will happen in a hotel where anyone will have access to volunteer rooms.
2) Regional houses are used 24 hrs. a day for phone calls to family in the US. Granted, we did not have internet service when I was a volunteer, but it still is very important to volunteer mental heath to be able to hear family in the US once a month!
Thanks -
Tara McBrien (Gongore 98-00)
I'm an RPCV from Gabon ('99-'01) and am now a third/fourth year PCV acting as the NRM program tech assistant in Guinea. I lived for 4 1/2 months in a village north of Dinguiraye when I first got here, and now live in Labe. I guess I have mixed views on the house issue, but given what I've read, I did want to clarify a few points.
I personally think that the regional houses are a really good thing and that some important elements of PC life will be lost when they close. I also think, however, that people like them just because they are used to them, and I know that many PC countries don't have such facilities at all. I also agree with the assertion that there are many PC countries which deserve the "hardship post" title more than Guinea. (Mauritania comes to mind in West Africa, and most of Central Africa (where I served previously) lacks even Guinea's modest level of transportation and health infrastructure).
The elements which I think will be lost are largely to do with a sense of community and support amongst PCVs. You can't get together and cook and eat a meal at a hotel. A hotel is not our "own" space to feel comfortable and American in. A hotel is isolating, uninviting, and non conducive to either work or play (both of which are useful and necessary to PCV functioning). The house is great for mental health, is convenient, and is safe. Most PCVs don't abuse the houses in terms of spending too much time there (or in other ways), but some do. The same will be true of a new office facility.
That said, the proposed regional office will have everything that the current house has, except lots of bedrooms. Rest assured that the office will be open (at least for PCVs) 24 hours a day, because there will be a 24/7 guardian and because a PCV leader will be living there. All these concerned parents will still be able to call their sons and daughters there, night or day. You can be sure, in fact, that just because the office will not be the primary sleeping place, people will still cook there sometimes, gather there for meetings and to do work, store belongings and valuables there, and wait for phone calls there (possibly spending the night to do so). We will also hang out there sometimes (it will include a lounge), because we're good at it, and because PCVs hang out anywhere.
When I first got to Gabon (which has a slightly bigger land area than Guinea, but a significantly smaller road and health center infrastructure), we didn't have any regional houses, and it didn't seem to be a huge issue. We weren't clamoring for such a thing, and we made do just fine without them. Later, we got regional house/offices (largely due to PC's desire to facilitate admin activities in the inaccessible interior), and a few things which had been possible (but difficult) before, became easier. Many other things changed not at all, but simply had a new setting.
I also know that in many countries, PCVs get together and rent their own "regional" houses which seem to work reasonably well, (and which are outside of the oft criticized (by PCVs) admin jurisdiction). I think PCVs probably have a somewhat false sense of entitlement to the houses, and can sometimes be a bit too lazy/critical/busy-complaining-about-admin to positively organize another alternative on their own. I am fighting to keep the houses along with most other PCVs, but I guess I think that PCVs will really be fine whatever the outcome is. PCVs tend to make do with whatever is at hand, and have fun wherever they are. We are very adaptable.
Incidentally, I think the money/budgetary argument that someone made doesn't hold water because PC will actually be paying much more once this new arrangement takes effect. (They will still be renting and subsidizing a large regional facility complete with guardian and everything we currently have minus bunkbeds, and will then be paying every volunteer to stay in safe (i.e.. not the bottom of the line) hotels on top of that). As for safety and security, it is really hard to say, and is extremely site specific and circumstantial. I have never personally felt unsafe anywhere I have been in PC (not, however, that I am male), and though PCVs and PC admin sometimes don't see eye to eye, I would say that PC-admin actually tends to over-react to safety/security issues rather than the opposite. Compared to many (if not most) other development organizations' personnel, PCVs are far less likely to be targets (due to the nature of their living standards, understanding of the local culture/language, and close community ties), and are also kept much farther away from potential problem areas. (This is why even Crisis Corps Volunteers aren't allowed to go anywhere near an actual crisis...)
I would note that what has been said by PC about having consulted with PCVs regarding these issues has been somewhat confused. We have been told (at the first of the two VAC meetings we have had since the new CD arrived) why PC wants to close regional houses, and what the history of the issue is, but we have never really been offered a way for all PCVs in country to respond directly to the issue with input, suggestions, or feelings on the matter. At the time, we discussed primarily the Conakry house, were told that the regional house issue was pending, and were asked to write letters to give the CD a clearer understanding of the issue and posible "ammunition" to back up our cause with the folks in Washington. I don't think too many PCVs wrote letters though until now (when the decision seems already to have been made/finalized).
It would be incorrect to suggest that most PCVs were supportive of the decision to close the regional houses. Quite the contrary. A large part of the problem is that though some PCVs were present at the VAC meeting where these issues were discussed, no official explanation or summary of the regional house issue was ever distributed to all PCVs in country. This has led to lots of rumor, conjecture, and confusion about this issue, and can be faulted both to PC admin (who should have headed this cart off at the pass by sending out specific info to PCVs themselves), and to us, the PCVs, who could have included a more thorough summary of the meeting/discussions along with the normal VAC minutes which are written by PCVs present at the meeting and which are distributed to all PCVs.
That said, we know about the Inspector General's report, and agree that the abuses in question were probably in the past. Guinea was singled out as a particular example of regional house abuse in a Congressional report or document, but was far from the only country to be mentioned. I don't think, however, that these abuses were the only (or even the primary) reason for recommending closure of the regional houses. The conclusion (which I mostly disagree with) was that the houses serve no useful programmatic (i.e.. work) function, and therefore should not be supported in their current form by program funds. The order to close houses is reportedly part of a worldwide directive issued to all PC posts at the end of 2002. My impression (based on the fact that the Conakry and Boke houses will stay open) is that the directive is conditional, and that country directors do have some discretion in the matter.
Finally, the letters I have seen on FOG, particularly the initial ones from the Kohl family, are mostly right on the mark in terms of content and tone. Personally, I would recommend against the somewhat more strident letters which include insinuations about country directors or other PC admin people. PCVs always have varied and mixed opinions about PC admin staff both in country and in Washington, but this issue is not about the country director, and if you want to "save" the houses, you should focus specifically on why we should keep them. (Incidentally, the current CD here in Guinea specifically went to bat (after talking directly with PCVs) on the issue of keeping the Conakry house when PC Washington wanted to shut it down). PC thinks a lot about programmatic function (how are the houses are useful to PCVs in doing their job), and safety/security (including physical/personal safety, and physical/mental health). They do not particularly care about whether parents can call their children (though arguably this could be a mental health issue for PCVs), and they don't particularly care how parents feel about the bosses (i.e. the country directors etc.) of PC's "employees" (the PCVs). PCVs are adults, and PC is not a summer camp which is beholden to the whims of parents.
PCVs appreciate FOG's help in this matter, but would point out that we are also working internally to keep the houses open. For this house issue, positive, focused letters will be more effective than those which include broad generalizations about PC philosophy or activities. Safety/Security and Work should be the selling points. Direct experience and facts will be more compelling than impressions and conjecture. Thanks for your help.
- Jesse F. (PCV - Labe)
As an aside, I am not sure what "programatic function" the large swimming pool at the posh Marine Corps compound has, nor why U.S. taxpayer dollars should pay for their two giant screen TVs and not for our regional houses....
Also of note, the fact that PCVs are as much, or more concerned about war in Iraq than they are about the houses. There is strong anti-war sentiment against war amongst PCVs and we are very frustrated (but are writing a lot of letters). Guinea is actually in the spotlight as the head of the UN security council for the month of March. BBC reports that Guinea (which has previously spoken for extending inspections, and against war, is now under enormous pressure from the US and Britain to vote for war). If they say yes, new money and favors may flow in, and if they say no, aid could be cut off entirely (as happened to Yemen after their "no" vote in 1991). As this is not a "political" forum, I will leave the subject as it is...but if you want an issue to rally around, war in Iraq might be more important in the grand scheme of things than regional houses...
not an official Peace Corps site