Pa’ Q’ Sepan, there’s going to be a new crew landing in Panamá. I’m not talking about any 59ers either. I’m not sure what number we’ll give ‘em here, but in DC they call ‘em CCVs. Crisis Corps Volunteers.

You read that correctly, el desarrollo en Panamá will soon be getting a little extra oompha from 10 CCVs. These RPCVs will be rolling in as soon as possible to help more Panamanians them help themselves.

Some of these volunteers will provide Disaster Relief and Reconstruction help by checking out damage done to water systems and latrines by the November and December floods in Colón, Coclé and Panamá Este.

Others will aid in Disaster Preparedness & Mitigation in these same provinces.

While others will work towards expanding and improving HIV/AIDS education in schools and communities.

Unlike PCVs, CCVs don’t have two years to develop and complete projects in their communities. CCVs are in country for a whirlwind of three to six months and, thus, will have a specific project ready upon their arrival.

They are partnered with local ministries, NGOs and OGs that already have projects in the works—por ejemplo MINSA, IFRC, IDEMI. The CCVs will work more directly and regularly with his or her partner organization. Y que más…all RPCVs are eligible to apply for Crisis Corps positions.

• To be a CCV you need to have completed 1 year of PC service (not including training time.)
   
• CCVs are required to already have language and technical skills, so Panama RPCVs would be great candidates for several Latin American CC opportunities.
   
• The online application is super simple—find it at www.peacecorps.gov/crisiscorps. You fill out general information and upload your résumé.

After that there are two ways to get more information about specific projects (which are also posted on the same website). You can a) peruse the open positions and upon seeing one that interests you; you contact Crisis Corps and express your interest or b) wait for Crisis Corps to run thru their database and then contact you about positions for which you are eligible.

Also please feel free to contact me, Tess, at tsparks@pa.peacecorps.gov with any questions you may have. We’d love to create a solid 1st round CC program with the help of Panama RPCVs.

Ciao for now. I’m eager to receive your emails!!