For the First time in the more than 60 years of the Peace Corps History, the 7,300 Volunteers were sent back to the U,S. and temporarily Suspended Operations Worldwide, instructing the Recalled Volunteers to Quarantine for 14 days and abruptly Ending their Service and the Volunteers Losing their Stipends, Housing, and Health Benefits amid the Pandemic and Economic Crisis.
Volunteers say they have received a Deluge of Emails and Documents on how to Access Benefits but are Struggling to piece together what happened and what they’re supposed to do now. Their Circumstances leave them Among the most Vulnerable Americans right now, and with Few Prospects for Other Jobs at a time when Unemployment is soaring at Home.
Typically, when Volunteers complete their Service, they Attend a Conference preparing them for Reentry into American Society and the Workforce. They’re also given $375 for each Month they Served, adding up to a little more than $10,000 for Volunteers who Complete their Service. Evacuees who Served up to a year are being given about Half that Allowance, while those who Served more than a year will Receive the Full Amount.
The Conditions of Evacuation varied Depending on where the Volunteers were Posted. Staff at Headquarters seemed Overwhelmed by the Unprecedented Situation and Struggled to Disseminate Accurate Information to the Evacuated Volunteers. Volunteers in Countries that were Evacuated Earlier, such as: China, Ecuador, Mongolia, and Morocco, found it More Difficult to Access Resources and Quarantine Instructions than Volunteers who got the Recall Notice Later in the Process.
In Morocco, which had 345 Cases of the Coronavirus and 23 Deaths as of Friday, Volunteers were already starting to face Skepticism and Harassment due to their Status as Foreigners, so the Local Peace Corps Staff made the Decision to Evacuate before the Rest of the Corps Worldwide.
Evacuation there began the week of March 16th. Volunteers who had begun Service in September 2018 were told they would be Ending their Service Early. The Volunteers who started Last Fall were told they would be Placed on “administrative hold” for a Month while the Peace Corps determined whether they could Return. The In-Country Staff gathered Volunteers at a Hotel in the Capital, held a Makeshift Ceremony for the Departing Volunteers and Chartered a Plane Out on March 18th. When they Arrived Back in the U.S. on March 19th, the Newer Ones believed there was a Chance they would Return to Morocco eventually. On March 22nd, however, Volunteers say they Received an Email informing them they would be COSed, a Peace Corps Acronym meaning “Close of Service.”
In Namibia, the Government Shut Schools and All other Public Activities Down on March 15th after learning of Two Travel-Related Cases. That approach appears to be Successful so far. The Country has had a Total of Eight Cases, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
Many Volunteers felt like they had Betrayed their Host Community, especially if they had told Locals they would Return, only to find out later that they most likely Will Not.
Now back Stateside, Volunteers are Struggling to Plan their Futures. Volunteers are Not Eligible for Unemployment, according to the Peace Corps website, because they are Not Technically “Employees.”
The Coronavirus Relief Package Signed into Law Friday includes $88 Million for the Peace Corps, to “support the evacuation of more than 6,000 Volunteers and more than 170 U.S. direct hires from overseas posts.” But it’s Not Clear if there will be Help beyond that for Volunteers.
The Organization did Extend Volunteers’ Post-Service Health Insurance, from One Month of Coverage to Two. But for Volunteers returning to a Country Ravaged by a New and Terrifying Virus, the Question of where they can get the Post-Service Exams that are typically Required when coming back into the U.S. Looms, not to mention what happens after Two Months, and Evacuated Volunteers are also Finding it Difficult to Prioritize their own Mental Health.
Many Volunteers expressed Gratitude to the Peace Corps Staff in their Host Countries as well as the Network of Past Volunteers who Welcomed them Back to the U.S.
In Namibia, the Staff took Advantage of the Opportunity to Hold a “close-of-service” Conference for Volunteers which Prepares Volunteers for their Return to the U.S., and Advises them of Benefits, Employment, and Educational Opportunities available to them Stateside. Volunteers in Countries more Affected by the Pandemic such as: China, Mongolia, and Morocco, Weren’t able to have these Sessions.
The Community of Former Volunteers has set up a Facebook Group to Support the Newly Evacuated Group.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment