Sidebar #59 - Sustainability and Peace Corps' Approach to Development

One of the main things I’ve come to appreciate about the Peace Corps is the agency’s approach to development. My graduate studies were much more focused on general international relations education than on international development, so our training in development, and specifically how the Peace Corps approaches it, was really fascinating.

Growing up in Southwest Missouri, many of my friends went on mission trips, so that was my first exposure to the idea of "international development". I’ve always had some healthy skepticism about missionary work in developing parts of the world. Not always, but oftentimes, mission trips offer short-term help to a population or community, in the name of religion, before departing. Frequently, this kind of work is centered around doing something FOR a community rather than WITH a community. This dynamic subsequently creates a dependence tied to religion. This means that communities may be given some amenities to improve their lives on a temporary basis, but in many cases are not provided the learning or tools for these developments to be sustainable over a longer period of time. I'm certainly not saying that all mission work is bad, (many religious organizations do outstanding work in the development and humanitarian fields) just that any development organization (secular ones too) should be thoroughly vetted and scrutinized.

On the other hand, “Sustainability” is one of the main buzz words associated with the Peace Corps. Volunteers spend a long time living and integrating in communities: we live in host countries for a total of 27 months and spend 24 of those months in our specific communities. However, the agency and volunteers appreciate that although 24 months is a substantial amount of time, it isn’t forever. Every single project we facilitate in the community is designed to be sustainable in the long term - meaning that community members can repeat the project long after the volunteer has departed his or her site.

In order to accomplish sustainability, specific measures are taken by the volunteer and by the community. Our first 3 months in our communities were dedicated to completing a diagnostic report: we assessed our community’s strengths, challenges, existing resources, and desires in requesting a volunteer. The purpose of the assessment was to “meet communities where they are at” and focus on asset-based development. Furthermore, we work with counterparts, individuals in our communities and/or schools, on the implementation of each project. What this looks like is that volunteers co-plan, co-facilitate, co-teach, etc every single workshop or class. This approach ensures that volunteers focus on community needs rather than just implementing our own vision for the community. Working alongside a counterpart is also essential in earning community buy-in as well as determining someone who can recreate projects once the volunteer has left.

Like any other agency, Peace Corps isn’t perfect; however, I really appreciate the agency’s approach to development and its sustainability efforts. The community-centered, sustainable approach of the organization makes me extremely proud to be a Peace Corps Volunteer.