In Peru, Again!!  (continued from p. 1)

bers of our group.  Our RPCV/Peru membership in Amigos hovers around 100 right now. Within the next year, I am hoping that we can double that number!

One possibility involves dividing the present
Amigos membership who served in Peru by U.S. time zones.  A small two-to-four person "think tank/task force" within each time zone will get in touch with all of the members and gather up-to-date information so that members can easily maintain contact with each other.  In addition, on my wish list, is the hope that, through contact with our current members, we will be able to find  "lost" Peru RPCVs who can be persuaded to add something to our efforts.

What I will be expecting from them is feedback, information, ideas, and news that will stimulate activities to support programs to benefit Peru.


By working through Amigos we  benefit from the existing non-profit organizational status.  We can work with the Amigos Board under the umbrella of the Kantuta Fund which has already been established by Amigos to assist both Peruvian and Bolivian projects.  In this way, any of our members and friends who make donations to this fund will know that, after review of proposals, the funds will be used wisely.

To recap, during this next year, I will be working on ways to generate interest among Peru/RPCV's to work within
Amigos to support the new, growing Peace Corps program in Peru. 

We can use everyone: writers, translators, economists, community development workers, agriculturists, teachers, librarians, health workers, artists and other talented people as well as fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers!  So count

yourself in!

These, then, are the focal points in the plan of action:
1. develop methods of communication among ourselves as
Amigos members either electronically, by phone, written communication or at reunions

2. identify projects we can support through
Amigos  with funds, volunteer services, or other available means.

We will work together to encourage people to develop their ideas and put them into action so that we can, once again, be involved in making a positive difference in the lives and future of "nuestro amigos, los peruanos".  Dreaming together...planning together...acting together, we can accomplish so much. I hope you will join our efforts.

Patt Behler
Peru 62-64, Arequipa
Community Development

RPCV on the move...

I met Paul Kundzins and his wife Mary Ellen at the ethnic dinner outing of the Amigos de Bolivia y Peru at the St. Paul conference -- the restaurant was actually in Minneapolis. 

The RPCVs I've met over the years have been inspiring.  Some have been mobi-centric (move around from organization to organization.)  Others have hung around with the same outfit as a career. 

Paul's identifying work was with an international human rights organi

zation on behalf of whom they regarded as political prisoners awaiting execution.

Mobilizing international support in these cases does provide encouragement, especially in the sense that such prisoners know they are not alone and the waiting time is often drawn out.  Nine of ten of Paul's cases were executed.  That's a harsh job. 

Paul found out he had cancer.  He and Mary Ellen (AKA Maria) sold a

family farm in Minnesota and moved to Mexico. 

I've never been to Patzcuaro, Michoacan.   I suspect there is a simplicity and soothing of season for them there. 

They can be contacted at: 
Apartado Postal 18
Patzcuaro, Michoacan
Mexico CP6161600; pabloxuxas@yahoo.com

Ken Rustad
Bolivia 62-64

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Volume 14, Issue 1

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