“The Peace Corps gives us a chance to show a side of our country which is too often submerged: our desire to live in peace and, our desire to be of help.” John F. Kennedy

In 1961 JFK founded the Peace Corps with the hopes that through real on the ground relationships with our foreign neighbors we might promote the work of world peace. He claimed that the work of the Peace Corps embodies the very best of what it means to be Americans and the very core of what it means to be human.

As we look around at the state of our country, and our world we rarely see the the best parts of what it means to be an American, or for that matter the goodness of humanity. I however agree with JFK I think the Peace Corps gives us a chance to show those qualities which are submerged, neglected and forgotten, our desire for peace. I agree because I have seen it here as a Peace Corps Trainee. I have seen it as we work alongside of our host country to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic and as we work to improve English learning and teaching. I’ve seen the best of America in the Americans young and not so young who have actively picked up the cause of peace. I’ve also seen it in you as you take an interest in the lives of people from an unheard of country in Southern Africa.

Last week, I was sworn in as part of the 87th group of American volunteers to serve in the small southern African country of Lesotho. I stood with 54 fellow Americans as we took an oath, and sang loudly our national anthem and that of our host country, joining the nearly 2000 men and women who have gone before us. I felt proud to join the legacy JFK left representing the American spirit. That spirit which seeks peace, desires to help and values freedom for all at the expense of none.

America is not all good, but she is not all bad either. There is hope for her still. Hope for our country is found in the ambassadors who represent the best parts of America, both foreign and domestic. It’s you and it’s me, doing better, being better.

Whether you find yourself in a remote village in Southern Africa, or on the crowded streets of an American city, work for peace. Do the work of promoting peace and friendship just where you are, as we are doing here in The Mountain Kingdom. Make us proud to be Americans as we strive to make you proud as the newest batch of Peace Corps Volunteers. Let’s all do better.

Peace my Friends,

Bren, “Official” Peace Corps Volunteer