At Farther Foundation we see the Peace Corps as an organization with a kindred spirit. Peace Corps members go out into the world to immerse themselves in new cultures, meet new people, provide service and achieve personal growth through profound experiences.
It is no surprise that two of our board members are Peace Corps alumni. They are helping us provide opportunities to high school students for experiential travel, learning and service.
During Peace Corps Week, February 27 - March 5, we are celebrating the Peace Corps by asking some of its alumni to share stories from their experiences and advice for the students we serve.
We are also grateful to a generous supporter of Farther Foundation, a Peace Corps alumnus himself, for making a donation for every story we receive.
With great advice and mentorship you can go far — add a scholarship and you can Go Farther! Donate now to our scholarship fund to give students a life-changing opportunity!
Dave
“Traveling away from what you are used to, whether it is to a new city or state, or to a foreign country, allows you to see and understand in new ways. It creates a new space in your brain. It invariably creates new opportunities. Do it while you are young, when you have the energy and the willingness to try a new way.”
Dave, Lama-Kara,Togo, West Africa 1975-1977
Matt
"Change yourself and you can change the world," they say. But for any young person, knowing how you want to change yourself - who you want to become - is overwhelming. For young people with fewer opportunities to experience the wider world and see what opportunities await, this can be even harder. The gift of Peace Corps, for me, was that I didn't have to worry about how to change myself, who I wanted to become - it just happened. Get yourself lost enough and all you can do is find your way."
Matt, Dominican Republic, 2006-2008
Nicky
I got so anxious when it came to feeling "prepared" to move to Indonesia. I wanted to know everything, pack everything, I was driven crazy with the idea of not being able to be the best teacher I could be. Finally an old volunteer said to me, "there are people who have lived here their whole lives and have gotten along fine, anything you leave behind or don't know, you either don't need or you'll gain it when you get here." So don't worry too much about what you're leaving behind, just get excited for what you'll gain when you get there!
Nicky, Indonesia 2015-2017
Lindsay
“When given an opportunity to travel, take it! Every experience I have had abroad has shaped the life I have today. Travel is life changing. Even the most challenging of situations will make you stronger and wiser.”
Lindsay, Dominican Republic, 2006-2008
Joe
“I coasted through high school. I coasted through college - didn't even declare a major until my junior year. Then I landed on the coast of a tiny island in the Pacific. My time with the Peace Corps in Micronesia remains the most formative experience of my life. I was embraced by a new community. I learned to speak a new language, to make new jokes, to ferment coconut sap, to spearfish, to take mid-day naps, to accept invitations, to surrender priorities, to feed pigs, to slaughter pigs, to be alone with my thoughts, and to be surrounded by others. I learned, shared, and experienced more than I knew I could. I am so grateful for the opportunity, and I don't coast anymore.”
-Joe, Ulithi Atoll, Micronesia 2005-2007
Mike
“Traveling to new parts of our Earth and into the worlds of others is a privilege to me. When done with humility and an open mind, the potential to expand one’s life is limitless. Traveling into communities in the Dominican Republic allowed me to plainly see that although seemingly different, we are all strikingly the same. Every day, there was something new that I could ask and learn about the world around me, its people, and through them, myself. My suggestion to anyone is to travel more.”
Mike, Dominican Republic 2006-2008
Christina
“Life-changing” and “eye-opening” - clichés that I shrugged off when others tried to prepare me for my Peace Corps experience. I saw other teacher friends of mine go to international recruiting fairs to find jobs abroad. Though the idea of teaching in an American school in a foreign country piqued my interest, I knew I didn’t want to live in a dorm and teach at a private school for privileged children. I wanted to be fully immersed in a culture: live with a family, learn the language, eat the local cuisine, serve people. And that is what I got out of Peace Corps…and so much more. I found a passion for medicine by serving as an interpreter in medical missions and ended up switching careers from teaching to nursing after I returned. I still speak Spanish proficiently - it came in handy while teaching and is useful as a nurse as well. All these years later, I don’t take simple things for granted - hot running water, air conditioning, potable water, indoor plumbing. It also challenged me mentally and made me stronger and more independent than I ever knew I could be. Best of all, I made friendships that have lasted. I still keep in touch with my host family from my site, Cruce de Arroyo Hondo. My host mom calls my first-born daughter her first born grandchild. When people ask me about my Peace Corps experience, I always tell them, “It wasn’t easy, but I don’t regret it.”
Christina, Dominican Republic, 2006-2008
Rachel
“Tswana people say, “Motho ke motho ka batho," or, “I am because we are." We exist as part of community, and it is through community that we are shaped and defined, supported and grown. Immerse yourself in flourishing, vibrant, and beautiful communities, and you will continue to learn, grow, and be shaped into a flourishing, vibrant, beautiful individual. Leave your comfort zone, because a little discomfort is the beginning of everything exciting and worthwhile.”
Rachel, Botswana, 2019-2020
Jenn
"Peace Corps gave me a chance to live in another country and have the opportunity to do it in a manner that served both the community where I lived and our country. My experience made me more adaptable, empathetic, and passionate about advocating for the underserved.. Also, I brought back Rubio, by far one of the most spoiled cats of the DR."
Jenn, Dominican Republic 2006-2008
Marc
"Throughout your journey make sure you remain open minded to different ideas and customs. The fastest way to acceptance is participation, so never turn down a meal, coffee, or experience with someone who is trying to bring you into their community. You'll be surprised at how quickly you feel at home."
Marc, Dominican Republic, 2006-2008
Stacey
“My experience in the Peace Corps in Senegal was absolutely instrumental in shaping my career as a physician. Although I was a small business development volunteer in rural Senegal, I helped out at the local health clinic, mostly weighing babies and observing. My exposure to health inequities at that time pushed me to build a career where I could practice medicine and contribute to improving health beyond the patients I treat in Chicago. I co-founded my own non-profit organization, Global Emergency Care, that trains emergency providers in Uganda, and I teach global health now to medical students in Chicago. Travel will enrich your life in ways you can't imagine now...and the lives of others.”
Stacey, Senegal, 1996-1997
With great advice and mentorship you can go far — add a scholarship and you can Go Farther! Donate now to our scholarship fund to give students a life-changing opportunity!