Senior to volunteer with Peace Corps
Teague Dugan
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Features
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"I've always been interested in the Peace Corps; some family friends were volunteers," Andrews said. "I've become interested in international development at Colby and I see the Peace Corps as a good way to get introduced," he added.
Business Development in the Peace Corps involves working with and educating businesses on organization, strategic planning, marketing and integration into their local business and economic environments.
A primary objective is to "help small business owners utilize locally available resources to make money," Andrews said. In addition, "I will serve as a counselor for employees who need business advice, skills, and concepts. I will also help build capacity in three basic areas: organization, management and other basic business skills; networking; and information and communication technology," he explained.
"Sustainability is a central objective," Andrews said. "The goal is to create a small framework for changes to develop," he added. Additionally, Andrews will serve as an intermediary between those with access to information regarding business development and those who need that information-namely, small-business owners and entrepreneurs.
The Peace Corps promises to be a singular experience, but not an easy one. "It's a unique experience being there for two years and living as a Senegalese, but it's also a long time to be away from home and a very different lifestyle to adjust to," Andrews said.
Andrews will be sure to draw on his Colby education during his time with the Peace Corps. His interest in economic development and particularly micro-lending-small loans to poor individuals who lack collateral or are otherwise not credit worthy for traditional lending institutions-will certainly prove helpful in his work. Andrews is also currently enrolled in French 127 in a last minute effort to regain some of the French he learned in high school before he leaves.
The Peace Corps is an independent United States Federal Agency, initiated by John F. Kennedy in 1961 and refined through a series of executive orders. Since its creation, the organization has had more than 187,000 volunteers working in 139 countries and dealing with issues ranging from agriculture to information technology, always with peace and sustainability in mind.
The Peace Corp's mission is not only to help members of the countries in which it works, but also to promote a better understanding and integration of U.S. citizens throughout the world. As part of his "War on Terrorism," following September 11, President George W. Bush pledged to double the number of Peace Corp volunteers by 2007, and in 2004 Congress passed a budget increase of $30 million for the organization.
In a country plagued by unemployment and inequality, Andrews hopes that his work will provide the education and framework necessary for business development and sustained growth.
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