Your tax dollars

FYI - Here is a run-down of how much one Peace Corps Volunteer costs the U.S. government. $4,000 / yr. allowance (We get about $300 / month here in Peru.) $2,700 / yr. readjustment (We get this money at the end when we go back to the U.S.) $20,000 for in-country Peace Corps staff $10,000 for U.S. staff ________________ $41,000 for 1 volunteer per year The Peace Corps has an annual budget of $317 million. We have 3 objectives: 1. DEVELOPMENT We are here to provide technical assistance for projects deemed important by our host country governments. We can only work in countries where we are invited. For example, Peace Corps did not work in Peru during the years that Fujimori was in office because he did not want them here. (It also wasn´t safe.) Toledo invited the Peace Corps to come back in 2002 (they had been here before ´75). 2. UNDERSTANDING of American culture on part of host country nationals We are here to promote a better understanding of American culture by the people here. We represent the diversity of Americans and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, originate in different parts of the country, and, in theory, can be anywhere in a range of ages. (My group is mostly 22 and 24 year-olds however. There is also only one married couple, who are also young) 3. UNDERSTANDING of culture in host country We are here to learn about this culture and help educate Americans about it when we return home. (Obviously, this is one of the toughest, most enriching parts of our job.)