Advocacy
-
National Peace Corps Association > News > Advocacy > National Day of Action: The Intern Perspective
National Day of Action: The Intern Perspective
By Erica Burman on Thursday, March 7th, 2013
National Peace Corps Association Intern Katilyn Moberly with Peace Corps champion Sen. Harris Wofford.
Despite our fancy sounding name and downtown Washington, D.C. address, the National Peace Corps Association is actually a rather small (6 staff member) nonprofit organization, and we gratefully rely on the talents of interns and volunteers throughout the year. Our annual National Day of Action on behalf of the Peace Corps is particularly labor intern intensive, but we also think it’s kind of neat for our interns to mingle with members of Congress and a large and diverse group of charged up Returned and soon-to-be Peace Corps Volunteers. Here’s intern Kaitlyn Moberly’s perspective on the day.
I have only been interning with the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) for a short two months but it has been a rewarding experience thus far. Since I began in mid-January I have spent my time in the office preparing for the Day of Action, so to see it all come together so well was very exciting.
Carting packets to the Capitol Visitors Center.
My day began around 7 am as we started to unload the packets and laniards. We heard several members of Congress (who are also RPCVs) speak on how important Peace Corps issues are, especially now with a declining job market and destructive budget cuts. It was comforting to know that we have people in Congress strongly supporting the organization so that potential Volunteers, like myself and many other eager students, can be a part of this life-changing experience.
Staffing the packet table.
I think, overall, my favorite part of the day was hearing everyone’s story. When you ask a RPCV about their service, their face lights up and they can tell you stories for as long as you’re willing to hear them. I have heard stories about finding love, bathroom incidents, lifelong friends overseas, and overall how it changed their lives for the better. To sit at a table surrounded by eight RPCVs advocating to staff members on how important this program is not only to the participants but the people of the host country and the people here at home who have the privilege of benefiting from the skills those volunteers developed, was such an inspiring experience.
I am very thankful to have met all the Volunteers and to work under a passionate staff at NPCA. I am already prepared for an even bigger Day of Action, 2014!
It was a great day on the Hill! Thanks for all your help and all the other advocates. It made a difference!