St. Kitts and Nevis Celebrates Peace Corps 50th Anniversary

I thought you might like to read an article I wrote about our Peace Corps 50th Anniversary celebration here on St. Kitts and Nevis.  I will update the blog with more personal reflections next week after things quiet down.  Until then enjoy!

Peace Corps Day – Independence Square, Basseterre, St. Kitts

On 3 June, 2011, seventeen Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) from St. Kitts and Nevis gathered in Independence Square located in Basseterre, St. Kitts to host an all day community event celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of Peace Corps and featuring games, music, arts, crafts and information about the work of PCVs in the Federation.

A history of the Peace Corps was presented in the Past booth with a timeline of important events that have contributed to its successful growth and the global reach of the organization in 132 countries over the past 50 years.

The Present booth featured a world map where the stateside home of each PCV currently serving on St. Kitts and Nevis was pinpointed.  To the side of the map were photographs and a short biography of each PCV including a description of their work assignment and comments by their counterparts on the importance of their service and their value to that organization or school.

The Future booth offered six activities for event participants, with the focus on activities for children.

One World Banner:  A 3’ x 25’ horizontal banner – One World…Many Hands…Holding Our Future - was covered with colorful hand prints of all event participants.  The banner will be displayed on Fort Street, just off the Circus Square in Basseterre, as a work of art illuminating the community connection and spirit demonstrated at the Peace Corps 50^th Anniversary event.

Peace Tree:  In celebration of International Peace Tree Day, festival goers created an “ornament” to place on the Papaya tree in the garden at Project Strong, a skill development school in St. Kitts.  The “ornaments” created were religious, cultural and simple symbols of peace representing countries and cultures from around the world.  The tree was photographed in the garden at Project Strong where the “ornaments” remain on display today.  A photograph of the Peace Tree was submitted to the official International Peace Tree Day website to be included in their selection of 2011 Peace Tree Day celebrations around the world.

Peace Corps Quilt:  Participants were invited to design a square representing one of the 132 countries the Peace Corps has served since its inception in 1961.  Flags of each of the countries were presented for replication. The finished squares were sewn together to make a quilt which will be displayed at primary schools throughout St. Kitts and Nevis.

Children were also invited to make bookmarks and ceramic tiles to take home and use as gifts for friends or family members.  The activity presented translations of the word “Peace” in 75 world languages. Once participants chose a language to transcribe onto the bookmark or tile, they were given permanent markers to use for decoration.

A popular activity for both adults and children was the chance to make friendship bracelets interweaving the colors of the Kittitian and American flags.  Colorful yarn bracelets could be seen all over St. Kitts and Nevis for weeks following the event. 

Children danced to music played throughout the day by local disc jockey Wet Dirt. As an added surprise visitors enjoyed a special performance by the Dr. William Connor Primary School Iron Band.  Other activities included a trivia style game in which visitors were given candy and prizes  based on correct responses to questions derived from the timeline, handouts and general knowledge of the Peace Corps and its mission.  Children were also invited to play football/soccer with equipment provided by the Ministry of Sports.  A video montage of the event can be viewed at URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xtIbR3XGAc

The Peace Corps 50^th Anniversary celebration was a huge success with hundreds of participants enjoying the activities and information presented by the PCVs of St. Kitts and Nevis.  The three goals of the Peace Corps were highlighted and reinforced throughout the day as Kittitians and Nevisians learned first hand about the mission of the Peace Corps in promoting peace and friendship around the world.