Diversity Committee Educational Tour

The Peace Corps Diversity Committee Needs Your Help!!

Namibia is truly one of the most unique places you could ever hope to visit. As a guest in this country, the number of indigenous tribes along with the shear variation of languages spoken here is overwhelming. The goals of the Peace Corps Diversity Committee are to share Namibian culture with Americans as well as American culture with Namibians. Along with this, the Diversity Committee works to educate Namibians about various cultures that exist in their own country.
One of the biggest and most rewarding projects that the Peace Corps Diversity Committee is responsible for is the Annual National Educational Tour. This tour is open to Namibian Students in grades 8-12. Each year the students are presented with a theme and encouraged to enter the Cultural Expression contest. This is an opportunity for the students to reflect on their own cultural practices and to share their creativity and cultural with both Namibians and Americans.
The Diversity Committee is also dedicated to addressing the concern in regards to the spread of HIV and AIDS. Namibia is one of the leading nations with the highest percentage of HIV infection worldwide. Currently one in five people are infected with the disease. Since 2002, more than 125,000 children have become orphans as a result of the virus; leading to confusion about what is meant to belong to a family. With this in mind, the Diversity Committee has decided that the theme for this year’s Educational Tour will be “Celebrating the Diversity of Family.” The idea behind this theme is to have Namibian youth consider there own definition of what forms a “family,” expectantly realizing that it goes much deeper than just the standard nuclear family that so many youth here are deprived of. This all ties together with the idea that if you have something positive and stable in your life to live for than you will be more apt to make constructive and healthy choices about your own future.
The Peace Corps Diversity Committee is requesting your help in making this years tour a possibility. We are currently seeking funds to allow us to proceed with the project. The committee hopes to invite 30 students to attend the Educational Tour that will include topics focusing on Namibian cultural diversity, environmental education, and HIV and AIDS. If you are interested in sponsoring a child to attend the tour, we are requesting a $30 donation. Checks can be made to the following:

Karen Bowers
122b Cornelia St.
Plattsburgh, New York
12901
Attn: Diversity Committee

Donations will be accepted until August 1st. Every person that donates the suggested $30 will receive a card from one of the Namibian students that attends the tour along with a copy of one of the winning contest entries. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Kristin Bowers; chair person for the committee at the following email address: Specialkay83@yahoo.com. Thank you for your time and understanding in helping to make this year’s National Educational Tour a success!

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