As most of you know, the Peace Corps has suspended all programs worldwide as a result of the covid 19 pandemic. Over the next few weeks all Volunteers are being brought back home.*
At this time, we as RPCVs of LI and as part of the NPCA community as a whole are searching for ways to give support to these returning volunteers. Our leadership is participating in online meetings with the NPCA to come up with strategies to do this.
One way you can help now is to contact your Senators and Representatives using this link to our new electronic action related to Peace Corps, the evacuated volunteers and covid 19:
https://advocacy.peacecorpsconnect.org/email-congress#/55
This action will allow you to edit the subject line and letter. Please take this action. If this link doesn't work, please go our facebook page, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Long Island. We know that link works.
We will be monitoring this situation closely and will post new information as we receive it. We want to help make sure that this is indeed a temporary suspension of Peace Corps programs and that we are able to help support our returning Volunteers.
Thank You!!
*The following is part of an open letter to Peace Corps Volunteers from Director Jody Olsen:
Dear Volunteers,
I know this is a very stressful time for you and your families, your host communities and the staff at your post.
As you know, we recently evacuated Volunteers from China and Mongolia due to the COVID-19 outbreak and related travel constraints and school closings. Further evacuations are now under way at several posts. Unfortunately, it has become clear in the last 48 hours that numerous posts must follow suit.
It is against this backdrop that I have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all Peace Corps operations globally and evacuate all of our Volunteers. As COVID-19 continues to spread and international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day, we are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where Volunteers are unable to leave their host countries.
Evacuations are difficult, emotionally draining experiences for everyone involved. We are here for you, and we will do all that we can to keep you informed and up to date on the latest developments. Ensuring your health, safety and security is the highest priority of the Peace Corps. I want to stress that Headquarters remains open under its own Continuity of Operations Plan, and agency personnel are working 24/7 to support you and our staff overseas.
I also want to assure you and our host country partners that these evacuations represent the temporary suspension of Volunteer activities. We are not closing posts, and we will be ready to return to normal operations when conditions permit. Importantly, our host country staff will remain in their current positions. They play a critical role in every element of the Peace Corps mission, especially in a time of crisis.
My thoughts are with you, and I am incredibly grateful for your service....
Sincerely,
Jody K. Olsen