Peace Corps: Fifty Years of Promoting World Peace and Friendship
odd: label: Introduction
content: More than 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in 139 countries since 1961, when the agency was established by Executive Order 10924. Signed by President Kennedy on March 1, 1961, the two-page Executive Order simply established "an agency in the Department of State which shall be known as the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps shall be headed by a Director." That person, appointed by Kennedy three days later, was Sargent Shriver, his brother-in-law. The U.S. Congress made it official on September 22, 1961, by authorizing the Peace Corps Act and appropriating $30 million for the new agency's first annual budget. The very first paragraph of the Act declares that the Peace Corps should "promote world peace and friendship" through three interrelated goals:

to help the people of interested countries meet their needs for trained workers;

to help the people in those countries better understand Americans; and

to help Americans better understand the people in those countries where Peace Corps volunteers are serving.

Half a century later, the annual federal appropriation had reached a high of $400 million in Fiscal Year 2010, but the three goals of the Peace Corps, its Congressional mandate, and its commitment to building world peace and friendship have never changed.

The 2011 Festival was pleased to host - and recognize - the Peace Corps volunteers who have served the organization since its founding fifty years ago. The Festival program built upon previous Folklife Festival programs that have examined occupational and organizational traditions. At the Festival, these occupational and organizational groups have each demonstrated their own sets of skills, specialized knowledge, and codes of behavior that not only distinguish them from other occupational groups but also meet their needs as a community. The fiftieth anniversary of the Peace Corps in 2011 provided a wonderful opportunity for understanding and appreciating its organizational and occupational cultures.

The Peace Corps program at the 2011 Festival brought together Peace Corps volunteers - both past and present - with roughly one hundred of the people with whom they have served from more than a dozen countries around the world in order to promote a greater understanding of world cultures. Together, volunteers and collaborating communities demonstrated to Festival visitors the experience and accomplishments of Peace Corps volunteers around the world. But they also looked forward: as the Peace Corps moves into its next fifty years, the inequities that existed half a century ago - poverty, disease, illiteracy, and hunger - still loom large in much of our world, often exacerbated by such contemporary challenges as climate change and HIV and AIDS. And as Festival visitors were reminded, the need for world peace and friendship is certainly as important today as it was fifty years ago.

James Deutsch was Curator; Jason Bowers was Program Coordinator; and Kim Stryker was Family Activities Coordinator. The Peace Corps Curatorial Advisory Committee included: Randy Adams, Shilpa Alimchandani, Marjorie Anctil, Anne Baker, Daniel Baker, Lenny Bankester, Lynette Bouchie, Karen Chaput, Kristen Fernekes, Angela Glenn, Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Lynn Kneedler, Nicole Lewis, Bob Michon, Jody Olsen, Kirsten Radewagen, Amber Smigiel, Frank Smith, Shelley Swendiman, and Lori Wallace. Kristen Fernekes was Program Manager for the Peace Corps and Chris Lisi was Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Director.

The program was produced in partnership with the Peace Corps. Major Donor support came from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. UPS Foundation was a Contributor to the program.
label: Presenters
content: Betty Belanus, Harold Closter, Nancy Groce, Diana N'Diaye, Marjorie Hunt, Cynthia Vidaurri
label: Participants
content: BELIZE AND GUATEMALA - Garifuna Collective featuring Umalali

Joshua Arana, 1979-, vocals, drums, Stann Creek, Belize

Marcela Aranda, 1967-, vocals, percussion, Belize City, Belize

Sofia Blanco, 1953-, vocals, Livingston, Guatemala

Desiree Diego, 1974-, vocals, percussion, Stann Creek, Belize

Dayaan Ellis, 1975-, vocals, guitar, Dangriga, Belize

Denmark Flores, 1977-, vocals, drums, Belize City, Belize

Sam Harris, 1952-, vocals, guitar, San Ignacio, Belize

Al Ovando, 1975-, vocals, bass, Stann Creek, Belize

Tim O'Malley, 1978-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Belize), Portland, Oregon

BOTSWANA - Naro Giraffe Dance Group

Stella Xoo Bob, 1974-, dancer, Ghanzi, Botswana

Kuela Kiema, 1968-, dancer, Ghanzi, Botswana

Xhare Qoma, 1952-, dancer, Ghanzi, Botswana

Xonxae Qubi, 1968-, dancer, Ghanzi, Botswana

Bau Xhega, 1956-, dancer, Ghanzi, Botswana

Ed Pettitt, 1983-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Botswana), Houston, Texas

GEORGIA - wine-making

Lili Useinashvili, 1988-, wine maker, Tbilisi, Georgia

Johnny McRae, 1985-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Georgia), Tallahassee, Florida

GHANA - shea butter production

Rukaya Amidu, 1969-, shea butter producer, Damongo, Ghana

Shietu Braimah, 1958-, shea butter producer, Damongo, Ghana

Gladys Sala Petey, 1973-, shea butter producer, Damongo, Ghana

Rahama Wright, 1979-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Mali), Washington, D.C.

GUATEMALA - bottle wall

Reyna Floridalma Alvarado Ortiz de Ramírez, 1965-, wall builder, Granados, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala

Zonia Judith García de García, 1959-, wall builder, Granados, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala

Laura Kutner, 1984-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Guatemala), Portland, Oregon

JAMAICA - organic farming

Raymond Martin, 1968-, urban gardener, Kingston, Jamaica

Brian Wedderburn, 1965-, urban gardener, Bluefields, Jamaica

Patrick Marti, 1983-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Jamaica)

KENYA - basket weaving

Ngaharin Lebitileg, 1957-, basket weaver, Ngurunit, Kenya

Munten Lebitilig, 1963-, basket weaver, Ngurunit, Kenya

Lilian Nalilian Lekadaa, 1977-, basket weaver, Ngurunit, Kenya

Nkerisapa Lewano, 1967-, basket weaver, Ngurunit, Kenya

Ntomulan Loibor, 1978-, basket weaver, Ngurunit, Kenya

Laura Lemunyete, 1965-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Nepal), Maralal, Kenya

KYRGYZ REPUBLIC – felt, silk, wool artisans

Gulmira Chonbagyshova, 1963-, craftsperson, Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan

Mahabat Sultanbekova, 1980-, craftsperson, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Elena Urakayeva, 1982-, craftsperson, Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Burul Zhakypova, 1977-, craftsperson, Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan

Andrew Kuschner, 1987-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Kyrgyz Republic), Montclair, New Jersey

MALI - bogolan "mud cloth" bags

Moussa Fofana, 1976-, bag maker, Sévaré, Mali

Simbè Sankaré, 1961-, bag maker, Sévaré, Mali

Issa Téssougué, 1976-, bag maker, Sévaré, Mali

Vina Verman, 1981-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Mali), Washington, D.C.

MOROCCO - carpet weaving

Fatima Akachmar, 1968-, weaver, Ribat El Kheir, Sofour, Morocco

Khadija Ighilnassaf, 1970-, Taznakht, Ouarzazale, Morocco

Anna Hermann, 1983-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco), St. Louis, Missouri

PERU - weaving and pottery

Emilio Antón Flores, 1967-, craftsperson, Chulucanas, Piura, Peru

Danitza Lourdes Ramos de Gonzalez, 1963-, weaver, Callalli, Arequipa, Peru

Hilda Maribel Sifuentes Altamirano, 1981-, weaver, Huamachuco, La Libertad, Peru

Maria Cecilia Yarlequé Flores, 1976-, weaver, Catacaos, Piura

Camille Smith, 1980-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Peru), Crofton, Maryland

PHILIPPINES - tinikling dance

Ermalyn Bayeng, 1989-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Alvin Blanco, 1991-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Elvie O. Carbonell, 1972-, chaperone, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Jenny Rose Castro, 1992-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Crystalyn De la Cruz, 1992-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Shiena Diza, 1991-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Jeffrey Juliano, 1991-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Roberto Lebuangen, 1992-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

John Carlo Plimaco, 1992-, dancer, musician, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Amelia L. Tuquero, 1961-, chaperone, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines

Leah Ferrebee, 1978-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines)

Tom Ferrebee, 1979-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines)

TONGA - grass weaving

Mele Vaikeli, 1962-, weaver, Nuku'alofa, Kolomotua, Tonga

Elena Borquist Noyes, Peace Corps Volunteer (Tonga)

UKRAINE — Opika Performance Group

Rudolf Dzurynets, 1990-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Oleh Hodovanyy, 1991-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Oksana Kydora, 1988-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Maksym Olah, 1981-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Nastia Sudakova, 1992-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Shoni Turianytsia, 1990-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Denys Varodi, 1980-, musician, Zarichevo, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Anzhela Vartsaba, 1992-, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Ihor Vyshnyak, 1992-, musician, Perechyn, Zakarpattia, Ukraine

Shelia Slemp, 1972-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Ukraine)

UNITED STATES - Peace Corps World Map Project

Barbara Jo White, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Dominican Republic), Cullowhee, North Carolina

UNITED STATES - Trees, Water & People

Sebastian Africano, 1977-, Fort Collins, Colorado

Stuart Conway, 1953-, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Guatemala), Fort Collins, Colorado

Claudia Menendez, 1977-, Fort Collins, Colorado

ZAMBIA - appropriate technology

Henry Chilufya, 1967-, Lusaka, Zambia

Kofi Taha, 1970-, Watertown, Massachusetts

Alexandra Chen, 1986-, Peace Corps Volunteer (Zambia)

Elizabeth Spellman, 1985-, returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Zambia), Woburn, Massachusetts
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2011, Series 3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials