Peace Corps to recruit students with annual week of activities

Joining the Peace Corps is attractive for some. For others, it may take a little convincing. To recruit new volunteers, next week the IU Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Group and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs will host Peace Corps Week. The week-long events will commemorate the 47th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps, which serves developing and underprivileged countries around the world. \n“We are trying to promote awareness of the Peace Corps and show people so they have a better understanding of what it is like overseas,” said Brett Kuhnert, IU Peace Corps campus representative.\nDuring the week, students will have the opportunity to take part in many events related to learning more about the Peace Corps and what it has to offer, said Ken Surdin, a regional recruiter from the Chicago Peace Corps office. \n“We have a whole week of events planned,” he said. “We do (Peace Corps Week) every year.”\nPeace Corps volunteers who have returned from their volunteer experiences overseas will set up displays representing their host countries between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. About nine to 10 countries will be represented, Kuhnert said.\n“It will be open for those who want to come by to chat and hear about different volunteers’ experiences overseas,” Kuhnert said. “Volunteers bring items, souvenirs, pictures and clothing to add to the ambiance of their displays.”\nMore events will continue throughout the week with a panel discussion on life in the Peace Corps from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Collins Living-Learning Center Coffeehouse. The week will continue Wednesday with a panel discussion on development and HIV/AIDS from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the SPEA Atrium. Students and community members are invited to share dinner with the Peace Corps volunteers from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ashenda’s Abasha Ethiopian Restaurant at 420 E. 4th St. Kuhnert said students must RSVP to attend the dinner.\n“This year, we really focused on expanding events; we added the dinner this year to try and open up discussion more,” he said. “Students who are interested in attending can RSVP at iurpcvgroup@gmail.com by Tuesday.”\nThe week will end on Friday with a movie night, where attendees can watch the Tom Hanks comedy “Volunteers,” from 6 to 8 p.m. in the IMU Grad Pad.