Fredonia to host Peace Corps volunteer workshop for students

Fredonia students will be able to gain insight into unique opportunities available through the Peace Corps to help communities, oftentimes on the other side of the globe, at an application workshop to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 3:30 p.m., in Williams Center Room G103C.

Peace Corps recruiter Anne Tatarsky will help students browse volunteer openings, find the right program for them and strengthen their individual applications. Students may also ask questions about service and gain valuable tips to guide them through the application process.

Students interested in meeting Ms. Tatarsky on a one-to-one basis to find out if the Peace Corps might be the right option for them should contact Erin Willis via email

Serving in the Peace Corps provides an opportunity to have a positive impact on a community that needs someone with a specific skills set. Each year the Peace Corps has open volunteer positions in more than 60 countries. Each position has been requested by a community that identified a project that would benefit from a volunteer’s involvement. Peace Corps service lasts 27 months.

Education positions are the most in-demand fields and may be particularly appealing to students who have tutoring experience and are interested in working with youth. These positions are open to applicants from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds.

Students who have a green thumb, small business experience or a passion for community health outreach may also find numerous opportunities through the Peace Corps.

More information about how one’s skills might fit a community’s needs is available at online.

The benefits of a Peace Corps experience are many.

Language and technical training gained from Peace Corps service can enhance a resume. Upon arriving in the country of service, a volunteer undergoes training before moving to his/her host community and beginning a work assignment. Training is intense, encompassing the local language, technical skills for the work, cultural norms to fit into the community and health and safety information.

Trainees typically live with host families, so the chance to start making friends begins quickly. Professional development through in-service training and ongoing support from Peace Corps staff begin after pre-service training is completed.

Higher education student loans can also be reduced by Peace Corps service. Volunteers can become eligible for deferment, partial cancellation, income-based repayment or loan forgiveness. These benefits depend on the type of loans.

Financial assistance to attend graduate school after serving in the Peace Corps may be available. The Peace Corps’ Coverdell Fellows program offers graduate financial aid to returned Peace Corps volunteers, including tuition reduction, full scholarships, stipends and assistantships at over 120 participating universities.

Peace Corps volunteers also form lifelong friendships with host families, co-workers, students and friends in their assigned community.

Additional information about Peace Corps benefits and opportunities is available from Tararsky via email.