The Guinea Parent Support (GPS) System is there to help you navigate the joys, woes, and practicalities of being a Peace Corps Parent. We have additional information for parents and friends here.

You have two options for discussion groups:

1. Join a New Parents Group: discussion/support group made of parents of volunteers who all left at the same time. Email gps @ friendsofguinea.org for more information.

2. Join the Guinea List, a general email discussion list for all things Guinean

About GPS

Parents, family, and friends of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in Guinea have a way to keep in touch with other parents, sharing tips, support, and experiences. The idea for GPS began in July 2002 when a group of Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) in Dubreka sent a list of email addresses home to give parents in their group a way to contact each other. With lots of help from Stephanie at FOG and the Peace Corps Guinea desk in Washington D.C., Guinea Parent Support was born.

Parents can join a group, based on their PCT's departure date, to share support as they embark on the Peace Corps adventure. Parents, who may not have heard from their PCT yet, are moved to tears when they're able to view photos shared by other GPS parents, or read a reference to their loved one in an email. Each group has a volunteer parent leader from the previous group as well as several "mentor" parents who are in the 2nd or 3rd year of the Peace Corps experience.

As of December 2005, there are 6 active GPS parent groups, ranging from July 2003 to January 2006. New groups will be added as each group of PCTs leaves for Guinea . Each group communicates via a listserv, generously set up and maintained by Friends of Guinea. New parents are given a chance to sign up for the listserv, corresponding to their PCT's departure date, through the parent information letter sent to all parents of PCTs. PCTs can also sign up their friends and family at Staging, just before they leave for Guinea.

For information about joining any of these groups please contact the GPS Coordinator at gps @ friendsofguinea.org.

Comments about the GPS groups:

From group leader Carol Mermey: "I want to let all of you know that it was a pleasure to be the parent support leader -- I knew what you were all going through and was really happy I could help make the transition a little easier. Beyond that, this is such a special listserv, as we are such a lucky group of parents and friends to have such special PCVs who are in one of the hardest Peace Corps assignments. I feel like I made 20-30 new friends and made a little bit of a difference. I really encourage each of you to consider volunteering to write a few welcome emails and make the transition easier for the next group of families and PCTs."