Peace Corps Turns 50 Amid Charges of Rape, Murder and Cover-Up

I'm currently serving in Africa. Whenever something like this happens to a Volunteer we are all incredibly sadden by it as we are a big family. No one tries to ignore what's happened or forget what's happened. But people have to realize that this is the reality. It's the reality where I live, where the Volunteers in other regions live and where you live. No Volunteer enters service completely naive and unaware of the possible dangers of being the foreigner. Also, we are given self-defense just before we're sworn in and if something happens to a Volunteer they are given the choice of pressing charges or not. I feel incredibly confident in the staff of my host country and in DC. What's really sad is that 50 years after its birth instead of highlighting the great things about Peace Corps and what it's done for the developing countries it serves and for America, one show can persuade so many ignorant people to immediately disdain the organization. I love my job, I love my community and I love the experiences I am having here. I wish you all could enjoy the experiences Volunteers have during service.

It is disturbing that the Peace Corps would push this issue under the carpet essentially burying it. Very sad.

400 million a year. For what. The first group went to Africa fifty years ago. Have they done any good? Africa is a screwed up continent and they need to manage themselves.

I'm a 25 year old female in the Marine Corps and my sister is a 26 year old Peace Corps Volunteer. From us being from opposite sides of the spectrum, I can understand both sides of the issue. We need volunteers to go to other countries and show them that we aren't as bad as they think we Americans are and we need volunteers to go to other countries and protect our freedoms. But why can't we mix them together?
As this article said, the America military has already started to look towards the hearts and minds of the country that we're in. We know that we aren't fighting the civilians and we try to show them that we care by giving the children candy or helping out in their community. We are slowly but surely gaining their trust and they often help us find the "bad guys".
If the American military can train us how to help, then why can't the Peace Corps train the volunteers how to fight?
As a female, I was excited to learn how to defend myself. We're taught to use the weight and leverage of our opponent against them and how to disarm a person holding a knife or a gun. I'm am happy to say that I have never needed to use these techniques in the real world but I am nonetheless glad that I learned it.
Just because the Peace Corps Volunteer is there on a peaceful mission, doesn't mean that's how she will be treated.

Peace Corps volunteers are taught how to behave in their adopted country. They are not taught how to defend themselves. After living in a small town in South American near the border with regular drug traffic and kidnappings my daughter asked her superiors to take her out. They suggested that she give it more time. I was ready to hire a black helicopter to get her out. She is finally home without good memories about working for the Peace Corps. Parents beware!

As a currently serving Peace Corps volunteer it is clear to me that many people do not understand what Peace Corps is really about. Those who say it should be disbanded and not funded probably don't know anyone who has served. Peace Corps is an amazing organization that has flaws, like every other organization out there.

Before joining the Peace Corps I knew a few women who had been raped or attacked while serving. Unfortunately I know many more women who have been raped or attacked at home in America. And for those of you who say that all of these rapes are prosecuted in America, obviously you are unaware of reality. It is all to common in American and around the world for the victim to be blamed. However, in my experience in my service I have never felt threatened and have the fullest confidence in the safety and security officer here.

We know what we are getting into when we join the Peace Corps. We are informed of the risks and hardships that we will face. But still we chose to go and show the world how amazing American can be when its at its best. We are also free to return home at any time during our service if we choose. Stop calling us naive and idealists and learn a little about what we actually do instead of basing your opinions on the horrible experiences of a few. While I am in no means discrediting what the women and families have been through (like I said, I personally am friends with women who experienced this) I don't think its fair to discount the work we are achieving in our service.

Wow..the headline "It's the unemployment stupid" doesn't reek of any bias...does it? Totally irresponsible and ridiculous on the part of AOL!
I am tired of the propaganda...this country is going to hell in a handbasket!

I entered Peace Corps service on my 55th birthday, six months after retirement as a medical school professor. My time as a PCV was two of the most enriching and enlightening years of my life. Because of what I gained during these years, I have dedicated my time and resources to other volunteer work, including seven times to African and Asian countries to fight poliomyelitis, twice to Latin American countries related to healthcare needs and, more recently, two trips to assist with water and sanitation needs in Africa - for the latter of which at age 70, I have just spent the last two weeks. I have provided the foregoing introduction to say how sorry I feel for Carpentersmokie, Kryptkiker, dwarner513, spiritusa, moondogfour, Cia Italiani, Joseph, Jarsd43 tenaclark and wolfe; each of whom express such a narrow perspective of human livelihood and other conditions in countries served by Peace Corps. I did not see the 20/20 program, so I cannot assess the perspective presented on the show mentioned.
Peace Corps is without a doubt one of the treasures of American society (though there are many more). Yet, we all must recognize that it is not suitable for everyone and for those who do enter, it cannot guarantee a perfect life. For those who are openminded, please join me in lobbying for an expanded Peace Corps.

I agree with dwarner513 the Peace Corp should be disbanded

Disband the "Peace" Corps. This is not Constitutionally allowed and should not be funded by tax payer money.

America and Americans first.