Web site Lets Kids Experience Life as a Peace Corp Volunteer
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By SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 12/3/2008 2:05:00 PM
What’s life like as a Peace Corps volunteer? A new Web site gives kids the opportunity to visit the fictional village of Wanzuzu, where they can work with local villagers and other Peace Corps members to solve eight different challenges.
From water contamination, sanitation, and disease to malaria, soil erosion, and the education of girls, the goal of the site is to teach kids about “sustainable development at the grassroots level” and to provide them with topical lessons on development. In the end, students will get a taste of life as a Peace Corps member—and possibly spark their interest in volunteering.
Launched in cooperation with the Peace Corps' World Wise Schools program, the Web site also offers lesson plans for the classroom, which are available for grades 3-12. Teachers also have access to lessons on each of the eight challenge topics the site features.
The Peace Corps Web site attracts more than 8 million visitors a year, and in addition to the Kids World site, the Peace Corps also has a site for teachers, and for teens.
Since 1961, more than 190,000 volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Volunteer service is a 27-month commitment.
