Peace Corps Moçambique

The Peace Corps Act (1961)

The Congress of the United States declares that it is the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs of trained manpower, particularly in meeting the basic needs of those living in the poorest areas of such countries, and to help promote a better understanding of the American people on the part of the peoples served and a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people. 

Peace Corps Act

Public Law 9709293

September 22, 1961

(as amended) 

The Peace Corps Mission

There are three primary goals that define the Peace Corps Mission as outlined by legislation, and achieved through the work that volunteers perform and the lives that volunteers live in their host-communities:  

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women 
2. Helping to promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served
3. Helping to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

Peace Corps Moçambique

                        

Years of Country Service: 1998 - present

Current In-country Volunteers: 226

Total Volunteers to Date: 812

Sectors: Education and Health

Placement of Volunteers: All ten provinces – Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica, Tete, Nampula, Zambezia, Niassa, Cabo Delgado

Languages Spoken In-country: Ajaua, Bitonga, Chope, Changane, Elomwe, Emacua, Hiyau, Nhungwe, Nianga, Portuguese, Swahili, Xitswa, Xindau, Xisena, Xichona, Ximanica, Xichuabo, Ximaconde, and Xironga.

Corpo da Paz Moçambique, 2012/3 Volunteer Handbook (excerpts, with my highlights)

The Peace Corps expect you to treat people with respect and dignity. You come to teach, train and advise, but you must come with the humility of a learner. You have much to gain from experiencing the world from a different perspective, through exposure to different cultural values, customs, and beliefs.

The Peace Corps expects you to recognize that Mozambique is still a relatively young independent nation. It emerged only recently from a devastating period of colonial rule and long wars and is seeking to develop its own sense of national direction and destiny. That is no easy task as the people of Mozambique examine themselves, their way of life, their system of Government, and their needs and aspirations. You must come with patience and sensitivity and must appreciate the challenges Mozambique faces to develop in appropriate and meaningful ways.

Remember that you are not here to impose an American system on Mozambique, but to assist Mozambique in implementing a system of its choosing which best utilizes its historical heritage and meets its current needs. There is some danger of rejecting “invalid Mozambican solutions” for equally invalid “American solutions” to Mozambican problems. Before you judge, be mindful of your own country’s colonial history and experiences around the world and particularly in Africa.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will have to be more than a good worker; you will be expected to be a good “community citizen,” to participate in community activities. Your “job” is not only what is described in the Volunteer Assignment Description. It includes an ongoing effort to become part of the community that surrounds you. This includes learning the host language as well as helping people to learn about our rich and diverse American culture and society through you.

[Moreover] We expect you to leave Mozambique as a more knowledgeable person than when you arrived. You will have mastered one and perhaps two languages. You will know something of the history, current issues, and problems facing the country, the personalities and various forces that affect the direction of the country , and the major cultural comparisons that define Mozambicans. You will be expected to take this knowledge back to America with you to support a better understanding of Mozambicans on behalf of Americans.