This week marked the send-off celebration of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Buffalo.
People of all ages and backgrounds gathered in a conference room in Erie Community College’s north campus. The room bustled with discussion of the world by people who have traveled across it, and some who will soon do so. Most of them were Peace Corps volunteers who returned home as recently as last year, and some as long ago as the 1960s. The rest were volunteers to be, along with their concerned parents.
“They have so many questions,” said Andy Smith, the group’s president. “And we want them to feel a little bit more relaxed and not worried about the Peace Corps. Sometimes there is a negative image of the Peace Corps.”
Smith served in Costa Rica in the 90s. That negative image is something that was quickly dispelled by the members. Most had glowing experiences to share, and said they felt secure with the support from the Corps in all of the places they served.
As the returned members introduced themselves, the pride in their faces was hard to miss, especially as they told the new prospects what a life-changing experience they are about to have. It was also evident that the gathering was about more than just a send-off.
Smith explains that for some members, it’s an opportunity to reminisce about their Peace Corps days. A few members warned the new volunteers that their friends won’t want to hear about their Peace Corps Experience beyond the first telling. It’s a sentiment that isn’t found amongst the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Amongst their group, there is an undying enthusiasm about their experiences.
“We all have a unique story to share,” said Smith. “Even though we’ve all served in the Peace Corps, everyone has done something different. Everyone has a different inspiration. Everyone has different reasons for joining the Peace Corps.”
They also have different reasons for sticking around. The mission of the group is threefold: To share their knowledge of the world with Western New Yorkers; to help with unofficial recruiting for the Corps; and to volunteer in the community.
“And then all of us, when we do the volunteer work, it reminds us of our time in our communities,” said Smith. “And we’ve been working the last year, we’ve been working with Vive [Incorporated]”
Working with refugees at Buffalo’s Vive Incorporated, gives the group’s members an opportunity to exercise the language skills they picked up in their volunteer countries.
It is important to note that the group is comprised of teachers, doctors, civil servants, and non-profit workers. It is a testament to the way that their individual experiences around the world shaped their lives here at home, and once a year the mission comes full circle as they share the spirit of service with young Western New Yorkers headed overseas.
