THE P. C. ORGANIZATION. Thought you might like to know a bit more about how the Peace Corps operates here in Morocco, so here goes!

There are about 30 staff members at the headquarters in Rabat, the capital city. Three are Americans and the rest are Moroccans. There are four programs (aka sectors) here: Youth Development (YD), Health (HE), Environment (EN) and the one I work in, Small Business Development (SBD). A new group (called stage, pronounced the French way) of YD and SBD arrive each September and EN and HE each March. There is usually about 30-40 in each group. All go through three months of training, followed by the actual 24 months of service.

Each program has a Moroccan manager and assistant. There is quite a bit of difference in how each program is managed due to the variance in types of work performed. The Moroccan government is also involved with our work, and, as a matter of fact, provides some funding on a monthly basis for each volunteer’s living cost. So the volunteers not only work with/for the U. S. government, but the Moroccan government as well. Aren’t you envious?!

Just like corporate America, and government, we have goals for our individual sites, and also reports to complete on a regular basis. It often can be a frustrating juggle between achieving the cultural exchange goals (subjective) and accomplishing the technical/training/teaching goals (objective). The culture itself can be a deterrent in making much progress with the technical goals. For instance, some women know and understand they can make products to sell, but the culture in their home and/or locale may not empower them to travel where they need to buy materials, or finish school, learn the country’s language, leave their homes, etc.

Safety and security are huge issues here, and the restrictions placed on volunteers are often met with great resistance. We are not allowed to come and go as we please; far from it! So that has been and continues to be a big issue. On one hand, we are grown adults and should be responsible to look after our own safety, but the Peace Corps also has a responsibility, as does the Moroccan government, for our safety. The Peace Corps evacuated Morocco in 2003, and would prefer not to have to do that again, but of course will if there is a critical threat to the lives of the volunteers.

The Volunteer community itself has several committee opportunities for those who wish to become more involved. There is a SIDA committee who work on AIDS projects, the GAD (gender and age differences) committee, and the VAC, volunteer advisory council, which works with the Staff on various issues that arise. All stages elect their representative for these committees. I have the privilege (I think that’s what it is!) of being the rep for my stage, and was just elected chair, which position I will hold for six months. We meet every six months: two times a year in Rabat and two times wherever the new stages are in training, so we can explain to the new groups who/what we are before they elect their reps. Here is a recent VAC meeting held in the conference room at the P. C. headquarters in Rabat. (I am not in photo but busy keyboarding minutes on that laptop you can see)

Volunteers can leave at any time they wish during their service, but there are numerous benefits in staying. One of the main ones (for me, anyway) is the ability to serve on the Peace Corps Response, which are “retired” Peace Corps volunteers who may get called up to help with crisis types of situations anywhere in the world. Sri Lanka was one of the more recent places, and I hear from unbiased sources that the Peace Corps did a great job there.

We are given a monthly stipend to pay our rent, as well as reimbursement for other living costs. I find that I can generally live on what they allow; when I desire to travel for fun or eat out in a bit more “higher” style, I often need to take out of my own pocket. Our medical needs are also taken care of; we have two doctors and a p.a. on staff and a great dentist in Rabat.

So that’s that slice of my life!