Scott Burgess from U of M’s Peace Corps recruiting office visited EMU to talk about the benefits of service and expectations of volunteers this past Friday.
With several different service areas and projects, stipends, graduate school benefits and employee selection preference, the Peace Corps is said to be “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”
The application process typically takes 9 months to 1 year, and includes different portions.
The online application requires three letters of recommendation: one from a professional supervisor, one volunteer supervisor and one friend or mentor. Applicants must also write two essays.
“An interview follows the online application,” Burgess said.
“You will be interviewed at the University of Michigan location, and if it goes well, you will be nominated for service. Then, you will have a second interview in the Chicago office.”
A medical and legal review finalizes the process before an invitation to join the Peace Corps is sent. Although nominees are recommended for a certain project area, the invitation may have a different location, based on need and availability.
Those invited to join have ten days to finalize their decision before leaving for the
project area, where three months of training with a large group of volunteers work together to become familiar with the culture. Volunteers learn the language and learn how to integrate with the new area.
“My training group had 40 people, and we all stayed with host families,” Burgess said. “It immerses you in the language, since you speak the new language during training and at home.”
Knowing French or Spanish will make it more likely for you to be invited to volunteer as 39 percent of volunteers go to Francophone Africa and 24 percent work in Latin America. Another 18 percent volunteer in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The Peace Corps places volunteers based on experience, skill, and project selection. Education has the highest demand, with 40 percent of volunteers working in this area.
Environment and agriculture have a growing need for volunteers, so applicants experienced in these areas are encouraged to emphasize this. The other areas include youth and community development, IT and health.
The typical volunteer agreement dedicates 27 months of time on-site, working for a project.
This is a considerable commitment that has several benefits and life-changing experiences, but also requires a lot of time in an unfamiliar place.
Students who attended the informational session came for a variety of reasons.
Ross Hurst, who graduated from EMU in 2011, said he’s interested in the Peace Corps due to the bad economy.
“It’s hard to find a job in this economy,” Hurst said. “The Peace Corps offers me options I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Shannon Barry, a junior at EMU, said she wants to join the Peace Corps because she loves to travel.
“This gives me a reason to travel while I’m making a difference in the world,” Barry said.
